I was thinking about sacrificing myself. I had never thought I would want a real relationship again, much less, love. That just seemed absurd. Finding love after having a connection like I’d had with Dominic?
But…the way Ezra had spoken of it made me second-guess myself.
One day, would I really want to find someone?
Would I really want to be in love again?
Into the drawn-out silence, King Nelson stated dryly, “Ezra, that was a fine speech, but what are these alleged alliances that could be made?”
Ezra fairly pulsed in front of me with tension.
The couch squeaked, then Jack cut in, answering, “Money.” He moved across the room to us where Ezra and I stood like statues, facing each other. “We have tons of it compared to the Coms. We could begin donating to their causes instead of hoarding it for ourselves. Or, we could become more involved with the defenses here in the United States. We met Arthur Lamar, General Lamar’s son, at that same meeting. His ideas were too Com-based but, with tweaking, we could possibly integrate Com and Mys together for national use. In return, they could help us fight our enemies on their soil.” He held up his hands, saying quickly, “I said it would involve some tweaking, but it could be done to benefit Mys and Com alike.”
“Community service,” Pearl stated, coming to stand on the other side of Ezra and I. “All this freaking babysitting has me thinking. We live in these nations that are Com-run, but we do nothing to help them. We use their resources and give nothing in return. We could start a few non-profits around the world. Begin giving back to the nations we live in. A little aid could change the mindsets of Coms so that they don’t see us as such a threat — even though we are. They would see we can help them construct residential or commercial buildings so much faster. In return, they could put businesses in these places with a mixture of Coms and Mys. Win-win. Jobs, money, and kindness for all.”
“Start putting Mysticals in political positions within the nations. The treaty is designed for that,” Ezra stated, still sounding pissed and staring down at me, his heart rate only now beginning to slow. “It’ll take time and, more than likely, the positions minor at first, but a lot of small steps will lead to a larger one.” A pause. “True acceptance.”
I bit my lip, speculating if that was enough. Their ideas were great, and I even had the crazy idea to begin integrating our schools in select cities. In locations already heavily populated by Mysticals, so that the community was already used to them. However, would our ideas be enough?
“You don’t have to do this,” Pearl whispered harshly, peering down at me. “It’s not hundreds of years ago. These are different times.”
“Lily, there’s more than one road to the same destination. This is only one,” Jack spoke gently. “One you don’t have to travel.”
“Those are all very interesting ideas,” King Kincaid murmured into the quiet, speaking softly. “Ones we will be talking with the Elders about.” He paused. “The point is, though, that Lily hasn’t given us her decision on what she wants to do about Mr. Masterson.”
I drew in a breath, and blinked slowly as I moved my gaze from those straining buttons up to a spring green gaze that hadn’t turned away from me yet. His eyes bore into mine, his belief still strong. Maybe, just maybe, I was being rash in even considering a marriage to this man because, although it might be a good political decision, I still had no interest in marrying him. He hadn’t gone about it the right way, like Ezra had said. Philip manipulated our predicament to better his own goals.
I glanced to my right, to Pearl’s golden eyes. The same verdict was there.
I glanced to my left, to Jack’s brown eyes. They almost glowed in his belief.
Sucking in another breath, I turned my attention to King Kincaid. “Break it to him easy, since he’s friends with the President, but I won’t marry him. I don’t want to marry a man like him. Had he gone about it differently, I might have been naive enough to fall for it, but he didn’t. He showed his true colors up front, and I don’t want him or a man like that aligned with the Mys community.”
The room was silent until King Kincaid hummed, “I think those are the wisest words, and decision, you’ve made so far.” He nodded, and gradually the other Kings nodded their agreement, after a few moments of consideration. “Get out of here, Prodigies.” He waved his hand at the door. “We’ve got business that will bore you to tears.”
Ezra dipped and thumped me on the forehead with his palm, staring me in the eyes. “Don’t be that stupid again. You’re better than that.”
Jack and Pearl nodded, glaring as we crossed the room.
Antonio patted my head affectionately when I walked through the door he held open.
We stopped directly outside it, facing each other.
I felt stupid for being so…well, stupid. I mumbled, “Sorry about that.”
“Ah, whatever,” Jack said as Antonio shut the door, but it bounced back open a smidge. “We’re all entitled to our dumbass moments.”
Pearl nodded. “Luckily, we’ve got each other to—” She stopped abruptly when the Kings started discussing us inside the study.
“I know we want them to bond. Hell, that’s why the Prodigies are brought to King Hall in the first place, but they’re too close,” King Nelson stated heatedly.
“It’s as if they can’t make a single decision without the others’ input,” King Fergus said. “Joint decisions are wonderful — and needed — we know that, but they need to be able to make decisions alone that are best for their own people.”
The four of us had stopped breathing, eavesdropping, but we froze when King Nelson offered, “Maybe, we should separate them until graduation. After that, they’ll be going wherever they choose to set up their home base. It’ll give them the time and experience they need to make these decisions on their own before they graduate.”
“They came up with some pretty ingenious ideas together,” Antonio detailed into the conversation, his voice mild, not irritated like the Kings’, “That’s progress.”
King Nelson grunted.
King Fergus murmured, “Since you’ve been here, you’ve been preaching their need to get to know one another. Spend time together. You almost seem pleased with these results, their familiarity with one another.” He paused. “Why is that, Elder Farrar? What aren’t you telling us? Because we all know you’re keeping something back. Why are you even doing this?”