My Cheating Mate (Emma and Jeremy) novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171

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“And if the Council declines?

“Then we’re back to where we were. Except with more defections, more coalition members, and a story about this meeting that will reach every neutral supernatural community within the week.” I met her eyes. “The Council’s power depends on the perception of inevitability. We’re offering you a way to remain relevant as the world changes. Whether you take it is up to you.”

We filed out. Cas last, pausing at the door to look back at the Council representatives still seated at the table.

“Aldric,” he said quietly. “The eleven hundred years–they don’t have to be lonely That’s what I’ve learned. That’s what Grace taught me without trying.” He paused. “Consider that when you vote.”

Outside, in the cold air, Emma exhaled–a long shaky release of everything she’d been containing throughout the meeting.

“Grace’s education,” she said. “They actually–they sat there and argued that our daughter needs to be taught that her family is wrong.”

“They did.” I pulled her close. “And you demolished the argument in about thirty seconds.”

“I wanted to demolish the table.” She was shaking slightly. “Jeremy, my wolf—”

“I know. Mine too.” I held her tighter. “We held it together though. Both of us.”

Cas stood a few feet away, looking out at the neutral territory’s landscape. Whatever he was thinking, his expression kept it private.

“They’ll decline,” he said finally.

“You think so?”

“Madeline might push for acceptance. Thomas is calculating enough to see the long–term logic of our offer.” He turned to face us. “But Soren will never agree. And Aldric-” He paused. “Aldric is old enough to be genuinely uncertain. That’s more than I expected.”

“So we plan for rejection,” my father said. “And if they surprise us?”

“Then we navigate acceptance, which has its own complications.” Cas moved toward the vehicles. “Either way, what we said in there was true. The integration model is spreading. It will continue regardless of the Council’s decision. Their choice is whether to become part of shaping it or continue fighting it and becoming irrelevant.”

“And Grace?” Emma asked. “She’s still a target regardless.”

“She is. But-” Cas stopped. Turned back. Something on his face I didn’t often see. Something like hope. “Emma, Aldric almost smiled when I mentioned the horse architecture. An eleven–hundred–year–old vampire who’s spent centuries enforcing species separation almost smiled at a story about a five–year–old’s block stable.” He paused. “If we can reach Aldric, we can reach others. One conversation at a time.”

I thought about Grace. About her block stable with historically accurate horse accommodation. About dark blue being a sophisticated choice for vampire portraits. About a little girl who’d said “they can’t have you, Uncle Cas. You’re ours.”

The simplest, most devastating argument against eight hundred years of separation ideology.

A child who loved her family. All of her family. Without reservation or complexity or eight centuries of tradition telling her she shouldn’t.

“Let’s go home,” Emma said. “Grace will be waiting. And Jeremy, she’s going to want to know every detail. You know that.”

“I know.” I took her hand. “We’ll tell her the age–appropriate version.”

“Which is?”

Chapter 17

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“We had a fleeting with sotne people who think Uncle Cas shouldn’t be family. We told them they were wrong.” I looked at Cas “And Uncle Cas told an eleven–hundred–year–old vampire about horse architecture.”

Cas’s expression shifted into something genuine. Something that looked, unmistakably, like the real smile. The one that made his eyes crinkle. The one Grace had been trying to draw since she was old enough to hold a crayon.

“She’ll appreciate being credited,” he said.

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