Chapter 377: Guardian Of The Friend Zone & Chief Cockblocking Officer

Miracles were for people who didn’t do their homework. Blair always did her homework and right now, she was kicking herself internally for missing the obvious.

Mary Sellsor stood facing forward. Hands clasped behind her back. Posture immaculate. Her uniform was pressed, her hair was pinned, and her breathing was steady in a way that most people’s wouldn’t be when Blair Drakencrest was in front of her.

The dragons and mage who had entered the throne room with her had arranged themselves in the background as nothing. Smart men. Ryker, Griffin, and Sterling by the far window in the back. Damon in the corner with Lux in the opposite. Kael leaning against a column.

All were watching. All were wondering the same thing. Was this woman Emma? And if it was, how the hell did Blair Drakencrest narrow it down to her?

Blair waited until the last servant left the throne room and the doors were shut.

"Mary Sellsor." Blair began walking again. "Arrived seven weeks ago from Northfield. Assigned to general duties week one, kitchen rotation weeks two through five, promoted to chambermaid two weeks ago, and as of a few days ago, promoted again to royal wing, assigned to the Fourth’s quarters." Blair paused. "Confirm."

Mary’s expression didn’t change. "Confirmed, Your Highness."

"You’re also allergic to thornberries. Weeks two through four were thornberry season, which meant you handled the prep and never once reported to the healer until the end of week four."

Mary’s smile stayed exactly where it was. "I managed it carefully, Your Highness."

"That allergy is what prompted your promotion. We do reviews and promotions every three months and you would’ve had to wait another six weeks otherwise." Blair paused. Let the silence sit. "You were promoted again after the remodels of both the High King’s quarters and the Fourth’s quarters. That second promotion was my decision. I don’t promote easily, Mary."

"I hadn’t realized that, Your Highness. The kindness you have extended me is something I don’t take lightly."

"No. You are very talented, Mary. You made a few mistakes at first, intentional, I’m assuming. Then you let competence kick in. So I would believe you were a quick learner. It worked." Blair let that hang and then broke a smile that was chilling. "But your photographic memory gave you away. Oh yes, I noticed, Mary. You revealed that card early. You recite instructions verbatim after hearing them once. I showed you a list with measurements. That list I had also sent to the shop. You entered the shop and recited them brilliantly to the shop owner. He mentioned it." Blair tilted her head. "You’re also unusually organized. Systematic. The notes you take demonstrated that organized mind. But I had noticed before that. From the way you fold linens to the way you organize bathing chambers."

Mary’s posture didn’t shift. "Your Highness has been very kind to me."

Across the throne room Damon Tavian leaned back against the wall and folded his arms. The look on his face was the specific, quiet approval of a detail-oriented man being impressed again by Blair Drakencrest.

"You have circles under your eyes, Mary." Blair leaned closer. "Why is that?"

"I’ve been working extended shifts, Your Highness."

"Extended shifts," Blair repeated. "No. I don’t overwork my staff. Your shifts are standard rotation. Eight-hour post Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Twelve-hour overlap Tuesday, Thursday. Saturday, off. The only extra shift you could pick up would be a Sunday one in the west wing. And that would be early release. Try again, Mary."

"I apologize, Your Highness. I did pick up the Sunday shift you are referring to. But the truth is I haven’t been sleeping well. New surroundings. I’m still adjusting." Mary’s eyes dropped to the floor.

Blair stopped in front of Mary. "Since starting, you’ve dated two staff members. Your current is Connor Fillmore. You met him while assisting in the remodel of the High King’s chambers. He is assigned to the royal wing, east corridor. You are also still seeing Marcus Smithton. Assigned to the eastern gallery near the war room."

Mary’s composure cracked by a degree. "Your Highness, I didn’t think... they’re just... I met them during my duties. It’s nothing serious."

Blair was focused on Mary. She had no idea what she was doing to the man by the window.

Sterling Emberfell’s lips twitched once. He was not accustomed to being humbled but Blair Drakencrest had turned it into an hourly event. And now his chest was doing that thing again for her.

The thing it hadn’t done in a very long time. Not since he lost her, the woman he never spoke of and no one brought up. The woman he had loved unconditionally and lost. The safest way to never lose someone again was to never let anyone close enough to matter. The loading bar for that had been frozen at zero for years. And Blair Drakencrest had restarted it without his permission. It was growing and he couldn’t find the override.

"Oh, she’s good," Ryker murmured next to him.

"Very good," Sterling agreed without looking away from her.

Griffin started to slow-clap. One clap. Ryker’s hand shot out and caught his wrist before the second one landed. Griffin lowered his hands. The intention remained.

On the other side of the throne room, Kael’s grin was gone. What replaced it was the approval he gave only when competence earned it, which from Kael Ashenvale was rare.

She was not the same girl she was five years ago when he first left Drakencrest. This was something else. She was brilliant. Something most would overlook because she wrapped it so well in the other things. She lets people underestimate her and that’s what makes her dangerous.

Kael’s eyes moved to Damon. Damon was watching Blair with an expression Kael recognized because he had seen it on enough men to know what it looked like. The beginning of a problem. His jaw set.

Not happening. Next.

Then his eyes found Sterling and what he saw was worse. That was a look he hadn’t seen from the Third in a long time and it was identical to the look on the Beta’s face. Worse.

Nope.

Fuck that. Absolutely not. Access denied to the Third. Hard pass to the Beta. Nope to anyone in this room or any room or any kingdom on any continent.

They were about to hit a blocker with opinions and a god complex named Kael.