"As if this is going to stop you from chasing her skirts," Niall muttered.

Ronson grinned and shrugged. "Not likely."

I nudged my elbow into his side. "It should help, actually."

"We'll see," Ronson said, goading his brother.

I huffed and continued, "Bonding increases the chances of a male heir outside of rut, and it offers an omega the physical strength to manage the birth. There's no record of a mated omega dying in childbirth anywhere in our histories."

Niall looked between us, losing his sardonic expression. "Is that… Are you…?"

"No," I admitted, blushing.

Ronson released my hands only to drape an arm over my shoulder. "We're in no rush now. And I wouldn't have wanted to risk Mairwen's safety. But we would like to have children when we're ready."

I would keep drinking the tea, since as far as we knew, it prevented conception regardless of any bonding. If we were going to remove the sanction against bonding, I wondered if we might make the contraceptive legal again too. That was likely a step too far, at least for the betas of dragonkin. But it was better not to consider those men at all in this case. Ronson and Niall didn't respect most of them. I didn't. Ronson had given Francesca a choice, given me one. Perhaps together, we could give all the omegas of the isle their choice as well.

"I know that the island doesn't have confidence in me," I said, pressing my hand to Ronson's knee before he could interrupt me. "I didn't try to change their minds before, and I started to believe that some of what they said was right. But I know better now. And as impressed as I am with what you both have accomplished since Ronson became alpha, it isn't enough. Not for omegas."

Niall's head tipped, but he didn't argue with me, just raised an eyebrow and waited.

"An omega was considered equal to her mate, and I would like that to be the case again. The omegas of Bleake Isle might consider me an unlikely ally, but I hope to be able to speak up for them. I hope you'll listen," I added, turning to Ronson.

"You know I will," he murmured, lifting my hand from his lap to his lips, whispering the word siren against my skin as he kissed there.

I sighed and nodded, looking back to Niall. "Someone will find that bonding was outlawed, you're right. There will be controversy. Just as there is controversy now for almost anything Ronson does. But he will have me at his side for it, and I believe we can weather the storm."

Niall was quiet for a moment, and then he said something entirely unexpected. "The bond makes you stronger."

My brow furrowed. "Me? I haven't read⁠—"

"She was always strong," Ronson said, smiling. "The bond assures her she's not alone. Her strength is backed by mine, and mine by hers."

"The strength of two dragons," Beatrice said softly, eyeing me.

"The truth is, brother, I don't want to rule as alpha if I don't have my mate at my side," Ronson said, his hand squeezing gently around my shoulder. "And I'm no longer sure that compromises are worth making."

Niall wilted into the chair he sat in, his head falling back to blink up at the ceiling. "It's not a very good case, Mairwen."

Ronson rumbled a snarl, but it stuttered and choked away as I leaned into his side, smiling at Niall's weary tone.

"Then you'll have to help us make a more convincing one," I said.

Niall nodded. "Yes, I suppose I shall. Can you bear to have her mark covered for a little while?" he asked Ronson.

Ronson frowned but nodded. "I suppose."

"Good. I have reading to do. Take Mairwen with you today to the Lords' Council," Niall said. My eyes widened, but before I could protest, Niall narrowed his eyes at mine. "Remember what you just said to me when they talk down to you, Mairwen. You are Ronson's equal⁠—"

"Better," Ronson said.

"—and they owe you as much respect."

I sucked in a breath. Silly me, to make such a speech thinking I might apply my leadership to some indefinite future. No, Niall must throw me in straight away.

"There are the omegas to consider too. A fair few of the island have influence, although they wield it more subtly than the betas," Beatrice said, scooting forward. "We should arrange a meeting amongst them. A tea, perhaps, for the sake of appearances."

I wondered if my nerves showed on my face as I turned to Ronson, who did his best to hide his humor, although it glittered brightly in his gaze.

"It is time for the island to properly meet my omega," Ronson purred.

My clammy hand lifted from my lap, reaching for my chest, where fire seemed to burn inside, anxiety a hot tempest in my heart. I forced my fingers to the teacup waiting in its saucer instead, listening to the cheerful murmurs of the women around the table, waiting for my opportunity to speak.

The Lords' Council had been bad enough. Once the men had gotten over their utter shock at my arrival and their near refusal to discuss anything of importance in front of me, they'd carried on their business as if I weren't there at all. Or at least they'd tried. But I knew more of their business than they'd expected, and when they wouldn't listen to me, they were forced to acknowledge Ronson. By the end of the afternoon, I'd received a scant few respectful words from two of the lords in attendance and I was in a rare hot temper. Which Ronson had promptly fucked out of me in our nest before dinner.

But Ronson wasn't here with me now for this tea. Even Beatrice, who had helped me plan everything from topics to tarts, had left me on my own.

And the truth was I was more intimidated by these omegas than by their beta counterparts. These women had helped shape my identity as 'Mouse.' Not as directly as Adelaide and her rotten nickname, but in smaller and equally cutting ways.

Lady Hudson had once suggested to my mother and myself that if I was to have a new dress for her ball, it might be best if it matched the colors of her walls to better allow me to blend in for the night. When Mrs. Finch had caught my mother bemoaning my increasing inches at the dressmaker's when I was fourteen, she'd recommended that if a reducing diet was not working, I might consider fasting when not at a public event. I'd once overheard Lady Keegesby tell her daughter to be sure to stand near me so as to appear slim by comparison.

These matrons had belittled me as easily as breathing. They were not meant to be insults but friendly advice. I hadn't existed to them, not as a girl with feelings, and that was somehow worse.

I swallowed down the heat of bile in my throat and straightened in my chair. If Ronson had known any of that, he'd be at my side. Just the thought made me more aware of the healed bite hiding beneath my gauzy fichu, and I found myself smiling, catching the eye of Lady Keegesby as she leaned forward to inspect the spread of food I'd ordered for this "informal meeting of friends."

"Lady Keegesby, I'm very glad you could attend. I wish you would share my heartfelt congratulations with Jane on the birth of her latest daughter," I said.

"Thank you, M—Omega Cadogan," the older woman said, blinking back at me.

"It is a pity, though, that she should've gotten with child so soon before the rut," Lady Hudson cut in, glancing between us. "Another daughter for Mr. Sampson, and another cycle without an heir."

Lady Keegesby flushed and pursed her lips to bite off a retort. I resisted the restless stir in my chest that wanted to tell these women that they were all speaking to one another and playing these games by the rules of horrible men who discarded and wasted their lives so carelessly. Instead, I took a breath and smiled at Lady Hudson.