Keisha looked at Verona—who narrowed her eyes and shrugged—then looked back at Monarch Angelus and turned to lift her hair and showed the mark to him.

“I know traveling without a seal is against the law, but for me to survive, we had to make a temporary one.” Keisha put down her hair and turned to face the Monarch with her head down. “I’m sorry. But do you think you could make a permanent one for me?”

She expected him to get angry or throw her in the dungeons. From the corner of her eye, she saw Verona’s hands grip the cup she was holding, and Celra’s ears stood on end.

Monarch Angelus folded his hands together and hummed. Keisha didn’t expect him to say next:

“I understand.”

All three girls looked at him with dropped jaws and eyes wide.

“I can overlook the situation in terms of one’s health. Had something happened to you then, my son would have been harmed and captured.”

Keisha’s heart fluttered, and she lifted in her seat, with a huge grin on her face.

“So you’ll do it?”

“I would but…,” The grin on Keisha’s face dropped. “Without the other twelve Monarchs, the power that is embedded into the brand will not work. I am sorry I couldn’t help.”

Keisha slumped in her seat. “No, I get it. Thank you, though.”

“At the very least, I can give you rooms to rest before you continue your journey.”

The three continued eating, and after a casual few hours of conversation, the dining area was cleared out as the group took refuge in their beds for the night.