Remus gave her a book to study while he went over his notes with a zealous glow as he sat at his desk. Rory watched her uncle organize the lesson plans for two vastly different levels of ability, never looking ruffled or impatient with her. His boyish fascination with the unusual was triggered at working with Cordray. The promising student learned everything so quickly, and performed each task with mastery. Rory knew her uncle well enough to know that working with Cordray had given Remus hope that perhaps there were still things out there that could surprise him. He’d been sought after by many gifted students for tutoring, but had turned them down so he could protect her. That she’d brought someone so uniquely talented to his doorstep was just the treat he’d been longing for, so she felt slightly mollified that if she couldn’t be the star pupil, she could at least usher one into the study.
When the door opened near the end of their session, the Chancellor strolled in with a politeness to his tight smile. “I see you’re all hard at work. The snow is really coming down out there. I think you two might want to wrap it up for the night.”
The fatherly air of “get the crap away from my daughter” was tamed by the “I don’t want my sweet girl to die alone,” but still made for slightly awkward interactions between Cordray and the Chancellor. Rory’s father had been slightly more on-edge after learning that the pill that helped them all sleep better at night only took Cordray’s abilities down a couple notches, instead of muting them altogether. While most fathers went through the dance of learning how to gracefully handle suitors when their daughters turned teenagers, Rory’s social standing was such that the screening process to get a date with her left precious few to throw their hats into the mix, and those were often deterred by taking one look at Benjamin.
Cordray stood and stretched, and then offered his hand to the Chancellor. “Thank you for letting me study with Remus, sir.”
Stefan took Cord’s gloved hand, and then reached into his pocket. “I almost forgot. Your additional medication came in today.” He presented Cordray with a bottle that held only a single pill rattling around inside. “Take this with the other still in your system, and let’s see if it takes away your magic for thirty days. I know there are downsides to muting one’s magic, and if you were seeing any other woman in the land, perhaps you could go off the pill altogether and just rely on your gloves. But seeing as you’re dating the future Chancellor of Avondale, safety comes first. I hope you understand.”
“Yes, sir. Couldn’t agree more.”
Rory let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Cordray had every right to refuse just the one pill, but to take two? No one had ever tried that before, nor had they needed to. That Cordray saw the man behind the council chair and didn’t flinch away from the hard line put her mind at ease that not only would he do anything to keep her safe, but he would also do anything to keep the peace with her parents.
The Chancellor’s eyes fixed on the bottle, as if he was addressing it instead of the man before him. “Though I’m sure it seems cruel to you to take away all your magic, it was a long road to get to this point. In the medieval times, there was torture and all kinds of deprivation therapy to try and ‘cure’ the Lethals of their desire to harm others with a solitary touch. Of course, we now know that’s preposterous. People can control their desire to do harm, but they can’t control what their Pulse is. Nature does what it does, and we do what we do – those are two separate things.” He looked Cordray up and down with a note of fatherly advice to him. “I can see what kind of man you are by the fact that you wear these gloves, and only invoked your Pulse to defend my daughter. Admirable.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Stefan, Cordray. Call me Stefan.”
Cord shook the pill into his gloved hand, and his voice came out tremulous. “Listen, I care about your daughter, and I know that probably makes me someone you don’t like all that much. But I straight up love you, man. If I take this, I can’t hurt her?”
Stefan’s eyes narrowed in on Cordray with kindness that was laced with a subtle hint of a threat. “You will never, ever harm my daughter.”
Rory and Remus looked on as Cordray downed the pill, their matching expressions of hope lighting up the room brighter than any manmade illumination ever could. Rory had been focusing on the unfair side effect of losing his magic; she hadn’t counted on him not caring about that loss as much anymore, if it meant he could touch her skin without a barrier between them.
“How long does it take to kick in?” Cord asked, his eyes on Rory with unconcealed longing.
“Should only take an hour or so before it’s in your system and working at its full effect. I appreciate your caution.”
“Then I’ll be going.” He shook Stefan’s hand again, but instead of leaving his gratitude at that, he pulled the older man in for a tight hug. “Thank you.”
Though Rory could tell Stefan wanted to resist Cord, she loved her father for clutching her boyfriend tighter, offering acceptance Cordray didn’t often get. Stefan patted Cordray on the back a few times, unable to keep the paternal smile off his face. “Think nothing of it, Son.” Then he watched Cordray pack up his things and head for the door. “Do you have plans for the weekend at the end of the month?”
“No, sir.”
“I’m going to be taking my family to go skiing a week after Aurora’s birthday. Would you like to join us?” With a twinkle in his eyes, he added. “With you in the picture, I’m planning for Malaura’s curse to be defeated within the hour my daughter should fall ill. I’m making all sorts of plans for the week after Malaura is made a public fool, showing the kingdom that her brand of hatred has no place in the land.”
Remus’ shoulders rolled back. “I love that sentiment. Malaura hates it when she fails, all the more when it happens publicly.” Then he met his niece’s eyes. “And make no mistake, her curse will fail.”
Cordray nodded with a flood of warmth at being invited in on a family vacation, but Rory frowned at her father. “We have a council meeting that weekend.”
Stefan inhaled slowly as he stood straight, donning a tired smile as he looked on his pride and joy. “Change of plans. I’m considering taking on a partner who can run things, so I can take the occasional weekend away with my family. The Baron suggested it, and I think it’s a good idea.”
“What?” Rory screeched, forsaking her ladylike decorum for indignation. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m quite serious, and quite through talking about it. This was my decision, no matter what you might think.”
Rory’s hands balled into fists, and she glanced at Remus, who looked equally shocked. “They’re using my curse to force your hand to give up some of your authority! Tell me it’s any different, and I’ll let it go.” When Stefan merely looked away, Rory’s nostrils flared. “That’s what I thought.”
A wave of exhaustion seemed to come over Rory’s father, painting his eyes with pain he didn’t bother to conceal. “Do you truly think I’d cower to the Baron? I’m tired of it, is what’s happened. My daughter’s been abducted for the last time! Let someone else deal with malicious malcontents attacking their child to try and make us comply. I belonged to you and your mother long before I belonged to Avondale. It’s not the Baron forcing my hand, it’s me handing over part of my authority so I can be a better father. I wanted a better life for you than this.”
Rory shook her head, her voice tight with emotion. “Dad, this isn’t the way.”
“It’s my way, and it’s not up for discussion.” Stefan turned to Cordray. “We’ll see you tomorrow after work for more tutoring. Always a pleasure, Cordray.”
“This isn’t over,” Rory warned her father.
The moment Cordray exited, Stefan held up his hand to stave off Rory. “Enough. This is my decision. You’re my daughter, and I’ll not let you concern yourself with things I’m to take care of. It wasn’t until you took up with a Lethal, and I was actually happy to have the extra protection arou
nd you, that I realized how very backwards I’ve been doing things.”
Remus’ eyes were narrowed in anger. “Stefan, Rory will never be out of danger. Think about it; the people who’ve abducted or attacked her have never asked for ransom. It’s never been about the money.”
“Exactly! It’s about my position, and I’ll not let it be a danger to my family any longer.” He rubbed the creases across his forehead, his shoulders slumping. “King Hubert and I had a discussion about what might happen if you don’t wake up.”
Rory’s mouth went dry. “That seems like a conversation I should’ve been present for.”
Stefan made no apologies. “You’re the heir to the head seat on the council. If you’re in your coma, and something happens to me, then what? Who will run the council? It will fall to chaos, and you know it.”
Remus shook his head. “No. We’ll think of another option than you choosing the Baron as your co-chair. No ruler at all would be better than him, and I can say the same for his snake of a son. Put this decision off, Stefan. You’re acting out of fear. If Rory manages to escape her curse…”
Rory’s head snapped in her uncle’s direction. “If? If I manage to escape the curse?”
Remus shrank, and held up his hands. “I misspoke. When. When you put Malaura’s curse to shame, you’ll be sought after even more.”
“Actually, it’ll be you everyone’s buzzing about, since you’ll have been the one to overthrow her curse by casting the counter-curse to begin with.”
Remus inclined his head to her. “Ah, but people are afraid of me. They’d never try to attack me.”
Rory’s mouth set in a hard line. “Right. And I’m just a stupid Deadpulse.”
Her father stiffened, but Remus pointed his finger in his niece’s face. “There’s about three things wrong with that sentence. Rethink yourself, Rory.”
Rory had plenty of things to say on the subject, but she kept the bulk of them to herself. Stefan left the room and retired to his bedchambers, so he could toss and turn, as the rest of the household did that night.
19
Negotiating with Calvin
Cordray held up his hands, as if that was the measure of masculine attractiveness. It was his first day without gloves, and he was loving the freedom. Every little brush of his fingers against Rory’s was a heightened sensation that almost made him choke up with how long he’d waited to feel anyone’s skin. Rory was soft, delicate, and the best reward for going twenty-nine years of hardly touching anyone. She was preoccupied, though, when he thought she’d be celebrating his newfound freedom. He loved the feel of Rory’s silky skin, and longed for her to finish up with the workload, so he could take her out to lunch.
He’d been waiting in his car at noon in the parking lot to take her to lunch, as he’d done every day that week, but she was running late. She buzzed him up, taking the first baby step at letting him into her world via her office.
Of course, no one paid much attention, as she had meetings scheduled on and off all throughout the day all the time. But still, their eyes danced at each other with the thrill of secrecy as he took the seat across from her at her desk, waiting patiently while she finished up a call from a contractor.
The moment she hung up, her phone rang again. “I’m so sorry, Cord. It’s been nonstop today.”
“I’m in no hurry.”
“I’ve got to take this call. Would you mind waiting in here for a few minutes?”
Cordray studied her squirrely movements, and then nodded. “No problem. Take your time.” His eyes flicked to the phone’s screen, reading her Caller ID. “Who’s ‘Arrogant Prat’?”
Rory held the phone to her chest, as if that might undo his memory of who was calling. “No one you’ll ever have to meet, fortunately. Not a good guy. I’ll be right back.”
Cordray’s eyebrows pulled together. His first instinct was to follow her to see what shady characters were calling her, but he knew that wouldn’t make for a great show of trust. Still, he sat on the edge of his seat, anxious for her to return.
When Rory moved quickly through the office toward the empty breakroom, she kept the conversation quiet. “Calvin, thanks for returning my call.”
“Of course. How’s my little Roar doing these days?”
Rory grimaced. “I need a favor. I want an unofficial meeting with the council elders, but without my dad.”
“Ah. This is about your father’s decision to split the head Council seat.”
“Of course. Do you think there’s a way to undo it?”
Calvin sighed heavily. “Not if he was the one to suggest it. It’s his chair to do with as he wishes.”
“You know this is fishy!”
“Honestly, why do you even care? Your family will be able to keep their fortune even if your father retires, which isn’t even happening. He’s merely splitting the responsibility because it’s clearly too much for him to handle.” Then he seemed to catch himself in the logic, though Rory could tell he’d puzzled everything out on his own. “Ah, but that would mean any future contributions to your family fortune would be split in two. My, my. That is a problem. My father seems the most likely candidate for the number two position, since he’s got the most seniority. That would put your father and mine on equal footing, which means…”
Rory cringed. “When they pass down their seats, they would go to you and me. We would co-rule together.”
A slow laugh bubbled to the surface, making Rory’s upper lip curl. “Far easier than us getting married, isn’t it?”
“That will never happen.”
“Oh, little Roar. It’s already happening. There’s no undoing what the Chancellor sets into motion. He only has to name his companion, and the way the council is run will change forever. I should think the people will be relieved. Now when the regime is passed down to us, there won’t be only a Deadpulse making all the decisions.”
Rory paled. “You and I have completely opposing political views. Nothing would ever get accomplished.”
“I’m sure we could do all sorts of things together,” he said with a smarm to his tone that made Rory clutch her cardigan tighter around her shoulders. “Long nights spent in heated debate just the two of us? I can practically see the sex tapes surfacing already.”
Rory wrestled with the urge to shout at Calvin. “My father should be able to keep his seat without having to share it. The council can thrive, as it’s always done under his rule.”
“I can’t imagine how tiresome it must be to care as much as you do. You can try all you like, but you know the Baron. Once he’s got his mind set on something, that’s the way it plays out.”
Rory wanted to scream at Calvin, but she kept her voice even. “Then I look forward to a lifetime of voting you down.”
“Whatever you like, birthday girl. Are you frightened, now that the date for your curse is coming due?” Calvin spoke with an overly dramatic vibrato to his voice.
Rory swallowed hard. “Frightened people hide themselves away. You know very well I gave up hiding from my fate the moment I learned to walk on my own.”
“Do you think it’ll happen at 12:01 on your birthday? Tales of woe are always sexier when they’re carried out at the stroke of midnight.”
Rory shuddered. “Don’t say ‘stroke’. It sounds creepy coming from you.”
Calvin laughed as she hung up. Rory didn’t waste any time calling the next number on her list. “Henry! I’ve called you five times today. Where have you been?”
It sounded to Rory like Henry was walking down an echoy hallway, and she guessed he was in his palace. “If it isn’t my future bride, all eager to hear the sultry sound of my voice. What can I do for you, baby?”
Rory’s shoulders relaxed at his goofball flirting that was never serious. “I need a favor. Being that you’re my future husband, I’m sure you’ll have no problem doing my bidding.”
“A dozen roses? Done! But why stop there? A dozen chariots with a dozen horses for my future bride.
I’ll put in the order today. Happy almost uncurse-day to you, my love.”
“Why, thank you, kind sir. About that favor.”
“I hardly think now is the appropriate time to walk you through phone sex. I’m horribly out of practice. It’s been five, six hours since my last over-the-phone tryst with some desperate young lovely.”
“Would you shut it? Listen, I need you to talk to your father, and convince him that my dad shouldn’t split his ruling seat with anyone.”
Rory could hear the frown in Henry’s voice. “That sounds nothing at all like phone sex.”
“I’ll talk you off all day long if you can put your Pulse of Charm to good use and get my dad to see reason.”
“You will?”
She managed a small smile. “Not a chance. Go find one of your usual desperate young lovelies, and enjoy necking in your neck of the woods.”
Henry’s voice dropped with a note of seriousness. “Are you sure we shouldn’t hedge our bets with two Chancellors? This way, if you take a long time coming out of your coma, the kingdom won’t be in a state of panic – other than the fact that they’ll miss your lovely face, of course.”
“Can you picture Calvin being your number two? Because that’s what we’re dealing with, Henry.”
She could picture Henry’s grimace at the prospect of being stuck in a lifetime of fruitless meetings with the weasel they both despised. “Fair point. I’ll see what I can do.” His voice lightened back to its original buoyancy. “I really did get you a birthday gift, and it’s even better than a dozen red roses.”
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