by Sarah Noffke
The king of the fae took Liv’s hand and brought it to his mouth—charm overflowing his every movement. “Liv, I would be honored to give you away.” He thought for a moment, a genuine smile on his face. “Actually, I’m glad you didn’t choose me to be your maid of honor. I can’t imagine who you did choose but talk about pressure. All I have to do is walk, which we all know isn’t rocket science.”
“It depends on the day for you.” Liv laughed and flashed a wink at Sophia. “I don’t know. I think the person I chose for my maid of honor will handle the pressure flawlessly.”
Chapter Eight
“Call it what you want,” Lorenzo Rosario began, his tone terse, “but we don’t need the support of the United States government to do our jobs—or that of any other entity.”
The Councilor narrowed his eyes at Sophia as she stepped into the Chamber of the Tree.
Many of the members of the House of the Fourteen were present. The Councilors sat on the high bench, looking down at the Warriors, who stood in a half-circle. Flanking them were Jude and Diabolos, the regulators, a white tiger and a black crow. They upheld truth during the council meetings. Overhead, the dome ceiling sparkled with the lights representing magicians all over the world. There weren’t as many as Sophia remembered from her last visit.
Rudolf and Liv stalked past Sophia, taking their usual spots in the chamber. Many of the Mortal Seven and their chimeras were present, but they often remained quiet, only letting their voices be heard during voting. The Warriors were to remain quiet during the proceedings unless they were Liv Beaufont. She was rarely quiet, regardless of what was going on.
Sophia strode forward, not pausing until she was standing in front of the Councilors, glaring up at them as they conversed.
“I think discounting having the support of foreign governments is a mistake this Councilor has made before,” Hester DeVries stated, her tone matching Lorenzo’s.
Bianca Mantovani scoffed. “I contend that once again, the members of this council are putting too much stock in other governing bodies. We are the House of Fourteen, the oldest governing agency on the planet.”
A forced cough shot out of Sophia’s mouth.
Clark shot her a curt expression, but everyone else seemed absorbed in the heated debate brewing hotter.
“I agree,” Lorenzo stated, nodding in Bianca’s direction. “Looking for approval from other organizations undermines our authority, which should be absolute.”
Another cough rocketed from Sophia’s mouth this time louder.
This earned her a few looks, but Bianca ensured that it didn’t last.
“Councilor Lorenzo has been around long enough that he speaks from experience,” she said smugly. “Bowing down and asking for support is as good as leveling ourselves with others when we really need to position ourselves as superior.”
The next cough didn’t come from Sophia. She suspected it was Liv behind her, but it did the job of getting all eyes on the council to revolve in their direction.
“Is everything all right?” Hara Takahashi asked.
“It appears the Beaufonts have some sort of bug,” Bianca observed, wiggling her nose.
“You want to hug?” Liv asked her, a smile in her voice.
The woman looked at her with a pinched glare and shook her head before glaring down at Sophia. “We don’t have you on the schedule, Sophia. What are you doing here?”
“Apparently, coming to correct a bunch of misconceptions.” Sophia sighed. “And not a moment too soon.”
“Excuse me?” Bianca remarked, offense in her voice.
“It’s weird,” Sophia began, “but the last time I was here, I seem to remember having to explain the hierarchy of the Dragon Elite over the House of Fourteen, yet it seems I’ll need to give a refresher lesson.”
“Bianca is getting old and losing her mental faculties if you know what I mean,” Liv remarked.
Bianca gasped. “I’m not getting old.”
“We’re all getting old,” Raina Ludwig remarked. “That’s inevitable.”
“Well, unless you’re breaking one of Father Time’s laws,” Liv stated, warning in her voice.
“My point,” Bianca fussed, “is that I’m not losing my memory.”
“Yet you don’t seem to remember the Dragon Elite is the oldest governing organization or that we’re the supreme ruling force over all organizations,” Sophia explained.
Lorenzo leaned forward. “If that’s the case, then we call on you to help.” There was a condescending quality in his voice that challenged Sophia. “Mortal governments worldwide have refused compliance with us, stating that the trivial matter of a few magicians going missing is cause to question our authority.”
“A few?” Clark objected. “There have been a few hundred.”
Hester nodded. “It’s almost as bad as the last time this happened.”
“The last time?” Sophia questioned.
“Yes,” Clark answered. “It was several years ago.”
“Who was behind it?” she asked.
The council members glanced at each other, obvious nervousness on their faces.
“We never determined that,” Raina answered after a long pause when no one else seemed willing to respond to the question.
“Were the events surrounding the disappearances similar to now?” Sophia continued to speculate.
“That’s not your concern,” Bianca told her. She wasn’t satisfied unless she was making enemies, Sophia thought.
The dragonrider sighed, wondering if she’d get in trouble for stunning the snob who had memory issues, or more likely, tolerance issues. “Hiker Wallace, the leader of the Dragon Elite, sent me here because the House of Fourteen is losing credibility with governments, causing disputes worldwide since you’re unable to come to any consensus on matters pertaining to mortals and magicians.”
“That is more a reflection of their unwillingness to accept our scope of power.” Lorenzo’s voice sounded tired like the conversation was boring him.
“I would argue it’s more a product of governments already having their doubts about us based on past events,” Clark stated confidently. “Now we can’t account for the disappearance of hundreds of magicians and our own aren’t heeding our warnings about safety. We’ve lost respect and authority. The other organizations are losing confidence in our governing, so why would they want to work with us directly on matters?”
“Because we are the House of Fourteen!” Bianca objected.
Clark lowered his chin, a disappointed expression on his face. “That doesn’t hold the same weight it once did. Our mismanagement of this situation will only continue to affect other’s perceptions of us.”
Hester nodded. “For instance, thinking of the disappearance of our race as trivial is exactly why we are losing our reputation. If that was to get out.”
Lorenzo narrowed his eyes at the healer. “We’ve given recommendations to our community about safety measures. We’ve assigned a Warrior to the investigation.” He indicated Trudy DeVries on the far side of the chamber. “What else are we to do?”
“Maintain a working relationship with foreign governments,” Clark offered. “We are no island, and turning our backs on them now will only make things harder to repair when we need their help.”
“I was actually thinking,” Trudy began, her voice small at first but growing in strength as she spoke. “For my investigative efforts, it would be helpful to employ the use of mortal police resources. Cameras, crime reports and other—”
“And make us look like we need them!” Lorenzo exclaimed, shaking his head.
“Well, it’s just that I haven’t had any luck with—”
“Then you’ll just have to find other methods,” he interrupted Trudy again. Turning his pointy chin to Sophia, he narrowed his eyes at her. “If the Dragon Elite truly wants to show their worth, then how about you as adjudicators rule over this dispute and require the other governments to bow to our authority?”
&nb
sp; Sophia wanted to laugh. Instead, she said, “I don’t object to the caution you’re being shown. As world adjudicators, I’m going to hold off on ruling on this matter. That will come after you find out who is behind it. Your first priority—everyone’s—needs to be stopping the disappearance of magicians. I think all governments will conclude that’s most important. Then we can resolve issues related to the perception and reputation of the House.”
A frustrated sound spilled from Lorenzo’s mouth. “As you have already heard, we are trying to stop the disappearance of magicians.”
“Then it sounds like you need help,” Sophia observed confidently.
“We don’t ask for hel—”
Sophia held up her hand, pausing Bianca. “I’m not offering it. I’m demanding that you take it. Things have gone too far.”
Bianca’s face flushed red. “You can’t do—”
“Actually,” Sophia cut in, a smile on her face. “If you remember correctly, as the supreme ruling force, the Dragon Elite can do what we like.”
She turned to face Trudy, a pleasant, non-threatening expression on her face. “I will be adding our investigative and protective efforts to yours.”
An expression of relief sprang to Trudy’s face. “That would be welcome. Thank you.”
Sophia nodded and turned her attention back to the council. “There you have it. First, we are going to find out who is behind this. Protecting magicians is of the upmost importance. Then the Dragon Elite will preside over the disputes that resulted from this and review the practices the House put into motion as a result of this. If we find that the council didn’t take decisive action to protect—”
“How dare you?” Bianca’s voice was shrill when she accused, but it didn’t fluster Sophia in the least.
Instead, a tiny smile tugged on the side of her mouth. “Oh, I dare. Please note, any council members who are judged as not taking matters of this sort seriously will have to answer to the authority of the Dragon Elite, potentially facing punishment or termination.”
Bianca’s eyes popped open, almost as wide as her gaping mouth. “You can’t do that.”
Clark leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, a proud expression on his face. “She, as a Dragon Elite, absolutely can.”
Chapter Nine
All too well, Sophia knew the interior of the House of Fourteen. She’d grown up hunting around the corridors. Well, really hiding in them avoiding other Royals.
Unlike the Castle that changed based on whatever weird mythology used by Quiet, the House remained mostly the same. The library was a bit different, though, and it was ruled by the many books inside of it. One could easily become lost inside the space. Finding a book there was more of a safari than it was a research project, and getting out was like navigating a maze.
The rest of the House of Fourteen was mostly predictable. That’s why Sophia was surprised when the portal door that led to the Castle was locked. She glanced around, trying to decide if she was in the right place. It was where she’d come through earlier.
“Why isn’t it opening?” she asked out loud.
“Because you’re not supposed to go through yet,” a seemingly disembodied voice said.
Sophia spun around, expecting to find someone hiding in the shadows. There were no ghosts in the House of Fourteen that she knew of. The place, much like the Castle, could only have its members present inside of it.
Then her gaze fell to the ground, and she remembered the one entity who defied that rule. She sighed. “Hey, Plato.”
The lynx flicked his tail, prancing by her, a nonchalant expression on his face as he continued down the hallway. His eyes seemed to say, “Follow me, if you dare.”
“Why am I not supposed to go through the portal, back to the Castle?” she asked, stalking after the magical creature.
“Because…” he said, a hint of mischief in his tone.
Catching up with him, she glared down at him. “You must be exhausted after offering such a lengthy explanation.”
Without warning, he sat down and began licking his paw. “I could use a nap.”
“So, what do you have on the agenda for me?” She watched as his white-tipped tail patted the floor slightly.
“I thought we’d discuss your future plans, ways you can help to save the world, and something I need you to fetch.”
“Only if this all involves a ton of riddles that leave me mostly confused and irritated with you,” she bargained, more amused than frustrated by this uninvited diversion.
“How you feel on matters will really be up to you,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Did you shut the portal to the Castle?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder. “I didn’t think you could do that, although since no place is off-limits to you, I guess I should have.”
“You really should have,” he agreed, continuing to bathe himself. “I only closed the portal so I could reopen the one that connects the Castle and the Great Library. It’s like a reboot of sorts. All portals were down during the reset.”
“Right,” Sophia said, drawing out the word. “We can get to the Great Library once more? It’s not locked on the other side?”
He shook his head. “No, the lock Trin Currante put on it has been removed.”
“Good.” Sophia was glad to have access to the largest library in the world once more.
“Soon, I’ll have to start interviews for the new librarian,” he continued. “Which reminds me, have you cured Ainsley yet so she can leave the Gullington?”
She gave him an annoyed expression. “I’m certain you know I haven’t. Is that your way of telling me to get on it?”
“Maybe,” he sang coyly.
Shrugging, she told him, “Well, I’ll get right on that when time allows.”
“Haven’t you heard, time is a servant that works for you,” he explained. “Ask for more, and you shall have it. Need less, and it will shrink. You really should know how to make this element bend in your favor. I mean, your sister is the one and only diplomat of Father Time, after all.”
“Does Liv know this? It is a radical idea.”
He gave a noncommittal expression. “Another thing I’ve told her a dozen times, but she probably didn’t hear me.”
Sophia sighed. “Let me guess. Was she asleep on these occasions?”
He gawked at her with mock surprise. “How did you know?”
“I would say I’m grateful my sidekick isn’t as sneaky as you, but…”
Plato snickered. “I can take many pages out of Lunis’ book and I have. The dragon and I are two of the same.”
She nodded. “Tell me about it. What is it about the Beaufonts that we get the most helpful slash unhelpful magical creatures?”
“Luck?” he asked.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s it.” Sophia finally allowed herself the chance to glance around and realized she knew where they were. Behind her was a door she’d entered many times, more than any other at the House of Fourteen. “Plato, why are we standing in front of the Beaufonts’ old family residence?”
“Oh, look at that.” He sounded surprised. “We do happen to be here. What are the chances?”
She swung back to face the lynx. “Not as small as one might think, I’m guessing.”
“I was just thinking that Liv couldn’t find the object she was looking for because it doesn’t exist,” Plato explained.
“What?” Sophia asked. “Our father’s ring is gone?”
He nodded. “It was on him at the time of his death and…you don’t want to go after that.”
She grimaced, pushing the idea of her father’s dead body out of her mind. “No, I don’t.”
“However, I think there’s something which belonged to your mother I think Liv would like, although she may not have even thought about it.”
Sophia batted her eyelashes at the lynx. “Let me guess, you didn’t bother to tell her about it, did you?”
“Why do that when you can go hunt it down and
surprise her?”
Letting out a long breath, she shook her head. “Are you planning to tell me what I’m looking for?”
He gave her a sly grin. “And take the fun out of it?”
Chapter Ten
Haunted. That’s how the old Beaufont family residence felt when Sophia entered. The space was dark and smelled of dust.
Clark had moved in with Liv a while ago, and Sophia well before that. They’d covered the furniture with sheets and gone back infrequently since then. The place would always be theirs, as long as they had positions in the House of Fourteen. That was for the best because neither Liv nor Clark wanted many of the possessions inside of the residence, but they didn’t want to get rid of them either—so it became a storage facility.
Sophia halted inside the main room, the words she’d seen every day since she could remember etched across the main wall, just as they graced her bedroom at the Castle and Liv’s house with Clark and Stefan.
Familia est sempiternum.
It didn’t matter how many times she saw the Beaufont family motto or said those words, their meaning never diminished.
Family was forever. They were the most important part of her life. They were why she fought for a better world. It was why Liv had come back to the House of Fourteen and taken her magic back. There were few things worth risking it all for, but when it came to family, there was no question at all.
Sophia had no idea what she was looking for in the old family residence. She’d shared the space with Clark, Ian, and Reese for most all her life. Before, when her parents were alive, and Liv was with them, they’d lived in a bigger unit. After their mother and father died, they moved—probably also to help the Beaufont children to grieve. Still, Sophia still felt the ghosts of her dead family in this space. Maybe that was because all their possessions were still everywhere.
She studied the pictures on the wall and the many shelves filled with trinkets, wondering what she was looking for. Her parent’s things were everywhere. Sophia could tell Liv had recently been scavenging through the space since things were moved, showing the outline of dust where they had sat prior.
