He stared at her in silence for a moment. His whole body appeared tense, even his fingers seemed to strain against the countertop. “I didn’t—no one knew. They told us you’d gone to live with an aunt in another Community. After everything you’d been through, we thought we were respecting your right to grieve and heal in private.”
The laughter that exploded from her sounded a little crazy but, given the circumstances, she excused it. “There was no aunt. There was no other Community. We were raised in foster care. Human foster care,” she clarified. “And not everyone was in the dark. Some knew.”
“I don’t—” He stopped to run his fingertips along his forehead as if to relieve a sudden headache. “Jesus. How did you survive? When you reached maturity— I mean, as a seductress, you would’ve have certain impulses that would’ve been uncommon for your age in the human world.”
“Stop.” She held a hand up as she said the words. There was no way she was going to discuss that with him. Even remembering her teen years made her sick with dread. The nights she’d stayed awake just to make sure her foster fathers didn’t try anything. The dances she’d refused to go to so boys wouldn’t get the wrong idea about her. The friends she’d lost to fits of jealousy. They were the worst years of her life and, given how shitty her life had been, that was saying something. “I knew what I was and I was as prepared as possible.”
“All that and you still took care of Izzy.”
“Don’t make me into some saint. I didn’t take her with me to look out for her. I took her so I wouldn’t be alone. If I hadn’t, she would’ve been more prepared to deal with our father and his drugs. She wouldn’t have spent a decade romanticizing his memory and lifestyle. I was selfish and she paid the price.”
“I don’t think she’d see it that way.” He took a deep breath before clearing his throat. “And I don’t see it that way. I can’t imagine what it must have been like—being out on your own, away from everything and everyone you’ve ever known.”
His words were too painful for her to hear. “I didn’t tell you that for pity or understanding. I only wanted you to see that I have just as much, if not more, as you do on the line today.”
“No, this time will be different. This time, I’m here. I’ll protect you.”
“Better be damn good protection. Molly’s life may very well depend on it.” She pushed away from the island and walked out the door without glancing back to see if he followed.
“It is.” His obvious confidence eased some of her tension but didn’t dispel it altogether. Whether he knew it or not, they were heading into war. And, as much as she dreaded it, she was craving a little vengeance, a little bloodshed. As long as it wasn’t her side’s blood that was lost, that is.
He followed her out of the house and to the car without further comment. And, much like their journey to his house, the ride to the hearing was done in silence. She was okay with that. It gave her time to relax. To focus on her breathing and push all of her insecurities and fears to the back of her mind. Her only complaint was that the reprieve was over much too quickly.
“We’re here.” His voice intruded on her calm and reminded her that her eyes were closed.
She nodded before opening them to the sunlit day. “Good. Let’s get this over with.”
“As soon as this is over, we’ll be able to set the final pieces of the rescue into play.”
“Either way?”
“Either way. Molly’s an enforcer. That’s how Rathe got close. So even if the Council terminates my position, the enforcers will keep me on as an independent consultant for this. It’ll be more difficult, but doable.”
“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
He shook his head as his gaze shifted to some unimportant spot in the car. “Not even close.”
She was relieved he realized that. After opening her door, she stepped out onto the pavement and tried not to grimace as one of her heels got stuck in a webbed crack that ran through the poorly maintained parking lot. They were at a small office building whose sign declared it a law office of some sort or another. She glanced at the name, but didn’t recognize it. Not surprising since the firm she worked for was one of the top in the city and rather snobbish about which firms they associated with. “This isn’t where I had my hearing,” she said, carefully lifting the ensnared heel.
“They move it every five years. Each new Council president gets to decide where the Council meets for their term.”
“Home court advantage?”
“Something like that.”
He rested his hand on the small of her back as they made their way to the building entrance. It was a welcomed, reassuring gesture, especially now that she’d remembered who he was. How she’d forgotten him in the first place was a mystery. Twenty-one years had passed, but still. They were so similar. Even as children. They’d both almost always been alone because they were too powerful to be trusted, yet, ironically, not powerful enough to protect themselves. Then again, how could they protect themselves from their parents?
“Did they ever threaten to banish you if you didn’t get the ink?”
He stopped. “What?”
“You didn’t want the ink, so they must have threatened you with something in order to persuade you.”
He started to walk again, though more slowly now. “They wouldn’t banish me, I’m too useful to them.”
She didn’t have to ask why. Izzy had told her all about Isaac’s ability the first chance she got. Izzy, not knowing about the blood bond, thought it would make Nikki bolt. Even if Nikki would’ve had the choice, though, she wouldn’t have left. “Yeah, I imagine being able to strip another of their magic would be pretty handy for the Council.” She winked at him as he quirked an eyebrow. It was good for him to wonder how much she knew and where she was getting her information. “So, if not threat of banishment, what did they use? How did they get you to agree?”
“If you could get rid of your father forever, but leave it up to others to clean up smaller messes like Mitch, would you do it?”
She thought for a moment about the petty thug who’d attacked them. “I’m betting just about anyone could take Mitch down.”
“Seeing as you managed to, I’m inclined to agree.”
Her punch was hard enough to sting but not so hard as to leave a bruise, still he milked the abuse by rubbing his shoulder and putting on an injured face. “Serves you right,” she said, refusing to feel any pity for him. “I’m skilled, damn it.”
“I see that.” He winked at her and then dropped the injured act completely. “But you see my point.”
She was afraid that she did see his point. A little too clearly for her comfort. “So you’re a plea bargain?”
“In a way. I get the ink of small-time crooks and they become informants—give me their bosses. The department puts the little fish away and I go after the big fish.”
“Is it worth it?”
He froze as his hand reached for the door handle. “It better be. Can’t really undo it now.”
She could relate. So much of life was made up of decisions one couldn’t undo. Of course, his decisions were a bit more altruistic than hers had been. “Let’s get this over with.”
Stepping into the building was like stepping into a funeral parlor. Even if she didn’t hate the Council, she would hate this place. The air went beyond cool to frigid. But, somehow, it maintained the musty humidity of the summer day. How was that even possible?
And if the musty-cold air wasn’t enough to make her uncomfortable, the ghoulish color scheme was. The decorator had tried to go for a look of business chic with blues and grays, but had somehow chosen the wrong shade of both colors. The effect made the place look like a cheap motel.
“They’ll be in the back, waiting. Follow me,” Isaac said.
“This place is horrid. Who’s the sitting president?”
He laughed sharply at the question. “My mom. This is her brother’s law firm.”
Remembering Mrs. Marrow’s house and having stayed with Isaac for a few days, she was surprised this building belonged to a relative. The Marrows were practically pros at surrounding themselves with understated wealth. “I take it you guys don’t share a decorator.”
“He decorated all on his own.”
“I bet he’s a colorful kind of guy.” She’d said the words softly, but Isaac’s snort told her he’d heard and that he agreed—at least partially.
They arrived at the double-doored conference room and Isaac ran his hand down her back one last time. “Don’t worry. Whatever happens, I’ve got you.”
“Back atchya.”
His quizzical look told her he’d heard her, but he didn’t ask for an explanation. He couldn’t. He already had the door halfway open, which meant this was no longer a private conversation.
The room on the other side of the door was much like the rest of the office—boringly cheap. But, where the rest of the rooms were empty, here, four impeccably dressed people sat behind a large conference table.
“Good. You’ve made it. We were starting to worry.” Isaac’s mother hadn’t appeared to have aged in the twenty-one years since Nikki had last seen her.
“We’re exactly on time, Mother.”
“Which means you’re late,” she said, motioning for them to sit. She waited for them to settle into the uncomfortable plastic chairs on their side of the table before continuing. “And, for the sake of these procedures, please address me as Madame President.”
He rolled his eyes at her but said, “As you wish, Madame President.”
“Good. We’ll get right down to business. Isaac, you will tell Ms. Rathe she is free of any obligations you’ve put on her thus far and then order her to answer our questions honestly.”
He tensed and his neck started to blush the way it did when he was fighting to control himself. “Madame President—” he started through clenched teeth.
She didn’t let him finish. “This is non-negotiable. We’ve been informed she’s blood bound to you. We need to make sure you aren’t influencing her testimony.”
Isaac took a deep breath and then turned to face her. “Nicola Rathe, you are free of any commands or obligations I have put on you. Your answers should reflect your own feelings and be of your free will.”
“That’s not what I said, Isaac,” his mother snapped.
“That’s the best you’re going to get, so ask your questions. You may not have anything better to do than sit behind a desk all day, but I’ve got a sister to find.”
“She is my daughter. Believe me when I say I want her back just as badly as you do,” his mother said with a glare. “Now, Nicola, you are to answer the questions with only the truth. Failure to do so will have consequences. Do you understand?”
“More than I’d like to,” Nikki answered, her voice calm and level.
“Good. Did my son bond you against your will?”
“I gave him my blood willingly.” She almost wished she could say she felt some guilt at the deliberate deception, but one look at Mrs. Marrow’s red face made her feel nothing but glee.
“We know you gave him your blood willingly, we were asking about what he did with your blood after you gave it. Did you consent to the bond?”
Isaac stiffened next to her, but she refused to look at him. She couldn’t afford to give anything away.
“It was actually my idea.” Forget deception, she’d moved on to outright lie. She did pause for a moment to see if she felt any guilt or shame but wasn’t surprised when she found none. They had their agenda and she had hers. If a little lying was all it took to tip the scales, she was okay with that. Also, she liked how Mrs. Marrow’s face went from red to a lovely shade of plum. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe this was going to be fun.
“You would choose to be bound to him?” Mrs. Marrow pressed.
That question was simpler. It didn’t even require any deception on her part. “Yes.”
A short man next to Mrs. Marrow cleared his throat announcing he would like to ask a question. Isaac’s mother acknowledged him with a curt nod before saying, “Yes, Mr. Loag?”
“You expect us to believe a Rathe would voluntarily be bound?”
Deep breath. “I’m sorry, was I supposed to provide evidence today as well? I thought my role was limited to testifying.” She looked over at Isaac with mock curiosity and wide-eyed innocence painted on her face. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d be happy to give you a demonstration as to why I’d go along with being bound. If that’s what you’re after…” She held her hand out to Isaac. When he intertwined his fingers with hers, she smiled. “It could get a little…um…inappropriate, though.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Mrs. Marrow glared at their joined hands as she spit the words at them.
Mr. Loag chuckled softly to himself, but Nikki couldn’t tell if it was caused by the idea of her making out with Isaac in front of them or Mrs. Marrow’s obvious dislike of the idea. “I wouldn’t object,” Mr. Loag said finally, his eyes locked on her and Isaac’s linked hands.
“Fortunately for us all, you’re not in charge,” Mrs. Marrow snapped.
“I haven’t forgotten my role, Madame President,” Mr. Loag said. “I was merely suggesting we determine her romantic interest in Isaac for ourselves. If he is courting her, having her bound would be one of the few safe ways to go about it.”
“He is not courting her,” Isaac’s mother shouted. “My son—”
“The defendant,” Isaac corrected.
His mother stopped suddenly at his words and turned to face him. “What?”
“If, for the sake of these procedures, you are Madame President, then I am the defendant.”
“That does sound reasonable, Madame President,” the woman to the left of Mrs. Marrow chimed in.
“Thank you, Mrs. Thymes.” Mrs. Marrow said the words through clenched teeth, telling Nikki she wasn’t all that thankful.
“So,” Mr. Loag started, “You bound her so you could, um,” he looked at Isaac’s mom uncomfortably, but then continued, “court her safely?”
“I bound her so she would help me get Molly back from her father. The courting was just an added bonus.”
Having Isaac’s answer, Mr. Loag then turned his attention to Nikki. “Ms. Rathe, do you wish the bond removed?”
“No. I’m rather enjoying the courtship.” Isaac would probably think she was lying, but the words were the absolute truth.
“Well,” Mr. Loag said, squirming in his chair. “It appears no wrongdoing was committed. If Isaac wants to bond someone and they’re a willing participant, there’s not much we can do.”
Mrs. Marrow stood abruptly. “I am the ruling body here, Mr. Loag, not you. And I will not have that filthy excuse of—”
Isaac was leaning over the table before Nikki realized he was no longer sitting at her side. “Do not finish that sentence, Mother. I’m not someone you want angry. Not now.”
His mother took several deep breaths, but did eventually sit back down. “Fine. We haven’t addressed the matter of Nikki’s banishment.” Mrs. Marrow may be a bitch, but she was also smart. She knew when to switch tactics.
“We’re here to discuss me, not her. But honestly, I don’t think that decision would stand up in a Community vote,” Isaac said stiffly. “And, even if it did, I’m not sure your professional career would survive the fiasco the disclosure procedures would be, given the things that might come out in testimony.”
Nikki smiled at the barely veiled threat. If his mother came after Nikki, Isaac would tell everyone where the bodies were buried. And, with that woman, Nikki wasn’t convinced all the bodies would be figurative in nature.
“I’m willing to allow her to stay. As long as she stays bound, that is,” Mr. Loag said.
Mrs. Marrow looked between Isaac and Nikki and then her face fell into an emotionless mask. “Bound to Isaac is good, but there is a more permanent solution that would make us all feel a little safer.”
Oh, Ni
kki was not going to like this. The hairs on her arms were already standing on end and her heart was beating furiously in her chest. This was what she’d been waiting for.
“The only way we could ever be certain she’d never repeat her father’s rise to power is if Isaac stripped her of her magic.”
A gasp of self-righteous anger escaped Nikki as she stood and then took a step toward the table, but Isaac pulled her back to him. “No.” He said the word as a command. It couldn’t be mistaken as anything else. But Nikki wasn’t sure if it was directed at her or his mother.
“What?” His mother’s question held the sharp edge of power.
“I’m not going to strip her of her magic.”
“This isn’t a test nor is it a request, Isaac.” Her voice was raw and, for the first time in nearly two decades, Nikki felt real fear. Its icy tendrils sunk into the depths of her soul and left her frozen inside. “She took the bond willingly. She couldn’t fight you or your magic in this. This is our one chance to prevent history from repeating.”
“I won’t do it.” The words were slow and carefully enunciated, each one carrying more weight than the last. “She hasn’t broken any laws, human or Community. And she can’t be tried for her father’s misdeeds.”
“You have no idea what you’re playing with.” The woman’s anger evaporated, leaving only the desperation of a worried mother. She hated Isaac’s mother, but she couldn’t fault the woman for her concern. And she didn’t particularly enjoy the skeptical glances the others were throwing at her.
“I would never hurt him. Even if I wasn’t bound to him.”
“You testified you’d bound her in order to get your sister back from Rathe,” Mrs. Thyme cut in.
“We’re all aware of why he did it,” Mrs. Marrow snapped. “Please get to the point.”
Bond Betrayed Page 7
