He savors his scotch for a moment as he assesses me. "Ask the old bat to come. She might be willing if you extend the invitation."
I nod, pulling out my phone to send her a text.
Father is having a debate with Jareth Merlin tomorrow. Please consider attending. I also want to hear more about the new elixir you've been working on.
I put my phone down to find Griselda eyeing me shrewdly. I narrow my eyes as she cocks her head, trying to determine her game. My phone pings with an incoming message.
GIGI
Fine. But your father isn't getting any of it.
I stifle a grin.
"Read his last text." Griselda's honied voice cuts through the silence.
Father turns from refilling his glass to glare at me as I shove the phone in my pocket. "Bring it here," he barks.
Standing, I unlock my phone and hand it to him. There’s no use arguing. The glare I level at Griselda would burn her to a crisp if looks could kill.
"What's the new elixir?" my father demands, shoving my phone against my chest.
"It's a new serum they're working on." I watch him carefully, trying to protect my grandmother as much as possible.
"Obviously," he growls through clenched teeth. "What does it do?"
"It increases eloquence," I admit. I raise my hands as he grabs my collar. "It's not safe for public consumption yet as it’s still undergoing trials."
"You tell that evil witch you want to try it and get me some of that elixir." His face is so close to mine that his spittle sprays my cheek.
"I don't want to risk your life. Potions are risky. You know that."
"Get it for me before the debate tomorrow, or I will ruin you."
I straighten my shirt as my father releases me. "I'll take care of it."
I turn, ready to get the hell out of this room before I do something I'll regret, but Griselda’s question halts me in my tracks.
"What were you doing when you should have been in the ballroom?"
My father narrows his eyes at me, and the vein in his forehead throbs. "Yes, where were you, Maddox?"
Damn it.I glance at Griselda, who smiles at me with fire in her eyes. This is payback for turning her down earlier.
"I was trying to get your Rottweiler off my leg." I turn to leave, but my father's roar stops me again.
"You fucking ingrate!"
He raises his fist to strike me, but I throw up an armor shield. I rarely use magic around my father, so my reaction is instinctual. His fist slams into the shield, the crunch of his bones echoing in the room as they shatter against the force field. He howls in pain and self-righteous anger, glaring at me as he cradles his hand.
Griselda runs to him, babbling about his poor hand as she tries to help him. He throws her off, and she topples to the floor.
And that's when I see it. As she looks up at him, it’s not anger reflected in her eyes, but anguish and betrayal. As if he’s wounded her emotionally. As if…
My stomach turns as pieces slot into place. My father and Griselda are lovers. He wants to marry me off to his mistress. Just when I thought he couldn't stoop any lower, he digs deeper.
"Fucking asshole!" my father screams at me, spittle flying from his mouth like a rabid dog.
I force down my anger and disgust, knowing that if I leave now, I’ll ruin everything. I need to be at the debate tomorrow.
