“I want to come with you!”
“I don’t want you to!”
Pain spread across Zimsy’s face as she disappeared with a light SNAP.
Maeve sighed and ran her hands across her face. A lump rose in her throat as she made her way out of her room to gather the rest of the things from the house that she wanted.
She didn’t look back at it. She couldn’t look back at it.
Ambrose Sinclair’s study lay untouched, as though he would walk through the door at any moment and pick up his unfinished brandy. But many books and pictures were gone. Magical items had a way of presenting themselves to their new owners in death. Ambrose had likely promised many of his readings and trinkets to others that now possessed them.
The basement as Sinclair Estates lay empty.
Maeve sat behind his desk, staring across the room. She would never be here again. And she was glad of it. This room harbored too much happiness. Joy. It was a burden.
Two books sat in front of her. One she was taking for herself and one for Mal. Across the desk were strewn article clippings, letters from several different officials, and handwritten notes by Ambrose himself.
There was a brief knock at the door. Xander stood in the doorway. “May I come in?”
He didn’t wait for her response but strode across the room and stood in front of Ambrose’s desk, where Maeve had just finished off a bottle of her father’s fire-whiskey. There was not much left, but it burned Maeve’s inside’s all the same.
She didn’t look at him, but continued to stare at the notes on his desk.
“That was quite a display down there,” said Xander. “And at The Dread Prince’s coronation.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” said Maeve emotionlessly.
“I’m terribly sorry about your father. Lithandrian sends her regrets as well. Everyone adored the Premier.”
Maeve didn’t speak. He continued.
“You’re an incredibly powerful witch to create magic like that, just from your emotions.” He laughed.
Maeve looked him over. “Why are you still here? Didn’t you hear? I am not of the blood status you think I am.”
Xander eyed her. “That doesn’t matter to me. No one knows that, and our alliance would still be strong. Even more beneficial for you now, given the circumstances. The Dread Prince might agree, if you asked him. His court would have an immediate bonded alliance with another powerful realm. The realm he is so desperately trying to grasp.”
Maeve stared at him for a moment.
“You know what’s incredibly clear to me now, Xander?” Maeve leaned back in her father’s chair. “No one has anything to offer that is beneficial to me. Marrying Alphard, no benefit. Your offer was never beneficial for me. I was so confused as to why my Mother would fight for something seemingly good for me.” Maeve stood and looked out the large window. “And then I realized my Mother pushed for it because she’d win either way. If I agreed, I’d be a blood traitor and embarrass myself by marrying you. And if I refused, I’d be disowned, lose my inheritance and all. She got to get rid of me either way.”
“I think you’re discrediting me too quickly,” said Xander.
He was suddenly closer than she realized, standing directly behind her.
“I think you’ll find I can be of use to you and Malachite,” he continued. “My blood, the people I know. . . And your father, I think he agreed it would be a strong realistic choice for us.”
Xander speaking of her father as if he knew him caused a wave of nausea to pass through her.
He brushed her hair off her shoulder and trailed his finger down her arm. Her stomach didn’t flip. Her skin didn’t flush.
She looked out over London as the enchanted window began to fog over.
“Could it be so terrible to be Elven Royalty too?” Xander’s voice now had that slimly quality again. “We would create an entirely new line of Magic.”
He brought his lips down to her neck. She didn’t stop him. It sent nothing down her spine. His fingers continued to trail down her arm, and he laced his fingers with hers. He brought their hands up and examined them.
“See? That’s not so bad.” He brought his lips down to her fingers and kissed them tenderly. Just as his lips brushed Mal’s Dread ring on her finger, he winced and pulled away from her.
