Then he gripped me by the back of the head and pressed his lips against mine again.
“Oh!” Someone squeaked.
Dante and I broke apart long enough to see who was interrupting us.
In the dimly lit interior door of the acolyte’s quarters, Bria stood with wide eyes and a horrified expression. Her cheeks turned beet red as she glanced sharply away.
“I didn’t see anything,” she said quickly. “I mean—I didn’t—“
“It’s alright, Bria,” Dante assured her with a grin. “We’re the ones in your space. We’ll get out of your hair.”
“No, I—“
He raised a brow at her objection and she blushed even more furiously.
“I mean, I was looking for Adrian,” she explained.
I stepped forward. “Bria?”
“Yes. Um, I—your mother is here. She’s asking for you."
***
“Adrian?”
Just beyond the monstrosity of wrought iron lining the estate stood my mother, waving a hand hesitantly, an expression of concern plain on her face.
“Mother?” I hurried forward to meet her. “How did you get here?”
“I told the guard at the gate that I was coming to see you. He didn’t want to let me through but I…well, I—” A muffled sob escaped her, and she partially collapsed into my arms.
“Come inside,” Dante told her, having apparently followed me across the yard. He threw the gate open and gestured us forward.
I deposited my mother on the stone bench near the gardens. Dante asked if we wanted any refreshments, but I sent him away with murmured reassurance. Once he was gone, I sat next to my mother.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked.
She turned to me, eyes moist with unshed tears.
“I begged him, Adrian,” she replied, still sniffling. “I told him that the tribunal wouldn’t look kindly upon his going against their judgment, but he wouldn’t listen. He just wouldn’t—”
“Who? What are you talking about?”
“Warren. He’s planning on marrying that girl.”
“Dahlia, mother. You know her name.”
She nodded and tugged a raggedy handkerchief from her pocket to dab her eyes and blow her nose.
“He said he was still going to do it,” she finished, voice cracking. “He went to find her just this morning. I begged him not to. I pleaded with him to see reason. The tribunal issued their judgement. She’s meant to be a Decker. If he were to marry her now and bring her up to our level…I worry what the tribunal will do.
“Adrian, please, you have to speak to Cosmo. We have to get in front of this before it costs us everything. I know your brother’s heart is in the right place and, truthfully, I’m proud of him for his decision, but they could humble us too! All of us. And who would benefit then?”
As she spoke, a nagging sensation swirled in my very core, like the tether to Dante in the very first Trial. Only this time, it wasn’t magic pulling me toward something better, some greater purpose. It was rage uncoiling and unravelling my tenuous grip on sanity.
I rose abruptly.
“I’ll fetch Bria,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “She will see you back home safely.”
