“Because once word gets out of your new power and that you're alive, the whole continent will be searching for you,” Pia stated, a sense of fear in her tone as she stared blankly at me.
“We’ll cross that bridge if and when we get there,” I retorted.
“Well with Beaumont dead, at least that's one less person searching. And who knows, maybe that won't be the case. Maybe Beaumont is the only egotistical prick who thinks he has the right to control her,” Sebastian supplied.
“Him and your father,” I sneered under my breath.
And you, it seems.
Archer pushed up from the table, his voice booming through the room. “I personally feel as though this is the best place to start and agree that if needed, Cyprian should be removed from the equation. Once that is settled, we will go from there. Obviously learning more about what occurred during Maeve’s transition with Blythe is important, but none of that will matter if Beaumont gets his hands on her.” He looked to Venay and Kade for approval. “Thoughts?”
Kade’s voice filled the room with a low gravel. “I can gather a few others and leave for Draemor in the morning by horseback.”
“Nope,” Sebastian objected, jumping to his feet. “If we’re doing this, thenIdecide who's going.”
At that preposterous claim, I shot up next, splaying my palms on the tabletop and leaning forward. “Why should you get to decide?”
Setting his gaze on me, Sebastian replied much calmer than I’d expected, “Because we're talking about your life here. And we don’t know these people.” He gestured directly to Venay, Kade, and Archer. “For all we know, they could go to Draemor and turn you in. Just because the gods put them here to protect you, doesn’t mean they will honor it now that the wards have been dropped.”
Damn, Seb. Bold statement.
“I wouldneverdo anything to harm my daughter,” Archer snarled, sidestepping around the corner of the table and approaching Sebastian.
Sebastian stood his ground, squaring his chest and not succumbing to the intimidation tactics of my father. “Glad to hear it. Still doesn’t mean I won’t take every possible precaution when it comes to her safety.”
Delani leant into my ear, cupping a hand around her mouth. “Gods.If you don’t forgive him, then I will.”
Eyes tightly closed, Archer shook his head in dismissal and sighed. “This isn’t worth the argument. You and Kade can work together and decide who goes. Happy?”
“Very.” The possessive prince fell back into his seat with his arms folded, the flex of his biceps?—
Nope.
Without hesitation, I threw my hand up like I was volunteering for a bake sale. “I’m going.”
“No, you’re not,” every single voice in the room countered.
“Do I really need to remind you all how this is entirely my fault?” I rebutted, going counter-clockwise around the table as I granted each person a brief glimpse of my death stare.
“No, it’s not?—”
“Don’t give me the whole,it’s not your fault, Maeve, speech. I’ve heard it before and we all know it’s bullshit. None of this would be happening if it weren't for me. So I'm going. End of discussion,” I testified, shutting Sawyer down.
“No.You're not. End of discussion.” Sebastian did not even glance at me.
“You don’t get a say.” I shot him a longer view of my deathly glare, refusing to pull back until he met it.
“Fuck yes, I get a say,” he growled in response. “We literallyjustagreed that I get a say.”
“For the love of the gods, can you two knock it off?” Kohen complained from his seat, clasping his hands behind his head of curly, brown hair.
“No!” Sebastian and I barked in unison.
Archer slumped back down into his seat, pinching his forehead between two fingers. “So this is what I missed out on with raising two girls?” he muttered.
“If Beaumont is alive, but thinks you are dead, what would you do if he happened to see you roaming around his kingdom?” Kade pointed out—quite arrogantly, I should add.
“I won’t let him see me. I’ll wear a hat or something. I don’t fucking know,” I sputtered, pleading my case.
