100. Holden
Chapter 100
Holden
I ’m listening to my father try to put out another fire about a security breach at a league staging facility. From the sound of it, nothing was taken, but the high council is in an uproar because they don’t have any leads about who broke into the space.
Even stranger is my father’s reaction. He seems unbothered by it, even though his role on the security committee means he should upset. I wonder if this is a sign that he really is thinking about stepping down. I knock on the door when I hear the call end and step into the room, doing a sweep of his office.
“Holden?”
Is this a safe place? How often does he sweep for listening devices? I have questions, and I’m hoping he has at least a few answers. “Did the league issue a challenge for the fourth bloodline when you were a prospect?”
“They did. They’ve been issuing that challenge every year or two, from the time your grandfather was a third-year prospect.”
“And no one’s ever won?”
“They haven’t, but between you and me, I’m not sure there’s actually anything to win.”
I frown at what he’s insinuating. “You think it’s a fake challenge?”
“I think… I think a lot of the prospects get discouraged because the clues lead to dead ends.” He sits back in his chair and asks, “What’s your interest in it? Is your Trium backing a specific prospect?”
“We’re considering it. If we’re having a family thrown at us, shouldn’t we do what we can to make sure the winner is someone we mesh with?”
“That would be ideal, but as you all get older, personalities will change, so what you see as an asset now might be a burden later.”
“Sure. But aren’t those the same risks when selecting companions and drafting up marriage contracts?”
“They are.” He agrees. “Which is why your mother and I haven’t rushed to get you permanently paired off.”
I tell him, “You don’t need to keep playing matchmaker. I’m perfectly fine with picking my own wife.”
“It’s about the wife picking you, and to be honest, all the daughters seem reluctant about the idea of permanently matching with you.”
“All of them?”
“Yes, the only person other than Hayden, who doesn’t seem to be scared of you, is Joshua Laurent’s granddaughter.”
I glance up at the ceiling, thinking of what I did to Thea in my bed. None of the daughters would come anywhere near me after that. They might’ve even called the cops, but Thea just walked up to me and told me not to do it again. I haven’t. But I will.
“Are you listening to me, Holden?”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“I was saying if you don’t want your mother and I selecting your future wife, then you need to try getting to know someone. Put the young ladies at ease and the next logical step would be for you to choose someone for yourself.”
“I’ve already done that.”
“You have?” He sounds excited as he leans forward, resting his chin on his folded hands. “Who is it?”
“Who’s what?” My mother asks, entering the room with my sister behind her.
“Apparently, our son has finally chosen a woman to dedicate his attention to. He was just about to tell me her name.”
My parents look at me expectantly, while Hayden laughs. My mother chastises her, “This isn’t funny. This is a very important, very serious decision.”
Hayden snorts. “But it is f unny, because you two are sitting here pretending like he’s just come to some monumental life changing decision, when Holden probably made up his mind about this girl a long time ago.”
My sister isn’t wrong. She’s also a bratty little know it all, so I say, “You think so?”
“I know so. After the community service project, it should be obvious to everyone that you and Finn are both hooking up with Thea.”
My mother gawks at. “Where did you hear that?”
“Alyssa told me she overheard Finn mooning over Thea on the phone, and I’ve got eyes. I saw Holden and Thea sucking face at the community service project.”
Now my mother gawks at me. Then tells Hayden. “Sweetheart. One episode of PDA doesn’t mean he has an interest in this young lady.”
“It wasn’t just once, mom. Hayden’s right. Thea’s my girlfriend and we’ve been together since last year.”
“Last year? When she was Pax’s companion?”
“We got together before that. I would have said something, but the council appointed her as his companion before we were ready to go public.” Looking at my father, I say, “And Hayden’s also right about Finn. They’re dating too.”
Hayden says, “I can’t wait to call Alyssa.” She hurries out of the room. My mother follows her, calling over her shoulder to my father. “You handle your son, and I’ll handle your daughter.”
“Don’t you mean ours?”
“Nope.” She cackles. “When they’re like this, they belong to you.”
My father is smiling at my mother’s retreating frame. It melts off his face when he returns his attention to me. Then he reaches down and pulls a bottle and two glasses out of his bottom drawer, and says, “Seems like I’ve missed a few things.”
Finn
Holden and I got a strong talking to a few nights ago. His mom called my mom about what Hayden said, and then our fathers got to talking. That lead to a sit down with the heads of our family lines.
Thankfully, no one thought to include the Cox’s in our discussion. We did not need Malcolm showing up with his lying ass, spewing hate and negativity. There were two generations of Sullivan and Rhodes men staring down at us, telling us we can’t just let our emotions dictate our actions and thumb our noses at league rules and traditions. They wanted to know why we assumed we could pick a companion who’s ineligible for selection.
We told them about the loophole we found in the archives and then they asked us if we knew the penalty if we failed the challenge. We admitted we didn’t, and the look they gave us spoke volumes. They were disappointed in us for what they called an ill-thought out plan. We walked away with the understanding that they did not and would not sign the paperwork because the risks were too high if we failed.
Afterwards, our mothers stopped us for a little chat of their own. At least they had pie and were more understanding. My mother said she felt bad that we couldn’t just make a unilateral decision, because as far as she was concerned, eligibility is in the eye of the beholder. Then she told me if I was just gonna get all mopey about hearing the word no, then that proved I wasn’t mature enough to be making life long decisions about marriage.
Holden’s mom came right out and asked if we’d truly given any thought to what a shared marriage contract would look like as far as divisions of assets and responsibilities were concerned. We both admitted we hadn’t.
She gave a noncommittal hmm, and said something about using the big head instead of the small head when making plans, and getting a more favorable response.
I drop down into the seat next to Holden and huff out an irritated sigh as I turn my attention to the door for fashion show number… I don’t even know how many it’s been. Eloise is sitting nearby giving everyone the stink eye, because there’s nothing she can do to stop this. I pull out my phone and pull up my chat message with Thea. She turned down my breakfast invitation, because she said she was training with Deacon. Maybe I should go to the gym.
“What are you frowning at?” Holden asks.
“We need to make a statement.”
“About what?”
“Everything. We need to let everyone know that Thea’s our girl and let the council know we’re serious about claiming her.”
“You heard what our fathers and grandfathers said. If we go directly to the council, they’ll say no.”
Pax glances our way. I know he’s listening to our conversation. “Anything to add?” I ask.
“Riptide.”
I respond, “God bless you?”
“It’s what your dad texted us the first week of school. He told me this story about being pulled out to sea and having to swim diagonal to the current instead of going straight at it. So if we can’t go straight to the council, we need to go around them.”
“We?”
He turns back to the pajama parade and says, “Whatever you decide to do, I’m in.”
I look at Holden, who’s gives me a small shrug. “You might not be so ready to agree in a second.”