Chapter 7 Maddox
Chapter seven
Maddox
Isit on the sofa, watching my father pace back and forth. His millionth drink of the evening sloshes in violent arcs across the dark green velvet of the chaise lounge where my mother sits in stoned delirium.
I stare at his red, sweaty face as he hurls vulgar, violent insults my way, but all I can think about is her.
Her taste on my lips.
How her legs shook when I found that spot with my fingers.
Her blissful sighs as she came on my tongue and fingers.
"I looked like a laughingstock in front of people who trust me to run this land. I looked like I couldn’t even control my own fucking son, you ungrateful bastard."
Griselda’s laugh tinkles from the corner of the room as she clicks away on her phone.
I turn to look at her with undisguised irritation as she walks toward my father.
She hands him another drink and takes his now-empty glass, patting his arm soothingly and sitting in the armchair out of the splash zone.
"Maddie, you fucked up royally. But we’re going to fix it," she says, her voice floating like musical notes through the air. I wonder, not for the first time, if she uses a spell to make it sound so perfectly fake.
Clapping her hands to get everyone's attention, she announces, "Frank, I've scheduled a debate for tomorrow between you and Jareth Merlin.
" She holds up her hand to stall my father's protest—he hates impromptu speeches.
Unsurprisingly, considering his off-the-cuff remarks make him appear more idiotic than usual.
"No worries, Frank. It will be at the town hall, and the audience will be very sympathetic to you," she says with a wink.
My father stares at her blankly.
"Griselda means the audience has been screened in your favor," I offer, helping the old man out.
Griselda grimaces, but nods in confirmation.
"Ah, okay," he says slowly, calming down slightly. "And Jareth won't have any people there?"
"Not a one," Griselda purrs like the cat who got the cream. She crosses one long leg over the other so the slit in her dress slides open to reveal most of her thigh.
She’s still trying to seduce me, and I wouldn’t put it past her to tamper with her birth control spell—a baby would ensure her position in my family forever.
Not that there’s any chance of that happening.
Nothing and no one could compare to the heaven of Dottie wrapped around my face only hours ago.
"Fine. Yes, I'll do the debate." My father scowls at me, breaking through my thoughts and forcing me to focus on the situation at hand. "You will be there, or so help me…" He swigs his drink instead of finishing his thought.
I clear my throat. "Would you like Gigi there, Father?" I ask, holding my breath. This could be the moment we've been waiting for.
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.
"Mira!" he yells at my mother. "Heal me. Now."
She slowly turns her head to look at him. "Oh, my. What did you do?"
Standing, she glides over to him and places her hands around his swollen knuckles.
Not all wizards and witches possess healing powers, but the Boncharme family does.
Mother chants an ancient spell, channeling power through her hands to mend his broken bones.
My father whimpers as his fingers snap back into place, and Mother coos at his bravery.
Griselda stands, straightens her dress, and storms from the room. My father doesn't even spare her a glance.
You're a dime a dozen, Gristle.
"All better, darling." Mother sits down again, having fulfilled her purpose for the evening.
"Since when do you have shielding powers?" My father glares at me with barely restrained fury.
A protection shield is elementary school magic, so the fact that he can't do it is a testament to his lack of magical ability. Still, I shouldn't have revealed my power.
"I’m sorry. It’s the first time I’ve done it,” I lie, then distract him with, “I’ll get Gigi's elixir for tomorrow."
"You better, Maddox," he warns.
As I leave the room, I know I'm living on borrowed time.
I hope I'm not too late.