Chapter 63
C h apte r 63
Bargains
T here were several angry outbursts at Lord Rebinus’s bold declaration, not the least came from Lor d Jasper.
“The hell you will,” her father growled. “Over my dead body!” His face was red, the observant stranger she had seen vanished in the ace of this enraged fae Lord. “I will never agree to this!”
“You are changing the game by inviting the dragons to our affairs,” Rebinus reminded them, specifically Lord Novus. “The consequences are tempered by Ash joining them, but I still face the risk of a conspiracy. Having Lady Margot join my family alleviates the risk, as she would know what her Claimed was up to.” He cut his gaze to Ash. “You would never risk the life of your Claimed by betraying fae laws and engaging in a coup.” He looked at each of the Lords in turn, settling for the longest on Lord Jasper. “This is the best possible outcome, and you all know it.”
Lord Novus nodded, followed by Lord Alick and Lord Kristoff. Her father took longer, clearly struggling to contain himself. Margot decided that she must have gotten her temper from that side of the family—her mother never had such outbursts. The difference was that Lord Jasper knew the rules here. If fae society could be considered a loose democracy, he was outvoted. Going against Rebinus now would mean he had no support, and for whatever reason, he wasn’t ready or able to declare outright war, if that was a thing here. Margot was shocked by how easily she understood the undertones in the room, knowing it was because of her Clai m on Ash.
Ash .
Her heart melted as she looked at him. She could feel the war within raging—and she didn’t think it would stop any time soon. By Claiming her, he had set these events into motion, ensuring the end of the rock star life he loved. In one moment, he had given it all up for her.
No, she realized, not for me. For jealousy over me. He wants me, but not at the risk of everything else he holds dear. The only time he will risk everything is when he thinks of me with some one else.
Oh, Ash, she thought. Y ou idiot.
She knew she wasn’t being fair. Ash loved her—she could feel it. But the same reasons that had kept him away from her were still there. Ash didn’t know how to fight against his family. Margot didn’t know if she would have fought if she were in his position. She tried to picture her mother demanding she stop seeing Tobin and imagining her response, but the image fell flat. Penelope had always encouraged Margot to follow her heart, to chase adventure. She would have adored Tob in Fetch.
“Lady Margot,” Lord Rebinus was speaking, pulling her out of Ash and back into the room “what say you?”
“I…” She paused, thinking. A vague notion of a plan had begun to form, a way to buy some time for both of them. “I have my own proposition,” she said, recalling Tobin’s language when he had done the same. “Will you hear it?”
“I am listening,” Lord Rebinus said, eyebrow raised in c uriosity.
“If I—” she stumbled, steadied herself, and forced her voice to sound normal. “If I agree to marry you, will you swear to consider my thoughts and feelings on matters which co ncern me?”
Ash’s head whipped around to stare at her, hearing her complaint against him in her request. His hand tightened on hers, as if trying to pull her back from some invisib le ledge.
“What an odd thought,” Lord Rebinus mused, eyebrow raising in a way that reminded her of Tobin. “You wish to be treated as an equal?”
Margot nodded. “I do. I can consider your proposal, assuming you agree, and for my part, I will let you know if the dragons start planning anything you should know about. That should keep everyone here happy, right? Keep your little status quo?” She glanced around the room, trying to gauge the atmosphere through Ash’s per ceptions.
“Margot.” It was Lord Jasper who spoke, “you do not have to do this. You can live in my household, under my protection if not my Claim.” Part of her wanted to agree, to spend time with this man who was her father, but a bigger part had more important issues to consider first. Her father would be there. He had apparently known where she was for the last 23 years and hadn’t made any effort beyond the TW to have a relationship with her. He only cared now because she was fae. Powerful fae. A powerful fae who had Claimed the son of a rival.
That last part wasn’t Ash at all, she realized, b ut Tobin.
Margot turned to face her father, seeing the lines of her face in his cheeks, his eyebrows, his thick dark hair. “And what of Tobin?” s he asked.
“Tobin?” Lord Novus repeated, clearly not expecting to hear his son’s name at this meeting. “Wha t of him?”
“He’s your vassal,” she said, looking at Lord Rebinus. “Claimed by you. If something happens to you, he would be affected.”
“Why should you care about him?” Rebinus asked, voice deeper now, the hint of a threat. “I know my vassal has been spending time with you, but I do hope he hasn’t overstepped his bo undaries.”
“He Awakened me,” Margot said simply, “and he was the only one—the only fae—who cared enough to help me with my new abilities. Without him, I wouldn’t be here. Nor would Ash. Those faengs would have k illed us.”
Lord Novus narrowed his eyes at her and Ash. “But my sources—”
“Were wrong,” Margot told him. “Tobin saved us that day. I hope that doesn’t get him in trouble. But I thought you needed to know that while I have Claimed Ash, and he is mine just as I am his, my first loyalty is to Tobin Fetch. I will not giv e him up.”
Lord Rebinus stared at her for a long time. As the darkness gathered in the depths of his eyes, Margot felt heat stir deep within, an attraction she couldn’t quit e explain.
“How … curious,” Lord Rebinus said finally. “But your loyalty pleases me. My nephew is an excellent vassal, and he has never given me reason to question his motives. I will indulge this little friendship of yours. Are you s atisfied?”
Margot nodded, though part of her ached at the thought of Ash being so far away. “This isn’t an immediate thing, right?” she asked suddenly, hoping this part seemed like an afterthought. “We have a show on tonight. Ash has responsibilities back on Ardon. The tour runs another s ix weeks.”
“Very well,” Lord Rebinus agreed. “I propose a six-week engagement to see if this will work out.” He looked up at Lord Novus. “That will give you enough time to secure everything with the dragons?”
Ash’s fathe r nodded.
“Good,” Rebinus said. “Lady Margot, I look forward to our next encounter. We can get to know one another more intimately , I hope.”
Margot shook her head, but Rebinus was gone, stepping back into nothingness. There was silence for a moment, and Alick spoke. “Well, my dear, you certainly know how to keep things exciting.”
Turning to face her father, Margot watched Lord Tennere’s cold expression as he studied her, any warmth between them doused by her recent betrothal to her mother’s murderer. She opened her mouth to speak, to say anything to the stranger who was her father, but Lord Jasper stepped away into nothingness before the words could come out.