Chapter 21 #2
“As it is, you’re probably the most powerful Rollins mages in the past few centuries. You could’ve given old Jermiah a run for his money,” Claudia said, eyeing the twins questioningly.
“Which was our plan, originally. When we were ready, or when he pushed everyone just a little too far, we were going to act to take out Jeremiah in a mage duel. We were gearing up to do it the day of the demon summoning, but then, all hell broke loose when the Demon Slayer showed up, and we postponed our planned coup,” Robert explained.
“How did you know to hold back?” Claudia asked, her eyes narrowing.
“A tiny touch of foresight,” Rowan admitted.
“I just knew something else was going to happen that would change our plans, but I didn’t know what, and I didn’t see it until that very morning as we were preparing.
Up to that point, we were ready to take Jeremiah down, or die trying.
We knew there would be no middle ground. We’d either succeed or die that day.”
“Instead, we got a further reprieve, and everything changed in ways we could neither expect nor predict,” Robert concluded.
“It’s been a wild ride,” Rowan agreed, smiling.
“You can say that again, sis,” Robert agreed, letting out a breath as his tone became a touch more casual.
“You can believe this or not, but I’m glad it’s worked out this way,” Gavin said. “And I want to personally thank you for trying to protect Marigold, even for a little while. Your family has a lot to answer for in regards to her treatment, but I’m glad to know that not all of you were so callous.”
Marigold was surprised by his words and even more shocked by the hand he put over hers right there on the table, for all to see.
He was making it clear to everyone in the room that they had some sort of relationship.
She felt both exhilarated by the idea and a bit scared to have anyone know about it.
Some of her family, she had no doubt, would like to either capture or kill her outright, and by putting their relationship out there for all to see, Gavin was putting himself in the line of fire.
She didn’t like that one bit. Her instinct was to protect him, not put him in danger.
Gavin saw the way Robert took note of their hands on the table and stifled a grin.
Good. He wanted everyone to know that Goldie was now under his protection.
Her family be damned. Even though Robert and Rowan had tried to shield her for the little time they’d had her, he still thought they should have done more for her.
How could they not stand up to people who were hurting her?
He’d never understand that. But thankfully, he’d never had to live in a family where evil prevailed, and everybody seemed to be looking out for themselves almost exclusively.
Under such circumstances, Robert and Rowan had been risking a lot to give Marigold even the small respite they had.
His inner lion still couldn’t quite wrap his head around that, but the human side of him was trying to cut them a little slack.
They’d been at least a little kind to her when nobody else had given a damn about her.
The bastards. If Jeremiah wasn’t already dead, Gavin would have let his lion loose on the evil son of a bitch.
As for these two, he would work with them. Trust couldn’t be born in a single meeting, but this was a start, at least. That was probably enough for now.
“Let me call down to legal and get you a sit-down with Tilly. She’s our lead attorney, and I warned her this morning that you might need a bit of her time,” Gavin said, whipping out his cell phone.
He dashed off a quick text and wasn’t surprised when Tilly answered immediately while Robert was repeating his thanks for the offer of legal advice.
“I can arrange an escort for you to Tilly’s office right now, if we’re finished here,” Gavin offered, looking up from his phone.
Robert rose and buttoned his suit jacket.
“I think we’ve done and said enough for our first meeting.
I know Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it’s going to take time for all of us to figure out where we stand with each other, but there’s one thing I want you to know, Marigold.
You are welcome in the family, though I fully understand why you wouldn’t want to deal with any of us ever again.
The dynasty did you and your parents wrong on almost every count, and I don’t think anything me or my sister can do will ever make that right.
However, you are family, and I hope you know that you are welcome to stay with me and Rowan if you have no better offers.
” Robert looked from Marigold to Gavin and back again, the hint of a smile playing around his lips.
Gavin was glad to see the other man had figured out that Goldie would be staying with Gavin and nobody else.
Still, it was kind of him to make the offer.
At least, right now it seemed kind. Time would tell if Robert and Rowan were truly on the level, or if they were too ingrained in evil to really change the course of the dynasty.
Robert helped his sister to her feet, pulling out her chair in a gentlemanly manner. His movements were precise, deliberate, and as though every step was a calculated choice. Claudia stood as well.
“I’ll just go with them to keep an eye on things magically,” she said to Gavin, though everyone heard her words.
Robert nodded, and Rowan followed her brother toward the door of the conference room, her gaze lingering on Marigold just a heartbeat longer than necessary before she joined him at the door where a trio of Gavin’s security men waited to escort them.
Neither sibling gave promises beyond what had been spoken, but the weight of their presence lingered long after they were gone.