Drayton
Silence.
I didn’t like the way that Marian and Elec weren’t breaking stares.
Elec was pissed at us, but I could see his interest. He was curious about her proposal, and so the hell was I.
Even though I felt like I was faced with a brick wall, I forced myself forward.
The action had our Main Master looking even angrier as his gaze snapped to me.
“Marian, go on. What do you have in mind for Elec?”
She turned from me, facing him. “We will give you the support from a royal line. A bridge to not just our circle but London’s.
When the Unavowed takes his place, and we take ours, we will back your very public search for a wife.
We will host you in whatever country you choose.
And we will assist you with power like you wouldn’t believe.
You want our lines better, stronger, and more powerful?
I can help you get that, Elec. You may not like the idea.
You may hate what has happened, but we both know what the connection to The Unavowed does for us.
We don’t have to be enemies with them anymore.
We can have something better—their best—and as part of our circle.
Here. And before you want to argue with me, it won’t be tainted, it’ll be enhanced. This could be a good thing.”
“I really don’t like you.”
Marian smiled, and I moved in closer, wrapping my arm around her to show my support. More, Elec watched.
“Not many people do, but you love our circle. You love what we stand for and that makes my offer tempting. Elec, you deserve this. If you want what we both know you’re worth, you will take it. You know where it’ll put you if you do.”
I tried to hold in my own smile but couldn’t.
“This is why you’re the best. I’ve heard about it, but now I see it.
” My hand stroked her side, and I couldn’t deny the lightness inside after mine and Marian’s altercation.
She genuinely wanted to try to make this work, and after so much pain on both of our sides, I couldn’t help but want to try.
It wouldn’t be easy. I knew that like I knew my life would be a million times more miserable without her.
But we both deserved more. We deserved the best of each other.
Elec shifted on his feet, his jaw flexing, repeatedly.
“I’m not saying yes to anything, but what’s the price? You want something.”
Marian’s hand trailed over my chest, and she turned, heading to the bar to pour a glass half full with liquor.
She took a sip as she walked back to us, shrugging as her face stayed hard.
When her eyes lifted, I wasn’t the only one who seemed affected.
I couldn’t help but walk forward in fascination—longing.
That look. It was addicting. It was everything.
It was a missing piece of me I always dreamed of.
Elec didn’t move. I wasn’t even sure he’d taken a breath.
“My mother had big dreams for our family. She’d be turning in her grave right now if you didn’t have her body parts displayed as trophies around this place instead.
As it is, I could care less about what happened to that bitch.
What I want is a mentor. I want to be able to walk back into The Order and make those guards kill themselves just from looking at me.
I want to hurt them without anyone knowing.
I want to whisper a word into their ear and their brains believe acid is eating away their insides.
I know you can teach me how to do more than the look I’m giving you right now.
I need to know more, Elec. I need you to help me make them pay.
Real torture isn’t enough. The body will only process so much pain.
I want them to feel it more than if I were cutting them apart.
They have to feel it. They have to suffer like I did. ”
“Absolutely not. Did she teach you that look or did you learn it by watching her?”
Marian didn’t answer. She took a bigger drink. A blur of anger and something entirely powerful appeared on her face as she stared him down.
“How did you learn it?”
Nothing.
“Oh, you’re not talking to me now?”
Still, she didn’t speak.
“I can make sure they die, but I will not teach you. You’re lucky you’re even still breathing after what you just did.”
“What I did? Elec, you’re either deluding yourself or the truth refuses to sink in.
No matter how much you may want, you can’t kill me.
” She finished off the drink. “You can’t touch me.
You can’t do anything to me if I don’t comply.
I am so far above you, above all of you, it is only my words that matter.
And you refuse them—my offer, partnership, my need for help. ”
Elec was breathing heavier as more anger took over his features.
“Marian, you’re upset—"
“Poor choice of words.”
“Okay, you’re hurt, pissed, you’re processing. Are you refusing to comply with the remaining tests you’re scheduled for here at The Gardens?”
“I don’t play games, and I am nobody’s puppet.
Not anymore. I know what your tests are for, and I decline, just like you declined helping me.
We’re done talking. I do believe I’ll be contacting The Collective High Council.
” Marian turned to me. “They can find a new Devil of Hollywood. I wish to move to London.”
I didn’t miss Elec’s rage. It had me taking in the words.
Assessing them. My brain felt heavy, but my wife needed me.
I knew that, somehow, even if I was slightly confused by what was happening.
“If that’s what you wish.” I stepped in closer to her, again showing my support, but it was Elec’s growl that had me watching him closer as I continued to address her.
“I’ll do what I can to get out of my duties here, Marian. It might take some time.”
“It won’t. What’s happening is something bigger than anyone is willing to speak about.
There’s been a shift from those high above, and I’m the key to it concerning our circle.
Putting us in London only gives the ones who support The Unavowed more opportunity.
They wouldn’t like us leaving because there’s benefit to us staying, but they wouldn’t be opposed. Would they, Elec?”
“You’re not moving to London.”
She turned to face him, throwing him a look.
“Why? Because their circle becomes more powerful with us in it? Because it puts us in deeper with The Unavowed? What’s happening is all your fault.
You don’t want to be part of this rising.
And that’s what it is, Elec. We’re going to be unstoppable, and you’re going to miss out all because you can’t get over this thing with my mother.
We used to be friends. Vivia became one of my best friends when we all started hanging out.
We all got close. I didn’t have anything to do with what my mother did.
I was a victim in all this. And yet I’m the one who had to pay.
From The Unavowed. From you. From the circle.
Speaking of which, didn’t I hear the Whitlocks were having a child?
Perhaps I’ll give them my deal and make them just as unstoppable. Their heir—”
“Enough.”
Elec’s lips peeled back from his teeth as he stepped in closer to Marian. It was automatic to put myself between them which only had Elec scanning my face but stopping on my eyes.
“Move.”
“Fuck no.”
“Drayton Pennington…move.”
I needed to, but I couldn’t. Not with the threat that was so heavily embedded in his gaze.
It was Marian’s fingers settling on my far cheek that had me breaking stares with Elec to look at her.
Green sucked me in. I felt myself pull her into me, protecting her—needing her as her eyes turned rounder.
“There’s the love I was looking for…” Marian’s face softened, and her hand caressed down my cheek to settle over my heart.
It had my every ounce of focus split between her and what felt like a sudden enemy at my back.
I was hyper-aware of the invisible pressure of Elec as he waited behind me.
“Thank you. I’ll be okay. Why don’t you make the calls and get the jet ready. It’s time to go home and plan.”
“You’re not leaving.”
Elec’s voice only turned deeper as I angled to the side to keep him in my peripheral.
“It’s okay. He’s not going to do anything.” Marian’s fingers dug in, and my pulse exploded as her digit lifted and hit back down. Tap-tap. Tap. “Let me finish talking to Elec. Get the jet ready.”
My glare was automatic as I looked over to a man I had thought was my friend. “We’re leaving. Watch the way you talk to my wife. She may allow it. I will not.”
“Unbelievable.”
His lips parted, and it was hard to break my hold on her as I walked to the counter for my Gardens’ phone. Still, I watched their every move. Listened to their every word.
“Have you reconsidered?”
“He never stood a chance.” Elec looked between me and her. “And I missed it. You got him from the beginning. Just like that. Just like your mother.”
“Drayton loves me.”
Elec didn’t speak, and I couldn’t make sense of what they were saying. A part of me didn’t care. Marian wasn’t okay. Not here. Not with Elec. Not with what happened to her. I hit the operator announcing my orders for my jet and waited as she put me on hold.
“The Unavowed will never become—”
“Don’t, Elec. We both know that’s a lie. He will. Drayton and I won’t stop until he is. And we’re not alone. You know that. Do you not see the advantage this could give us? Let go of the bullshit with my mother and look at me. Listen to me. Who are we?”
Elec stayed quiet, his brow creasing.
“We’re nothing. We have no creed. We have no identity outside of ourselves.
We fight or marry amongst our lines for position or power.
It’s pathetic. You want more. My mother wanted more.
This is not enough for you, and we both know it.
I’m giving you something no one else can.
I’m giving you the opportunity to help create our own worth.
Our own creed. Help make something of what we are.
Your heart is in the right place. Do it. Work with me. All I want is—”
“I know what you want.” Elec stepped closer, and so did I.
He didn’t miss it as he took me in. “Will you use your gifts you picked up from your mother on The Unavowed? Is he the real reason you want me to teach you more? Stop while you’re ahead.
Otherwise, you’ll get yourself killed just like she did. ”
“You’re reaching, and we both know it. This is about us.
This is me letting you lead us. Me, offering you power like you can’t imagine.
I am not my mother. I’m smarter. So are you.
You’re going to take my deal. You’re going to tell me to have Drayton stand down, and you’re going to keep me at The Gardens, close to you.
You’re going to teach me so I never have to be afraid of anyone hurting me again.
I won’t abuse this gift like her. You know I won’t.
I know what will happen to me if I do. I have a future to make thrive.
We both do. Mentor me. Say you’ll do it.
I am no threat to you; I’m an asset. Say it, Elec. ”
For moments something passed between them. Elec licked his lips, a smile finally tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Power?”
“More than you could dream of.”
“You’re not your mother.” He glanced at the floor and when he looked back at her, his smile was wider. “Perhaps there’s a few things I can teach you. Small things to accomplish what you need. There will be rules.”
“I like rules.”
“And you have to listen to everything I say. Everything.”
“You have my word.”
More silence.
“If I teach you, I own you just as much as The Unavowed. Your loyalty will be split between us, but I come first. You side with me. You stay at our circle.”
“I don’t want to be anywhere else. Don’t give me reason to.”
My hand lowered, and I hung up the phone.
“Welcome home, Marian. I’ll give you the real tour of The Gardens. Fuck, you’re both going to love it here.”