Chapter 57 – Wave #2
“She also is not walking around alone,” Jarred decided to pile on. “One of us or her friends is with her at all times. Being discreet about such things is important when operating on the neutral ground, wouldn’t you agree, Lord Stormwell?”
Well, her mates were certainly pulling their weight in this fight. Wave felt a flare of pride and affection when she looked down at the table, meeting their eyes one by one.
“What do you say, Henney?” Lucifer asked. “The attempt was unsuccessful after all, and the males did take good care of her afterward and added security measures.”
“I wouldn’t want to tax Brokenstar’s time too much,” Grandfather mused, but Wave could read the glint in his eyes. He was getting exactly what he had wanted. More concessions from the Lord of Hell. What Wave couldn’t figure out, however, was why Lucifer was capitulating so easily.
“I’ll manage,” Esserieh said gruffly and his sharp glare made Wave keep her mouth shut. “Tomorrow morning at five, I expect you to be ready to train, Lady Stormwell.”
“Of course, Lord Brokenstar,” Wave agreed easily. If there was anyone she trusted to keep her alive, it was Uncle Essi. Her easy acceptance made Grandfather’s eyes narrow and Wave sighed. “I mean, oh no! Not at five o’clock! The horror.”
That got several chuckles around the table. Not her grandparents, but she hadn’t expected anything from them. They slipped back to mindless polite discussion for the rest of the meal, until the dessert.
There was a restless energy swirling around Lucifer and a smug—I know more than you, little girl—look on her grandfather’s face. It kept her nerves on edge and eyes flickering from face to face, trying to decipher what else could be going on.
Once they finished the delicious pastries and the plates were cleared away by Yash and Hazard, Lucifer finally spoke.
“There’s a second reason for this visit.”
Hellion immediately tensed, and the others shifted their attention to the Lord of Hell. Even Esserieh looked wary when he glanced at Wave. Only her grandfather looked satisfied, while her grandmother’s lips were pinched.
“And what would that be?” Wave asked softly, bracing. Lucifer ignored her and focused on his son, who was glaring fiercely.
“I had hoped we could avoid this option, Marchellion,” Lucifer said. “But since you clearly botched things up, you leave me no other option.”
“What?” Hellion erupted, clearly too on edge to be polite despite the dark look Esserieh threw his way.
“You are engaged to Wayla Stormwell.”
Silence fell for a full second as Wave’s head spun. Grandmother pursed her lips, looking mildly reproving, while Grandfather looked smug.
“What?” Wave shrieked. It wasn’t a small shriek. A few of the windows rattled, and both Jarred and Justin were covering their ears.
Lucifer smiled tightly when he turned his attention to Wave.
“Of course, Wayla darling, you can keep your mate and Claimed and whoever else you wish. Your harem—other relationships are no issue with me.”
Wave opened her mouth, but Esserieh stepped in before she could speak.
“What he means is that he’s not going to wage a war he knows he’s going to lose. All your companions and friends are safe from Hell’s interference. The Lord of Hell is above using your loved ones as bargaining chips.” Esserieh glared at Lucifer. “Aren’t you?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Lucifer replied. “What he said.”
It was very clear that he was not above such a thing, but Wave trusted Esserieh to at least warn her before anything drastic boiled over. She narrowed her eyes at Esserieh and snarled at Lucifer before turning her gaze to Hellion.
“Hey, don’t look at me. I had no idea,” Hellion hurried to say, but there was a gleeful glint in his eyes that drove Wave mad.
Grandfather pulled out a binder from his briefcase and laid it on the table. Lucifer pulled a similar one out too and set it down.
“The contracts. Binding and signed,” Grandfather said.
“When did this happen?” Hellion asked.
Grandfather answered with an indulgent smile. “It was agreed upon when Wayla turned three and the contract was signed when she turned five and it became clear she’d likely be the heir.”
“This is bullshit.” Wayla scowled, and electricity ran over her fingers.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Wayla,” Grandmother huffed.
“Did Father know about this?” Wayla shouted, not backing down one bit.
“Of course not,” Grandfather said, sounding pretty condescending. “He would have thrown a fit, just like you are right now.”
“You fucking manipulating power-mad piece of shit,” she spat out. “If you, even for a second, think that comparing me to Father is an insult, your brain has rotted beyond repair.”
“Wayla!” Grandmother scolded.
“Ms. Stormwell,” Lucifer began, but Wave was now on a roll.
“I’ll get to you in a second!” She pushed up from the table.
Engaged! To Hellion!
Yeah, she could believe it all too easily that she had been sold as a piece of an alliance. She had heard too many fights about her father’s unmarried and unbonded status in her childhood. It made perfect sense that Grandfather would have immediately taken steps to control her future like this.
Electricity ran up her arms and mixed with water, creating a sizzling display as she fought to get her temper under control. She took a step toward her grandfather and suddenly the front door banged open and the guards rushed in.
“Lord Stormwell!”
“It’s all right,” Grandfather said. “Control yourself, Granddaughter.”
“I’m not your puppet to play with,” Wave said, eyes locked to her grandfather’s gaze.
Lord Stormwell tried to look unaffected, but his mouth tensed into a disapproving frown.
“This reckless display is beneath your station, Wayla,” he rebuked.
“Wayla, no!” Irishen shouted, but it was too late.
With an ear-shattering shriek of rage, Wayla let her power fly. A ball made of electricity and water sped toward her grandfather, who refused to flinch. It hit his cheek with an audible crunch, causing the skin to mottle and bruise. Soon, the mark began to fade.
No one breathed. Even Lucifer looked on with wide eyes and bated breath. Lord Stormwell swiped the last vestiges of water from his cheek while looking at Wave, who shook her hand out.
A game. It was all a game her father had taught her to play. Uncontrolled emotions and reckless actions. Unsuitable and unpredictable to be an heir and paraded around publicly. She needed to give them a reaction, any reaction, to hide her true feelings.
And it gave her a small chance of relief. A way to siphon her power off without rousing suspicion. She needed that now more than ever and tried to breathe in deep to curb the urge to send another ball at her grandfather’s nose.
Still, the silence held.
Lord Stormwell dried his hand with a napkin and his jaw flexed before he looked at Wave again. “Are you done?”
“Yes,” Wave replied and wiggled her fingers.
“I expected better of you, Wayla,” Grandfather said. “If you are going to attack me in the middle of dinner, I expect more significant damage.”
Slowly, the rage calmed in Wave’s stomach, and she rolled her eyes. Yes, her grandfather could be terrifying, but more than disobedience, he despised weakness. It was why her father had come up with the plan to make her seem unsuitable as an heir. It seemed it was all for nothing anyway.
She was the acknowledged heir now. A piece on a board to be bartered off in a game of politics.
A never-ending twisted game. One her father had refused to play in the end and that may have cost him his life.
Slowly, Wave tucked her feelings aside and pushed her rumbling power behind a shield. She blinked and smiled sweetly.
“But we are past dessert. You are losing your touch. Now apologize.”
Her grandfather frowned, and she gritted her teeth. “Wayla—”
“Apologize, or I will renounce my bloodline this very second. If you are going to insult it, why should I be a part of it?”
That was not a threat thrown around lightly. Or ever. The gasps that rang around the table and the cut off curses filled the air. When her grandfather said nothing, thinking to call her bluff, Wave turned to Lucifer.
“No, no, I—”
“As a High Lord, you’ll be a fit witness. I, Wa—”
That was as far as she got when Grandfather’s aura lashed out, cutting her off. “Fine, Granddaughter of mine. If that is the price you demand, I apologize.”
She turned back to him, hiding her gloating. He had flinched first. “For what?”
“I apologize for speaking ill of the dead.”
“Try again.”
“I should not have said that about your father,” he said, some emotion flickering in his eyes.
“One more time. You are getting warmer.”
“I’m sorry. My son, your father, was a good father. I should have never talked like that about him in front of you.” Lord Stormwell still looked defiant, but his tone finally sounded sincere.
“Accepted.” Wave smoothed out her dress and hair. “Now then, where were we?”
She moved to sit back down, ignoring all the stares.
Her relationship with her family was messy, and that was just her stormbringer side.
If she ever ended up hosting a dinner to her siren bloodline, this would look like a walk in the park.
Not that she would ever dare to go against Mother and Grandmere like she did her father’s lineage.
“The contract,” Lucifer supplied helpfully. Now that the crisis had passed, the demon lord seemed beyond amused.
“The contract is binding, Wayla,” Grandfather started with his lecturing tone.
Wave rolled her eyes.
“I know that. If it was drafted by the two of you, there’s no getting out of it. I’m not an idiot,” she huffed.
“Well, then—” Lucifer started, but Wave cut him off.
“I will—however—read it thoroughly and become the biggest pain in your ass through any loop, twist, or trick necessary if you even breathe wrong around my mates or friends.” She completely ignored her grandparents. She had nothing to say to them tonight.
“Told you,” Esserieh said, nudging Lucifer’s side.
“Yes, yes, you did. Stop gloating. She’s perfect for him.”
Wave’s eyes narrowed again, but she let it go, opting to pull the binder over as she sat on the table and began to read.
The contract was dense and carefully worded, just like she expected and on the first skim, she didn’t find any glaring loopholes.
Not that she expected it. She would have to read this over and over and over again to figure out her angle.
And no, she was not fixating on the contract to avoid dealing with Hellion. Hell, for all she knew, he would soon join her and try to find a way out too. It wasn’t like the demon wanted to be engaged to her.
“Um”—Hazard cleared his throat—“we still have some dessert left, if anyone would like some?”
“I think it is time for us to leave,” Grandfather said. “Thank you for dinner.”
Grandmother just stood, giving Wave a disapproving look that she ignored.
“It was a pleasure,” Irishen said, once again smoothing things over. “Let me walk you to the door.”
From the corner of her eyes, Wave saw him guide her grandparents out with Xuan. Lucifer stayed put and Esserieh crossed his arms, looking displeased. It didn’t take long for Irishen and Xuan to return.
“They are gone and the portal is closed,” Xuan announced. “I checked for traces but found none, so it was a temporary passageway.”
“Good,” Marc muttered. Wave tuned them out when they began discussing the wards and adjustments. She pored over page after page of the contract that signed her life away.
A tad melodramatic maybe, but she was... Engaged. To. Marchellion. Fucking. Burningstar.
She had earned a bit of dramatics.