Chapter Seventeen
Tulya
“Let Magnum have a few minutes with Blake,” I said, noting Donovan’s gaze directed at me.
I began walking toward the door without a response from him.
Truthfully, I needed a moment. My body was radiating so much heat, I decided this was what menopause must feel like…
and I was a long way off from that juncture.
It didn’t help that Cinder was a gigantic ball of stress and feelings.
She was strung out more than anyone I’d ever helped, and the longer I waited, the more my own symptoms ratcheted.
Except my stupid body had no idea what it was actually about to attempt; it only itched to take the suffering away from Cinder.
“Okay,” Donovan agreed, and his palm met my lower back. I reminded myself he was stepping outside and relished in the slight relief I felt on his touch, a cold chill taking over my sauna-like status.
Of course, I kept these thoughts to myself and remained moving.
Once outside, Cinder nearly collapsed onto the walkway, sitting down and burying her face in her hands. I had to shift my eyes from her as it was all too much for my internal system.
“If that’s how you feel, Cindy, what about me? Magnum is the father of my child.” Valerie opened her mouth—stupidly—saying Cinder’s name wrong.
I was in the middle of deciding whether it was purposeful or not when Cinder shouted, “Don’t talk to me, and my fucking name is Cinder.”
Donovan said, “Cinder, Valerie, enough.” He spoke both their names firmly.
“What?” The two women spoke in unison for what would probably be the only time.
“You need to calm down. Both of you.” That was all he said, and Cinder promptly dropped her head back in her hands.
During all this I’d lost the tiny bit of touch with Donovan, and my temperature was spiking. Cinder was nowhere near calming, and if I was honest, this wasn’t great for me.
“Valerie,” Donovan shifted his attention, “we need to talk.” He spoke quietly, moving his body close to hers so no one could eavesdrop.
“You know Blake is special. And she’s certainly captured my love in a few days.
She’s sweet and kind…and like us.” He stumbled through his emotions and explaining.
“She’s not going to be able to stay here.
She belongs in Rubia,” he finally spit out.
The bright sun beat off Donovan’s hair, casting a glow on him, and I could see a small sheen of perspiration forming along his brow. Despite his words being cool as a cucumber, or however that expression went, he was not relaxed.
“That’s why we were going there. To Rubia,” Valerie said as if that were still possible, or ever going to happen. I’d give her this, she was one stubborn lady.
“Listen, I know you’re not daft, so you have to know by now that’s not happening. It’s forbidden.”
“I don’t listen to you. Your brother makes his own rules.”
I turned to see if Cinder was watching the verbal sparring, and she was, her head rapidly ping-ponging between the two.
“My brother doesn’t make his own rules. Neither do I. We answer to the Minister, and this is not permitted. Over and out. I wish there was an explanation that would get through to you, but I can’t find it.”
Valerie stomped close and waved her finger in his face. “I don’t abide by your rules, and neither does Blake—”
“She will. The Minister will be sure of it, and the sooner you get that, the faster this can be resolved.”
“Lucky for Blake I don’t answer to the Minister.”
The pair continued to spar, likely drawing the attention of a few neighbors.
“She’s Rubian,” Donovan said, whispering the second word. “And my brother has already broken the law by telling you about us. There will be no saving grace here. Blake will need to be taken to where she is like others—”
I felt myself nodding, which was a stupid move, but he spoke the truth.
Valerie turned her attention toward me. “What the hell do you know? You’re the witch who was sent here to make things worse for me.”
“Hey.” Donovan’s tone turned sinister. “I’d watch your mouth, Valerie. She’s the Minister’s niece,” he followed up with, protecting me.
It wasn’t needed, but it didn’t go unnoticed. “Let’s all calm down,” I started to say.
“No,” Cinder stood abruptly, interrupting me.
“Let’s not calm down, Tuvy. This woman,” she said, poking her finger at Valerie, “this woman doesn’t fit with us here, nor in Rubia.
Magnum went against the rules and higher law, and she, sadly, has to pay the price for his mistakes.
I’m sorry for you,” she said while turning to face her arch nemesis.
“But you can’t be mad at me or Tuvy. Get angry with Magnum.
It’s an age-old story, be careful who you fall for…
He didn’t heed it, and neither did you. But here’s the thing—Magnum is Rubian, and he knew better.
You didn’t, I’ll give you that, but your daughter is also Rubian.
Magnum and Blake belong in Rubia. And, well, his indiscretion and the resulting child is my battle to deal with when it comes to my future husband. ”
Cinder’s voice was rising, my own body temperature along with it, and Magnum was gripping his forehead while Valerie clenched her fists. Everything was unraveling, and I wasn’t sure where to center my focus.
“Valerie, you don’t have a choice. I’m glad you’re allowing Magnum some time now. I’m hoping he’s preparing Blake for a change,” Donovan said, simply stating the facts as he believed them.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I could feel Valerie raging.
Donovan had just made everything ninety million times worse, tossing gasoline onto a burning wildfire.
Except when I opened my eyes, I didn’t expect Valerie to charge Donovan, fists in the air, pummeling his chest and screaming for the whole world to hear.
“You will not take my daughter!”
Donovan’s own hands came to wrap around Valerie’s wrists, gently guiding her from his body. “Valerie, please don’t touch me,” he spoke calmly. “Let’s go inside, maybe to the kitchen?” He continued to be calm, despite beads of sweat now lining his forehead.
“I’m getting Magnum,” Cinder declared, storming toward the door.
“Cin—come here,” I pleaded. It was clear no one knew what a young and impressionable commodity Blake was.
My only understanding of her age and the current predicament was when I came into my power close to her age.
Everyone around me sought a piece of my soul, and I didn’t want that for Blake. She deserved to just be a kid.
“No. Do what you came here for, Tuvy, and shut up. Just be quiet and do it!”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Donovan shaking his head. I wasn’t sure if it was because he knew I was scared to death of the transfer or if he truly thought it wasn’t the correct time.
There wasn’t an opportunity to ponder it because Valerie took off after Cinder, and Donovan turned toward me. “I’m going to kill my brother. Of course, after I get Blake safely back to Rubia. She cannot be trusted here—”
His words were hurried and slightly frantic, yet I argued, “That’s not your call.”
“I’m the head of my family, and it is my fucking call, Tulya.
You know this. The House of Malachite is mine to guide into the future.
Your family has their way, and we have ours.
We don’t operate like they do here in the States.
Whether we agree or not, it doesn’t matter.
We have long-standing rules and customs,” Donovan spit out at me.
Hurt could have taken over, but I knew he wasn’t wrong. Mostly, my heart bled for Blake. “You can’t just take her,” I argued back.
“Don’t you think I know that? That’s why I’m trying to have Magnum handle it, but Valerie is a…a nightmare—”
“Whoa,” I interrupted him. “She’s a woman afraid of losing her child. You can’t really believe that about her.”
“Okay, you’re right. I’m sure she’s a lovely woman and a great mom.
But let’s be honest, Magnum is gone for her, and I don’t think he will push her hard.
” His green eyes looked venomous as the vein pulsed in his neck.
“I’m doing the best I can,” he said, his palm coming around my wrist softly.
“I don’t want to hurt you, or Blake, or anyone.
But I have my mom and your mom and likely the Minister breathing down my back.
It’s more pressure than the business deals I’m working on. ”
“I wish it wasn’t like this.”
My words were quiet as was his “Me too.” Then, “Come on,” he said before he weaved his fingers through mine as shouting emanated from the house.
He added, “We’re not doing the transfer today.
” It was as if he’d read my mind. “We have to calm them all down, and then Mag is going to have to make sure Valerie stays put with Blake.”
“Can’t wait to see that,” I murmured as we walked inside the house and a glass came hurling through the air.
“You’re nothing to me,” Valerie screamed at Cinder.
I couldn’t help but notice the confidence Cinder marched inside with; she wasn’t the least bit spooked by the crystal pitcher that had been aimed at her head but hit the wall instead.
Magnum at least had the idea to hold Blake close to his body, her back against his thigh. Poor thing, her head whipped between all the anger-spewing adults in the room.
This was deteriorating, and I wondered if I should go look for Marley…until Magnum dropped down to his knees and turned his daughter to face him.
“Bumble, I’m sorry,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
I wasn’t sure when Magnum had become Dad of the Year, but taking a quick look around at Donovan and Cinder, neither did they. The only one who appeared unsurprised was Valerie; she’d seen this side of him before.
“This isn’t about you.” He brushed a stray hair off his daughter’s face. “I love you, but I made some mistakes. You know where Daddy is from?”
Blake nodded and said softly, “Somewhere far away, not like here, but I know I’m not supposed to tell.”