Page 98 of Wicked Heirs

“Of course.”

“It’s a calculated risk, Orpheus. One we need you to take. Besides, you can close the door again afterward, once we get what we require from her.”

Well, that was true.

Although, the thought of it, the underhanded nature of it, wasn’t actually sitting well with me right off the bat this time, not something I usually concerned myself with, so long as the results were achieved.

Again, she was bringing out different sentiments in me.

“Under her mother’s orders, the faculty here has been instructed to leave her be and not to push her. Abigail believed her daughter requires time and to proceed at her own pace to become comfortable with her true heritage and her power. However,wedon’t have the luxury of time, not with what we’re doing here.”

“The true purpose ofObsidian.”

“Precisely. Once you further her trust in you and resume your closeness, use that influence to guide her toward Edgar Marlowe’sMagic in Combatclass. It’s imperative that she immerse herself in that as soon as possible.”

“Already on my radar. I’ll handle it.”

He smiled. “I know you will.” He reached out and brushed some stray strands of hair out of my eye, sending a spark of awareness through me. “You’re doing a phenomenal job with all of this. Your father would be proud. In fact, I advise you to make him aware of what you’re doing.”

“I appreciate you saying that.” Of course, I was already well aware that I was killing it. I wasn’t the kind of being who need validation. I was stronger than that. I always had been and it had only become all the more reinforced following the awful events of theCataclysmwhere I’d had to step up.

In secret.

Even from my own father.

Even partially from my brothers.

“As for informing my father, I won’t get his hopes up. He’s only recently clawed himself back after theCataclysmand the mammoth fallout of it all. Everything withObsidian’strue purpose needs to be in place before he’s made aware.”

“As you wish,” he said, smiling bittersweet. “I know it’s difficult, especially with all the cloak and dagger protocol involved, however, it will undeniably be worth it.”

“Yes, it will be. Anything is worth it to prevent anotherCataclysmfrom coming to pass.”

“And, unfortunately, with the wayExemplarcontinues to operate, this is the only way.”

“No arguments here.” I shifted my weight. “As for Marlowe’s class, he has an affinity for me because of his goal to guide me away from my father’s way of doing things.”

“Yes, he believes he’s taking you under his wing. To some extent he is.” He smiled slyly. “Just not in the way that I am.” He ran his fingers down the length of my shirt, playing with the hem, making me suck in a stilted breath as he turned it on. “Isn’t that right, dirty prince?”

“Yes,” I breathed.

He grinned, then eased back and returned to business mode, like that hadn’t just happened. It was often a mind-fuck with him like that whenever I met with him alone.

I cleared my throat and told him, “I’ll use my good standing with Marlowe to convince him to allow what he normally wouldn’t—a student in to observe his class.”

“Yes, he’s all about doing and jumping in, not waiting on the sidelines.”

“No matter, I’ll make it happen for her.”

“Perfect.” He checked his watch. “That covers it for now.” That sly look of his returned and he cocked an eyebrow, his next words incredibly loaded, “Unless there’s anything else you wish me to assist you with in a covert manner?” His gaze raked over me, not subtle in the least as he basically drank me in, taking his fill as he’d started to do a lot more often lately.

I shifted my weight. “I need to get back.”

“If you’re sure?”

I stared out at him for a moment.

“I am. I need to. Until next time,” I said, a moment before I teleported out and back into my chambers.

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