Page 68 of Ruled By Magic

He didn’t return the smile or the greeting. He just stared. I couldn’t stand the silence. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Mr. Rahl.”

Leo’s dad seemed to shake himself and held out his hand. “Call me Andrew. Pleased to meet you too.” His voice had lost all its warmth, and as he looked between us, his face hardened. “I can only apologize for the degrading position my son put you in. It’s quite unforgivable.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he raised his hand. “Don’t defend him, please. I know from my friends in the palace that things appear to have worked out rather well between the two of you, but that’s just good fortune. It doesn’t excuse what he did.”

“We’re together,” I blurted. Andrew’s brow creased, but he didn’t interrupt. “I know it didn’t start well, but I don’t regret anything. We’re happy.”

Andrew nodded, but glared at Leo. “And you’re going to take care of her? Undo some of the damage you’ve done?” He looked at me again and let out an angry breath. “Remove that disgusting brand from her face?”

Leo gripped my hand tighter. “Yes.”

Andrew closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “It’s a start, at least. Sit down and tell me what’s happened.”

Leo explained about the group in the wine cellar and left with his dad to retrieve them. I sank into an ancient leather sofa.

A jumble of elderly furniture and knickknacks filled the room. A pang of homesickness for Leo’s chaotic bedroom ricocheted through me. Like father, like son. Photos balanced at random on sideboards and on the dusty window ledge. Some older ones held a beautiful woman who had to be his mother. The rest mostly showed Leo, his dad, and a large brown dog. One caught my eye. Leo as a teenager, with a sulky frown and hair dyed the same vivid blue as his magic. I gestured to it when he walked in.

“Did you get kicked out of your Academy for that?”

He settled next to me, lips curved into a smirk. “Of course not. I was their star pupil. You’d be shocked at what I got away with.”

I laughed at the sheer arrogance. “Perhaps I should pass this one to the circulars. What do you think?”

He raised a brow. “I think you’re very cheeky. I should—”

Andrew entered the room, followed by the rest of Peter’s crew. Leo fell silent.

The group perched awkwardly on the antique furniture. After introductions, Leo got his dad up to speed, beginning with the assassination attempt on the mountain.

Andrew gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I tried. You refused to talk to me, remember?”

Andrew’s coldness toward Leo softened as I described his burnout and the risk he’d taken.

“I wouldn’t have thought it possible for you to burn yourself out,” Andrew said. “You’re still unable to use magic?”

“Yes. It’s very frustrating.”

“I’m sure.”

Leo continued his tale. At the first mention of Atar, Andrew sucked in a breath. “I suspected as much, but hoped it was otherwise. I was going to raise the possibility with you myself once you reappeared.”

Leo frowned. “But why? I don’t understand why they’d want me dead.”

“We’ll talk about that in a moment. Please, tell me the rest.” He glanced around the group. “Anything you remember, leave nothing out.”

I watched Andrew as Damien concluded the tale, describing the wolf attack and Peter’s abduction. Andrew twisted his hands together in a white-knuckled grip. Fear coiled in my belly. He knew something. I shifted closer to Leo.

Damien finished, and silence fell. All eyes rested on Andrew. Leo’s hand found mine. I saw my worry reflected in his face.

“Son.” Andrew stood. “We need to have a private conversation. I’ll get your companions settled in the kitchen with some food.”

Damien jumped up, followed by Atalie and Hex.

“Should I—” I began.

“No. You stay.” Leo’s clipped voice and tense limbs betrayed his fear.

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