Page 36 of Dragon Unleashed

“How do you work that one out?” Zephyr says, an edge to his voice.

Chano stares at his hands before meeting my eyes. “You’re my Aeternum, chica, but Farrell is publicly pursuing you. They’re saying if I can’t even keep my fate-given mate, I shouldn’t be the Maverik boss.”

That’s why he’s been away so much. Of course his uncles would use this to their advantage. Anything to wrest control. My eye lands on the necklace sitting forgotten in the middle of the table. By accepting it I’d cause more carnage in the Maveriks, give his uncles more ammunition.

“What do you want me to do, Chano?” I place my palm in his, staring down at his big hand engulfing mine.

He sighs, before wrapping me in a hug.

“Stay safe, chica. You put on a show for the Virrey. Farrell’s right, even if I hate to admit it. This will keep you safer.”

He picks up the fine chain. His fingers fumble with the clasp for a moment before he slips it around my neck and fastens it. Naeve leans across and snaps a photo, before typing away on her tablet.

Chano’s always putting me first.

Always.

Chapter Sixteen: Farrell

As I gaze around the formal dining room my stomach knots. It’s trashed. It’s worse than his normal fits of rage. Mother’s priceless crystal lies shattered on the floor, the ornate wood paneling has been smashed through to the stonework underneath, and most of the antique furniture is in pieces.

The floor-to-ceiling windows are oddly naked without the brocade curtains that cost our family a small fortune. A single maid, eyes wide, is already trying to bundle the ripped material into a pile and drag it away.

Crashing echoes from the drawing room. Great. He’s started in there too. I swallow, checking my suit is immaculate in a shard of mirror, before following the noise. This visit is not going to plan.

Ping.

Naeve. Thank the goddesses. She’s gotten Lorelei to agree to that photo. Maybe I can temper Father’s anger with this. My fingers fly over the keypad, adding a caption, and reposting to Magabook. Lorelei’s going to hate it, but she’d hate my father’s rage even more.

Gritting my teeth, I step into the war zone. A large gilded-frame picture hits the wall at my ear and it takes everything in me not to flinch.Show no fear.He despises it when I cower.

“You’re a failure, son,” my father says, panting. He’s nearly exhausted himself with his temper tantrum.

I choose my words carefully. “I’m working with her the best I can, Father.” Never ever contradict him. That’s the rule. “Look, let me show you.”

Cautiously I approach, stepping over a destroyed Ming vase to get to him. His eyes flash but he allows me to get closer. I hold out my phone, showing him the photo, the caption.

“A necklace?” he bellows. “It should be a ring on her stupid little finger, you imbecile. That girl needs to be kept under control.”

“I’m trying.”

“Not enough. If she bonds further with the Maverik then together they’ll have more influence over your allegiance than you, boy. Think of that?”

“Father, the other two have followed me blindly until now. Naeve and Zephyr won’t turn on me.”

He paces the room, kicking wildly at the furniture.

“It’s not worth the risk. Lorelei cannot be allowed to ascend in the end, you know that, right? She’d be too powerful.”

“What? No!”

He looks up.

Hellfire. Too emotional a response. I need to rein it in.

“Why do you think I wanted to be her guardian? She will not graduate from that academy, Farrell. I will brook no opposition on that. Why a Mael had to turn up now… I swear the goddesses are laughing at us. She either remains unascended and becomes your wife or she dies before the rebellion realizeswhoshe is.”

“That’s not what we agreed, Father.”

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