Page 29 of The Midnight Blizzard

“It isn’t out of the realm of possibility,” Jack told me encouragingly. “The lords already drafted several proposals before that were signed into law. Your father was working on a bill that would grant full rights, and it was gaining popularity.”

“But that was when my father was alive and advocating for mage rights.” I sighed again. “And until his will is discovered, we don’t have a tenth lord.”

Jack’s smile was forced as he crossed to the exit. After a moment of listening at the door, he eased it open. “If both you and your stepmother agreed on it, you could both sign on behalf of the tenth lord since you’re the only ones claiming the estate, otherwise you would have to wait until one of you is officially proclaimed as the next lord.” He held the door open for me, and I slipped out, waiting until he silently closed and locked it again.

“Ah, but that would assume my stepmother and I agree on anyth—” I stopped dead in my tracks, paralyzed when I saw that, at the very end of the hall, my stepmother was staring as we left her rooms. She was watching Jack and me with her arms crossed, a knowing smile playing about her lips.

She knew.

Chapter 10

“No,” I breathed, staring back at Valencia. Jack whirled about, his lips parted and eyes wide.

My mouth worked, trying to form any words that would defend us and convince my stepmother that she was seeing things…anything that would protect Jack and me. But my tongue had turned to lead and lost the ability to move.

“Excuse me!” Jack called to her, straightening and walking briskly down the hall.

Too late.

Valencia turned, trotting down the stairs at a brisk pace and acting as though she hadn’t heard him.

Jack and I ran after her in a panic. I had no idea what I would say, but I had to dosomething. Jack could lose everything. I couldn’t let it happen. By the time we reached the top of the stairs, my stepmother was already at the bottom, wending her way down the hall and throwing a few backward glances our way. Was she about to report us?

Heart hammering, I chased after her with Jack.

“Beg pardon!” Jack called again, trying to look dignifiedwhile walking as quickly as he could. A guard stationed at the bottom of the stairs raised a solitary eyebrow as Jack and I went dashing past. “A word, if you please, madam!”

Once she was halfway down the hall, far enough away from the guard that we wouldn’t be overheard, Jack finally caught up to her. I followed a few steps behind, still trying to think of something to say.

“What?” Valencia made no illusions of etiquette or grace as she pivoted sharply. The self-satisfied smirk she wore froze my insides. She was going to tell.

“About what you thought you might have seen—” Jack began, but Valencia cut him off.

“What’s it worth to you for me not to tell?” she asked, her smirk broadening.

Jack and I exchanged looks.

“I think you may have misunderstood what you saw—” I started to say, but my stepmother snorted in derision.

“I know exactly what I saw and heard, as well as what would happen if I reported it. So I ask again, what’s it worth to you for me not to tell?”

“Uh…” What was it worth to me? What was I willing to sacrifice? Was she about to ask that I relinquish my claim on the estate?

Jack remained silent, staring at my stepmother with a locked jaw.

“Nothing?” Valencia tapped one of her perfectly polished and painted nails against her chin. “How unfortunate.”

“You realize that you are trying to blackmail one of the kingdom’s royal advisors, don’t you?” Jack said in a low voice. He kept his tone level and non-accusatory, but the threat was there.

“It’s notblackmail,” she answered silkily, glancing overher shoulder to ensure we were still out of earshot of the guards. “It is simply encouragement to forget what I saw.”

“What is it you hope to gain?” Jack asked calmly. I wished I had his ability to remain level-headed in situations like these. I wanted to push one of the suits of armor over onto her the next time she walked by one.

Valencia looked remarkably unabashed for someone who was blatantly blackmailing two individuals. “To be honest, I haven’t decided yet. But I’m sure we can all come to a reasonable agreement.”

“When?” Jack shifted slightly, placing himself between me and my stepmother, and I wondered if he did so to protect me from my stepmother, or to stop me from launching myself at her. Both options seemed equally likely.

“I’d like to meet with you this evening,” she told Jack, then turned to me. “As for you, tomorrow, right after breakfast.”

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