Page 51 of Depths of Desire
Yes,my father agrees.That is exactly what it means. That’s not good.
No, it’s not,Renzo mutters.It also means that if Malrick brings his liaison with Luna to the Council, chances are good he’s going to win.
I grind my teeth, flexing my fingers to keep from breaking the other corner of my desk.He’s already brought it to the Council. Or at least he’s putting the Council together now. So what are we going to do?I ask.
Nothing,my father replies.Luna is not our responsibility. Nor is she a problem we should take on.
I disagree,I interject through clenched teeth.
My father’s frustration pulses through the bond.You need to be realistic. I realize you have feelings for the girl, but she’s more trouble than she’s worth.
Anger flares in me, hot and sharp. I fight to keep it contained.Regardless of my feelings for the girl, if we don’t protect Luna, it means Renzo’s not protecting his people. That’s another sign of weakness. It means Malrick wins. And our family—our name—looks weak. We can’t let Luna go just because it’s inconvenient.
I think he’s right, Father,Luca adds.As much as I’d like to say it doesn’t matter, I think it really does. We can’t be seen as weak. Of all things, letting Malrick get a foothold in the familyis a disaster waiting to happen. He’s already had Luna’s father under his thumb for years. If the witches are talking, the rest of the realm is listening. Malrick’s probably telling anyone who will listen that he’s had a man on the inside this whole time. We can’t afford to lose Luna.
My father’s anger, white-hot, flashes through the bond.I will not endanger all that this family has created over a woman.
Renzo, quiet until now, speaks.Father, you can’t let the past—and what happened with Mother—dictate your actions now.
The silence is instant and brutal. No one mentions Mother. Ever.
I freeze, and I know Luca does the same. We wait for the explosion. Instead, my father exhales.I am not letting what happened with your mother dictate my actions.
You are,Renzo presses.But if you look at this logically, Nico and Luca are right; if we let Luna go, it’s just another nail in our coffin. We must fight for her. We must find a way to protect her—and protect our people. Then we hold Malrick accountable for everything. It’s the only way we survive this.
My father is silent, but the rage roiling through him is palpable through our connection. However, he’s thinking now.What would you have me do?he finally asks.
We have to find out what our options are,Renzo says.
I already did,I admit.
What do you mean?my father asks sharply.
I asked Kael to dig around. He laid out the options.
Renzo frowns.And?
We don’t have many. If Malrick’s already called the Council, he’s stacking it with his supporters. Kael suggested we do the same.
Luca chimes in.We won’t have many supporters left. Not if people think we’re crumbling.
My gut twists.He’s right. Vampires are like sharks around\ a sinking ship. If they smell blood in the water, you’re done.
Then we try for neutral,my father says after a pause.Fine. We’ll aim for neutrality.
Any other options?Luca asks.
There is one,I admit.I could marry Luna.
But that would make the curse come true,Luca fires back.
Not necessarily,I say.
My father’s presence sharpens.
I continue.The curse says ‘the sisters three.’ Luna isn’t a sister to Mia and Pippa.
That’s splitting hairs,Luca says.They will all be sisters-in-law.
