Page 45 of The Forsaken Heir
That thought sent my mind spiraling toward Elle again. Sitting here in my office wasn’t helping. I needed a change of scenery. Maybe I’d have better luck concentrating in the library. I gathered the reports, then headed downstairs. The house was more vibrant than it had been over the weekend. Many more of the noble families had envoys here at court. I cared little for all of that. All around, people stood in corners and alcoves whispering. Deals being made, alliances formed, alliances broken, plans and schemes being hatched. It had been like this for hundreds of years, and would probably continue for hundreds more. Still, I took no part in it unlessabsolutelynecessary. As I strolled the halls, people called out greetings to me. For the most part, they simply wanted to make a good impression on the crown prince, but more than likely, they hoped I would deign to stop and talk with them—perhaps bring them into my inner circle. All I gave in return were polite nods.
If I’d hoped to find solace and peace in the library, I was deeply mistaken. Benedictus Beatrix stood by a wall of bookshelves, a group of men around him. They grew silent as I walked in, their eyes locking on me as I entered.
“Ah,” Benedictus said, reserved haughtiness on his face. “The prince graces us with his presence.”
“Good day to you, Lord Beatrix,” I said, keeping my voice even and polite.
“You know,” he said, glancing around at the others in his company. “We were just talking about you. Come. Join us.”
Groaning inwardly, I gave the men my best smile. “Of course. What were we discussing?”
Even though it was still early in the day, the men all held glasses of amber liquid. The smell told me it was cognac. Day-drinking on a Tuesday? How aristocratic of them.
A mountain of a man, a full head taller than Benedictus, raised his glass to greet me as I joined their little circle. His name was Marcus, the leader of the Atticus family.
“We were talking about the Laurent girl,” Marcus said.
“Really?” My fingers tightened on the bundle of files in my hand, heat rising up my neck. I sent a loaded glance toward Benedictus. “And what, pray tell, were you discussing about Lady Laurent?”
To my great surprise, Benedictus’s smile faded, and he bowed his head.
“Your Highness, I want to apologize to you for how I reacted to Brielle Laurent’s appearance in the throne room the other day. I was out of line and behaved in a way unbefitting of my house and name.”
In all my years, I’d never heard this man give more than a cursory or forced apology for anything he’d done or said. Hiswords now came with the ring of regret and truth. The look on my face must have telegraphed my surprise because he chuckled ruefully.
“Yes, Aurelius, the great Benedictus Beatrix can admit when he was wrong. It was after rumors spread of how her family had treated her that I realized how heartless and cruel I’d been.”
“Her family?” I asked dumbly, still in shock at his apology.
Marcus nodded, frowning with consternation. “Yes. Word has spread that she was banished for being unable to shift and not having an inner wolf. None of us have ever heard of anything so heinous. Turning one’s back on family is disgusting.”
“Yes,” Benedictus agreed. “To be turned away from your own family for what is beyond your control is…” He shook his head. “It is beyond contemptible.”
I wanted to say that the way he treated his son was equally contemptible, but again, I knew it was more disappointment than disgust or hatred of his child. Benedictus had wished for Vincent to be a powerful and well-versed shifter. Instead, the man was born different, with interesting ways of approaching things and an abrupt, unfiltered way of interacting with people. He’d never do to Vincent what had been done to Elle.
“This is true,” I said, but my anger still simmered. “It still doesn’t excuse the disrespect you showed her yesterday. Nor the half-hearted apology you gave her.”
The men shifted their weight, their eyes darting away. Benedictus, for his part, kept his eyes on mine. He gave one single, curt nod.
“It’s true. I reacted poorly.” He gestured to the other men. “We wereallshocked and a bit displeased to see a wolf in our liege lord’s throne room. You know as well as we do how dangerous a wolf can be. The Laurents especially can be truly conniving and barbaric, as evidenced by their treatment of their eldest child. It was simply a force of habit. I sincerely apologize and hope to one day meet the young woman again. Perhaps during a second meeting I can give more gracious words of regret.”
My head was still spinning with this back-peddle. It made me wonder if, perhaps, my father had given him an even more stern reprimand out of sight of prying eyes and ears. If the king had put the fear of God into him, then perhaps it could cause him to reevaluate his attitude.
“I accept your apology,” I said at last.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” he said, bowing his head once more. “Now that we havethisout of the way, maybe we could discuss other pressing matters.”
“Indeed,” Marcus said. “We have plans for a new green energy initiative. Using magic to power some of the cities and towns within our lands. Human cities, of course, so we would need assistance in creating a plant that would pass their inspections but not raise unwanted questions. Machines that operate on magic, butappearto use traditional means such as natural gas or even solar if we want them to truly appear, for all intents and purposes, as fully clean.”
“It would be a financial boon to us, as well,” Benedictus said. “Perhaps you could possibly make some inroads with a few of the high-ranking humans you know, Highness? City council members? Perhaps some state senators even?”
Unable to stop myself, I sighed heavily. The apology hadprobablybeen sincere, but it was a means to an end. Everything these men did had political motivations, even when they actually meant it. There was always the undercurrent ofquid pro quo.
“Gentlemen,” I said with a gracious smile. “I really must be going. Maybe we can discuss this later. I hope you’ll excuse me.”
They looked a bit disheartened at my abrupt departure, but at least they didn’t try to cajole me into sticking around.
Back out in the hall, I breathed deeply, trying to process the entire interaction. It was good to know that, regardless of what kind of an asshole he was, Benedictus could still be counted on to be an honorable man. Although, now I realized what a bad idea it had been to leave my office. Rather than getting my mindoffElle, the expedition to the library had only cemented her in my mind. I wasn’t sure how I’d get any work done at this rate.
