Page 84 of Deadly Avarice
“I will leave the specifics to you and my son. Tact is not a quality I was born with.”
The bark of laughter that escaped my lips was loud and sharp. Thankfully, Holland didn’t seem offended. “This is a clusterfuck.”
“You shall receive no argument from me.” Holland sounded horribly resigned.
Our gazes returned to the darkness beyond the window. Our reflected images were hazy and ghostlike. The silence was comfortable and yet my mind raced while my stomach churned. My thoughts did a one-eighty, turning away from our topic and yet at the same time, fueled by it.
I probably should have remained silent, cherishing this brief moment of connection with Boone’s pops. Was this the time and place? Absolutely not. Was I a complete moron for what I was about to do? Undoubtedly. But if there was one thing the last twenty-four hours had taught me, it was that time was precious and we never knew just how much of it we had.
Later, I’d blame my idiocy on leftover adrenaline and the fear of losing Boone.
“I’d like your permission to marry Erasmus,” I blurted. There was absolutely no context to the request.
As if in slow motion, Holland’s head slowly turned my direction. Given his height, he had to look down to stare me in the eyes. For once, that gaze didn’t hold its abnormally high level of arrogance. Raising a single, dark eyebrow, the edge of Holland’s lip twitched. “You’re asking for my permission? To propose to my son?”
My heart pounded. If I couldn’t get it slowed down, we might be in for a reenactment of the movie,Alien. “I am.”
“And if I say no?” Holland’s opposite eyebrow rose to join the first.
I started to say something, but only an incoherent stutter came out. Obviously, I hadn’t thought this through. What would I do if Holland said no? When I seriously considered the question, I answered, “Then I will have to find a way to make you see reason. I know I’m not what you envisioned for your son. You hoped he’d fall in love with a longer-lived species, that he’d gain their life span through a mating bond.” I looked down at my feet and shook my head. “I can’t ever be that for him or you. I’m human. My time on this earth is just as finite as Boone’s. And while I’m very sorry about that, I can promise you that I will make the most of the years Boone and I are allotted. I love your son with every ounce of my being, and I will spend every second of every minute of every day making certain he knows that.” My shoulders were pushed back, chest puffed out, and mind certain as I pled my case.
Holland’s face was expressionless, but his gaze was dark and fierce. A tick formed in his jaw and with a single nod, Holland answered, “If all humans were like you and Lydia, the human race would not be nearly so irritating.” With a deep inhale, Holland’s shoulders relaxed. “For what it is worth, you have my permission and blessing. I love my son, and it is beyond obvious that he loves you. To deny your request would damage Erasmus and that is the last thing I ever wish to do. You are very perceptive, for a human. Your ability to see my son’s worth despite his species is…impressive.”
I found it sad that my acceptance of Boone was one of the main issues I had going in my favor. “Boone is worth everything.” I meant those words with every fiber of my being.
“And that, my dearhumandetective, is your saving grace.” Holland’s fingers tapped inside his clasped hands. “Do you have a ring? I believe that is the common human tradition.”
“I’ve got the engagement ring. Or, at least, it’s ordered. I wanted to discuss his wedding ring with you.”
“With me?” Those two words were a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.
I took a deep breath and dove into the deep end. “I want his wedding ring to be more than a pretty trinket. To be honest, I’m not exactly certain what I want except for something that helps to protect him.” I hoped Holland understood.
The answering grin lighting up his face told me he just might. “That is an interesting proposition. I have a few ideas. Give me some time and I’m certain I can come up with more. Executing those ideas will be challenging. Thankfully, I am more than capable of rising to such occasions.”
And just like that, Holland’s arrogance returned as if it hadn’t just ducked out for a mini vacation. A few weeks ago that arrogance would have annoyed me. It was interesting how time and circumstances changed one’s opinions. Warlock Nikodemus Holland was supposed to be arrogant. He was supposed to be self-assured and briming with confidence. That was the warlock that we needed. That was the father that would save the necromancer I loved.
Chapter
Thirty
Erasmus
“What did Leander think of his Solstice present?” Momma asked while pulling the cherry Jell-O from the refrigerator. She’d made a huge batch. Enough that Aurelia could stuff her face and still have more to take back to Peaches’s orchard.
“I think he liked it,” I answered. Momma and I were camped out in the kitchen. The bruises on my neck were fading. Loretta had offered me another healing potion, but I’d declined. At the end of the day, my bruises weren’t life threatening, and I wanted her to save her wares for someone in more dire need.
Pops decided to stick around and celebrate Solstice with Franklin, Momma, and me. Aurelia promised to pop up at some point or another. Thus, the large pan of Jell-O.
“He more than liked it,” Franklin said as he walked through the kitchen opening. He and Pops had just come back inside. They’d been out on the porch, discussing something or other. Honestly, it was a little unsettling just how much the two of them were getting along now. I often found them huddled together whispering. When I’d questioned Franklin, he’d simply kissed me and said I’d find out soon enough and not to ruin thesurprise. He’d grinned like a loon, and I hadn’t had the heart to rib him further.
“What did you get him?” Pops asked.
“We didn’t gethimanything,” I answered. “We took over a bunch of treats and toys for his dogs. Franklin thought Leander would appreciate that more than something for himself, and given his reaction, Franklin was right.”
Franklin chuckled. “He fought it, but Leander cracked a grin or two. We also won a few of the dogs over, and if we plan on going back, that’s a huge win.”
I shivered remembering our first trip to Leander’s property. “Damn right,” I agreed.
