Page 83 of The Artist
“But Dad, Thor’s temper might…”
Khan stopped Freya with a palm raised in her direction. “He needs to learn. If things escalate, you and Jonah will calm the waters like you always do.”
After he dismissed us all, people trickled out of Khan’s office. I had placed a hand on the small of Belle’s back and nudged her forward when Khan called for me to stay behind for a moment.
With Belle leaving the office with Pearl and Freya, I was left with Magni and Khan.
“Close the door,” my dad instructed.
I stood tall and fell into my role as the soldier that I’d been raised to be, folding my hands at my back.
“If the French try to hold Belle with force, you have our permission to do what’s necessary to get her back here with you.”
“Thank you, sir.” I dipped my chin to Khan.
“Try to kill as few as possible.”
“Understood.”
My father moved over to stand in front of me. “I don’t understand why you had to make things so difficult for yourself or why you would break your promise to us. But now that Belle is pregnant, we’ll have to deal with this messy situation before we can get to the next one. Khan has some ideas on how we can spin this with the older voters, but there will be consequences for you to face.”
I looked toward Khan, who shook his head.
“Not now. We’ll talk about it when you get home. But before you go…” He was spinning a pen with one hand. “Don’t instigate a fight if you can avoid it. You are no doubt the best fighter of your generation just like your father and brother before you, but we’re trusting you with our daughters. Freya wouldn’t hurt a fly, so I doubt she’ll get into a fight, but Aubri thinks she’s invincible. Keep an eye on her.”
“You think we should expect an attack?”
Putting the pen down, Khan drummed his fingers on his desk. “As far as we know the French don’t have an army or warriors, but they might have weapons. Bring food from home so they don’t slip you something that will make you fall asleep or kill you. They are highly intelligent, and we would be fools to underestimate them.”
My father took over. “You, Thor, and Indiana will look after Belle and Freya at all times!”
“Of course!”
“Aubri too, but don’t let it show. You know how furious she gets when we don’t let her fight her own battles. She’s just like her mother.”
“We’ll keep an eye on the women and Jonah too. He’s not a fighter either,” I pointed out.
“You’re right. I still can’t believe that he once killed a man to save Mila.” My father shook his head. “Anyway, I doubt the French would hurt a councilman, but you never know so be ready for anything.”
“We will. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Good. Magni and I will talk to Victor and make a list of things that Thor can use to negotiate Belle’s freedom.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank us yet. It will be coming out of your inheritance, so you’d better hope that Thor can keep the price down.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll pay anything to keep Belle here with me.”
My father’s small smile was marred by his many scars. “Then let’s hope everything goes smoothly or you’ll end as a wreck. I’ve been there and I don’t wish it on my worst enemy. Come on, I’ll walk with you to your mother. She’ll want to hear everything from your lips, and I have to find Victor anyway.”
We left Khan’s office and were at the foyer when I gave my father a sideways glance. “Did you fight with Aunt Pearl again?”
“Why do you ask?”
“With all the leather that you’re wearing, I know you’re trying to piss off one of the vegans. Is it Pearl, Freya, or Jonah?”
My dad laughed. “You know me too well.”
