Page 4 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
Harlow never knew whether it was because it stretched from spring into the blooming summer months, some of the most fortuitous times of the year to plant the seeds of love, or because the season itself, as a process, actually worked. Parents were absolutely forbidden from requiring a marriage if their children entered into a season, but of course they influenced their choices in every way they possibly could.
“I’m sorry.” Harlow took Selene’s hands and hugged both of her parents. “I know how much you love each other, and I do know the season works for many of our people. I just… I just wish I had more freedom in the matter.”
Aurelia kissed both her cheeks before she gathered the tea tray up to brew a fresh pot. Selene’s lips curved in a forgiving smile. “You have all the freedom in the world, Harlow. If you don’t make a match, no one will blame you or find you lacking. Many pair outside the season, or do not bond at all. It is only an opportunity.”
Harlow nodded. She had plenty to say about the matter, but she held her tongue. She knew both her parents would let it go completely if she didn’t pair at all, but both Harlow and her eldest sister had been eligible to join the season for several years, and their mothers had never pressed them or encouraged it before.
Besides which, as much as she knew Selene had disapproved of her relationship with Mark, she was being uncharacteristically callous about moving on. Mama’smodus operandiwhen it came to breakups was to spoil her girls until their hearts were fully healed, and if Harlow was honest with herself, she knew Selene didn’t think she was “dallying” with Mark. She’d been just as worried as Aurelia was about how isolated she’d been when they were together, and now she was being altogether too glib. Something wasn’t right.
Harlow glanced at the back office door, where she could hear Aurelia heating water for more tea. “Is everything all right? You and Mother have never suggested we join the season before, and all five of us are technically eligible now.”
Selene’s eyes darkened as she sank onto one of the chesterfields. For a moment, Harlow thought she might not answer her, but then something shifted in her countenance and Selene opened up to her second-eldest child. “Connor and Aislin McKay have their eye on this block again. We may not be able to hold out much longer. We need allies, or the Order of Mysteries will lose our foothold in the antiquities market. The Illuminated are making moves to take over.”
Harlow gasped. “What?”
She hadn’t realized things had gotten so bad, distracted as she’d been with Mark. The Monas was a fixture on Antiquity Row, six blocks of esoteric and occult shops and organizations that made up the backbone of the Order of Mysteries’ income in Nuva Troi.
Besides which, Antiquity Row was an institution in the city—asorcièreinstitution. It was the place where anyone interested in ancient magics came to find rare goods, or just to be delighted by magic itself. The Kranes had owned the six-story building the Monas was housed in for nearly five hundred years. It was not only their business, but their home.
Selene sighed. “We were waiting to tell you. They say they don’t want to change anything, just own all the property. Some families are thinking of selling. They’re offering quite a lot.”
“Damn them. Just another entitled Illuminated family thinking they own the world.”
Aurelia returned from the office with another pot of tea. She glanced at Selene, and Harlow saw the look of sorrow that passed between them. They were afraid of losing the Monas, and maybe Antiquity Row completely. She felt a squeeze of pressured panic grip her heart.
“Hush, Harlow,” Selene soothed with a hug. “They won’t get it. Not if we present a united front. Perhaps there are other things we might offer them.”
“Other things? Like what?”
Aurelia and Selene both looked uncomfortable. “We were going to talk with you and your sisters about this later today…”
“Spit it out, mothers.”
Out the window the shadow of clouds loomed. The sunny morning was over, and Harlow felt the incoming darkness acutely, as though it were more than just the usual Avril weather in Nuva Troi.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about the Illuminated,” Selene said conspiratorially. “That they’ve been having trouble as of late… conceiving.”
Of course Harlow had heard that, as well as the speculation that the Order of Mysteries might be the perfect solution to their problem—or to be specific, that pairing eligible Illuminated with those of the most powerful sorcière families might be the solution. Typically, Orders didn’t mix much, but it didn’t mean theycouldn’t. Anyone paying attention had heard the speculation, or rather read it, as it was all the back-channel gossips wrote about, even though Section Seven wouldn’t touch it.
Aurelia gave Selene a cautionary look, but Mama barreled into her next statement with her usual verve. “Finn McKay is home from Nea Sterlis. I’m told he has two graduate degrees from Aphelion, a Masters in business and what was the other one, pet?”
Harlow wrinkled her nose in annoyance. Aphelion University was the most prestigious college in the country. There wasn’t a better school in Nytra and of course Finn McKay had two degrees from there, while Harlow had been too afraid to even apply, and had simply gone to the University of Nuva Troi. Apparently today was a day for rubbing it in that all her exes were doing amazing things… Not that Finn was her ex. Not exactly, anyway.
“Public policy of some kind, I believe,” Aurelia said absently, not taking her eyes from Harlow.
“Yes, something like that. He’s back and I have it on good authority that both he and Alaric Velarius will join the season this year.”
Understanding of Selene’s implication hit Harlow like a punch in the gut. “No, you can’t possibly think…”
Selene shrugged. “Why shouldn’t the Krane girls pair with the most eligible Illuminated bachelors? If they want sorcière wives, surely any of you would be more than good enough for them.”
Harlow’s breath shuddered through her lungs at the thought of Finn McKay. Memories of stormy eyes and dark, unruly hair threatened to drag her into a past that she wouldn’t, couldn’t return to. Not here, not now. Not ever. That had been the start of everything falling apart, time and time again.
To tamp down the panic that threatened to take over she spoke quickly, hoping reason might curb this ridiculous idea before it went further. “You’re the ones who always said the Illuminated world is dangerous. That they’re too powerful for their own good. And weren’t wejusttalking about how no one is forced to do anything during the season?”
“I know, I know,” Aurelia said, in what Harlow assumed was meant to be a calming tone. “And if none of you are interested in them, that will be just fine.”
Selene opened her mouth to say something, probably that it wasnotjust fine, but Aurelia shook her head. “None of you have to do anything you don’t want to, but an alliance with the McKays and others like them would increase the sorcières’ power and standing in the Orders. Surely you cannot deny that.”
