Page 58 of Alpha Power

"I first met Thaddeus several years ago-"

"How many years ago?"

"22. Back then I only knew of him as Ignacio's son." The look in his eyes made it clear he expected her to know who Ignacio was. When she continued to stare at him blankly, he sighed and shook his head. "You don't know who Ignacio is, do you?"

Zamorra smiled. "Nope. But I'm guessing I should?"

"Yes," he replied sternly. "You really should. I'm half-tempted to sit you down and force you to learn the Council and everyone in it."

"Ooo, I'm getting some serious 'Billy Madison' vibes here. For every question I get right, are you gonna take something off?" She winked and Luther raised his brows in surprise. "Tut, tut, tut," she clicked, swishing a finger from side to side. "Here you are, lecturing me for not knowing something when you've never seen 'Billy Madison'?"

"Who is Billy Madison?" he all but growled, and she laughed.

Maybe she imagined it, but she could have sworn there was a little bit of jealousy in his voice.

"Calm it down, it's just a movie."

"A movie? Like your Suburban Man?"

She snickered. "Superman, and yes, like that. If you're nice, maybe one day I'll show ’em to you. But anyway, you were telling me about Ignacio?"

It was easy for her to get distracted with a little side conversation.

“Ignacio. Yes," Luther nodded, like he too had completely forgotten their original conversation. "Ignacio is the mage Regent of Australia. Has been for well over 50 years now, I'd say. When I first met Thaddeus 22 years ago, he was next in line to replace his father when he retired. But it was not the life he wanted to live."

Zamorra frowned. "Thaddeus didn't want to be Regent?"

"No. Too much responsibility, not enough fun, if I remember him saying correctly. For years he fought against his father's wishes and refused to follow in the line of succession. As Ignacio's first-born son, the Regency was his legacy. But it was never what he wanted, no matter how much Ignacio tried to convince him otherwise."

Sounded like Thaddeus. Granted she'd only met the dude once, but that brief moment of time was enough for her to gauge his personality. He definitely seemed like the carefree, fun-loving type, not the hard-working professional type.

"To try and get out from underneath his father's thumb, Thaddeus approached a few different supernatural’s and tried to join them. No one dared to give refuge to the son of the most powerful mage in a hundred years, so he was pushed back. Time and time again. Until one day, he came to me."

"You weren't too scared like all the others?" She teased.

"No," he smirked, locking eyes with her. "However, it did take some convincing before Ignacio finally loosened the reins a little."

"Really? What kind of convincing?"

"We came to a mutually beneficial agreement," he replied evasively and Zamorra knew straight away that was all she was gonna get from him on that. "Thaddeus joined my House, not as a servant, but as a member, while also still remaining a part of his coven."

"You can do that? Just split between two factions like that?"

"Not generally, no. It's usually one or the other. But the Rixtons live by their own set of rules."

"Not surprised at all to hear that," she chuckled. "So what, he's basically your own personal errand boy?"

"I guess if you have to put a name to it, that one would suffice. But I do pay him."

"What?" She gasped. "He gets paid? Why don't I get paid?"

"You're a servant, not a member. Servants don't get paid."

Zamorra narrowed her eyes and Luther smirked. "Don't look at me like that. You're the one who begged to join my house."

She grumbled in agreement and stabbed a fry with her fork. "Still. I should get a little somethin'."

“My charm and good looks aren't enough for you?" He winked.

---