Married

by Lola White

  “No, Mama, I meant, why was her granddaughter invited?”

  “Isn’t she the Davenold heir?”

  “I don’t think so.” But Tulah couldn’t be sure, having access to only the vaguest of rumors from the witching world. She forced her brain to focus on one thing at a time. Chelsea’s face was pale, her eyes too dark and her lips too thin for the sense of calm she’d been forcing into her tone. “What else did you overhear, Mama?”

  “Not enough to understand, and too much for me to feel confident in what I know,” she admitted. She sank down on the bed with a sigh and reached for her daughter’s hand. “It was all very cryptic. Graves insinuated that he would challenge Muso, and Daniel reprimanded him sharply.”

  “He said that?” Tulah couldn’t stop her fingers from strangling her mother’s. “He said he was going to challenge Muso?”

  “Not in so many words. Daniel asked if Muso would be a problem and Graves told him not to worry, that he had plans for Muso that would take care of everything and put Graves in charge of the Family. On top of that, the marriage was apparently set up without Muso ever being consulted.”

  Tulah struggled to comprehend, but there was very little understanding to be had where Graves was concerned. He was a loose cannon, a rogue witch more thug-like than his Family could afford for him to be. He did things on a whim, without thought to the consequences, trusting in his own brand of crazy to see him through.

  “The former Levy Father made the match a few years before he died.” Chelsea’s face scrunched up. “Maybe eight or nine? Daniel’s been acting like the Father for about seven years, but he only claimed true power last month. He’s allowed the match to stand, but—”

  “Muso and Graves haven’t spoken to each other in twelve years,” Tulah finished for her. “Not since Jerin died. And when Graves took this branch, Muso decreed that no man in it would be allowed to marry or have children without his permission.”

  “I have no way of predicting how our Father will react to the wedding.”

  Tulah rubbed her eyes. “I overheard Constance talking to her mother.” Quickly, Tulah told Chelsea of the Levy women’s plans.

  “She’s going to seduce the Davenold man?”

  “She’s already seduced him.” Tulah grimaced. “Now she’s going to strengthen her hold over him.”

  “I don’t know anything about Adam Davenold.”

  “Neither do I,” Tulah murmured. “Only what Constance said. He’s strong and will have power in his Family no matter who becomes the next Mother.”

  Chelsea hummed. “Matriarchal men join their wives’ Families.”

  “If Constance can be believed, even if he marries, Adam will still have influence over the Davenolds.”

  Chelsea shook her head. “What would she gain?”

  “Constance is hoping Adam will swoop in with a last-minute offer to marry her himself, though her mother said even being his mistress may be enough. Apparently, he’s a ladies’ man. Constance said Adam was her only chance for leverage.”

  “Leverage?” Laser-like, Chelsea’s eyes focused on Tulah’s face.

  Tulah raised her chin. “She said she wants a backup plan against Daniel, Graves and Warner, but she didn’t say why.”

  “Hmm. A powerful man used to being ruled by women. A patriarchal woman who’s used to submitting to men might very well be exactly the thing to capture his attention. Add to that a challenge…”

  Chelsea stood to face her daughter. Tulah met her examination head-on, keeping her face as impassive as possible. She tried to ignore the roiling in her belly, the tingling anxiety that spun up her spine. She clenched her fists until her nails embedded themselves into her palms.

  “You are more beautiful than Constance.” Chelsea smiled and the soft hair at Tulah’s nape lifted. “My love, I have a plan.”

  Chapter Six

  Adam

  “Dear God. This place is atrocious.”

  Hearing his grandmother’s words, Adam let a grin flash across his mouth as his eyes met Christiana’s. Having won her argument and been allowed to travel with them to the Ngozi residence, her expression was smug. Adam wondered how long her attitude would last, considering the eyesore they were faced with.

  Looking beyond her, he let his gaze sweep the overwhelming décor and the miniature jungle by the wall. As if the Victorian furniture wasn’t enough to create a sense of oppression, the dark color scheme and the dim lighting pitched in to suck the life out of all who entered.

  Shadows shifted and Silviu Lovasz stepped forth, causing Adam a moment of shock he quickly hid. He hadn’t even seen the man. Silviu strode across the lobby purposefully, his silver eyes scanning the group of Davenolds gathered on the threshold and gleaming as they locked briefly on Georgie. Adam heard his cousin’s quickly drawn breath, then Silviu turned his attention on Madeleine.

  “Mother Davenold, it’s been too long since we last met.” Silviu’s faint accent was nearly undetectable, the tutors Madeleine had sent to him over the years teaching him more than just the politics and history of the matriarchal side of the Schism.

  “Silviu,” Madeleine’s voice remained calm and unruffled, giving nothing away, “I don’t believe you’ve been introduced to my sister, Margaret.”

  Silviu nodded at the other woman. “Madam.”

  Madeleine didn’t let her sister reply. “While we’re both here, you will enlighten me on the very interesting events that took place in Poland.” Madeleine narrowed her eyes. “And why are you here? I wasn’t aware that you’d received an invitation.”

  “I’m crashing the wedding.” Adam’s brows rose as Silviu let all pretense of diplomacy drop, shuffling closer to the Davenolds and lowering his voice. “I don’t trust Graves, or his hospitality. Not with Georgie or my sister under his roof.”

  Madeleine’s spine stiffened. “Duly noted.”

  “Did I hear my name?” A new voice rolled over them, carrying a dark undertone of barely suppressed hostility.

  Silviu immediately pasted a smile on his face and turned from them. Even as he moved next to Georgie, nearly throwing Adam to the side, he spoke to the newcomer. Adam’s entire body crawled with a hot sizzle of warning.

  “The Davenolds have arrived, Graves,” Silviu said. “I was just telling them that I was sure you’d be out to offer your hospitality momentarily.”

  “Here I am.”

  A man with the greatest presence Adam had ever seen stepped from the deepest shadows beyond the long desk at the far end of the room. He moved forward awkwardly, his left arm hidden by a swinging door and obviously tugging something with weight. The bright white of his sleeve rippled and bulged over his biceps, his lime green vest wrinkled. The man added force and a woman popped through the door with a small, stifled cry.

  Adam was utterly captivated. The woman was beyond beautiful, striking and unique, her face a perfect blend of delicate features and lush sensuality. An intriguing mix of Asian and African traits. Adam’s lungs locked and a surge of warmth swept over the back of his skull. He took in the extreme slenderness of the woman’s figure and felt a need to protect her surprise his soul. In spite of her height, she looked fragile.

  His palms itched to touch the woman’s skin—the color of rich, dark honey—to discover if it was as silken as it looked. He wanted to drive his fingers into the cloud of curls surrounding her head and test the texture. Physical attraction bowled him over, pooling in his groin almost painfully.

  Christiana slammed her elbow into his ribs and sent him a fierce frown. Adam struggled to get control of himself.

  Graves towed the beauty to a stop under a spotlight for dramatic effect, hauling her closer to his side. She resisted until her skin paled. Her caramel eyes caught the light and a flash of pain made itself known in their depths. Adam took an instinctive step forward, but Silviu grabbed his arm and held him back.

  “Stay close to Georgie,” he whispered before moving forward himself. Silviu wound Madeleine’s arm around his. “Mot
her Davenold, meet Graves Ngozi, our host.”

  The other man swept her a deep, disdainful bow, the light flowing over his skin like stars in the midnight heavens. The tone of the woman’s skin took on a peculiar luminescence, compared to Graves’ darkness. Standing together, they made a beautiful couple, but for the contempt shining in both their eyes.

  “Mother Davenold, welcome to Witch Hunt. I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you and your granddaughter have honored us with your presence.”

  “Indeed.” Madeleine sounded less than convinced.

  Silviu jumped back into the introductions. “To her right, her sister Margaret.”

  “Yes, I know her.” Graves’ lips curled in a mockery of politeness. “We both live in England, after all.”

  Silviu tensed, but his tone remained calm. “Then perhaps you’d like to make the acquaintance of Madeleine’s youngest grandchildren, Georgeanne, Christiana and Adam.”

  Graves’ attention locked on Georgie, sliding over her while calculation gleamed in his eyes. She stiffened, raised her chin, and Adam felt her irritation blaze against his skin. He also felt the weight of the unknown woman’s gaze, a warm drift that slid under the emotions Georgie was battering him with.

  The woman stood stock-still next to Graves, her wrist still imprisoned in his hand. Her eyes warmed to molten amber, cataloging every nuance of Adam’s face. Her gaze devoured him, her cheeks flushed. He watched her chest expand on a breath.

  Adam wanted her. And it seemed that she wanted him, as well.

  Graves noticed her perusal, too. He tore his eyes from Georgie to glare at Adam, but he spoke to the woman at his side. “Do you see something you like, Tulah?”

  Rebellion lit her face. “Yes,” she said simply.

  Adam’s trousers became unfathomably torturous.

  Graves tsked. “Now, pet, don’t get above yourself. An irritating little nobody, with barely any Family to speak of, can’t possibly hold any appeal for Adam Davenold.” A sly grin took his mouth. “Especially when he’s fucking my fiancé, and I can personally attest to her bed skills.”

  “Is this how you greet all your guests, Ngozi”—Madeleine’s cold anger sliced through the growing tension—“or just Davenolds?”

  “No, no, no, Mother,” Graves cooed. “I’m just putting my pet in her proper place. She’s a lower member of my Family. You must forgive my attitude toward your grandson, of course. It’s a difficult thing for a patriarchal man to accept his fiancé’s lover into his home. Just ask Silviu.”

  The man in question raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I had to explain the concept to our host yesterday, when he offered a trade for my sister. He wondered why Eliasz was offended.”

  Graves chuckled. “I was referring to you and your woman, Lovasz. Now that I see her, she is far more intriguing to my senses than your sister.”

  Silviu’s face lost a measure of his famed self-control. His shoulders pulled straight and Madeleine’s free hand came up to grip his forearm. Next to Adam, Georgie’s irritation erupted into dangerous anger, a living heat along his side. Before anyone could figure out just how Graves meant his last remark, Georgie rose to the occasion.

  “How odd that you would care so much about such a small, meaningless fling between Constance and Adam when you’re sleeping with her father, Warner.”

  Graves’ eyes narrowed. “You leave him out of it!”

  The rage on his host’s face had Adam pushing forward, angling his body in front of Georgie without thought. He pulled boredom over his features before tucking his hands in his pockets, putting on a show of extreme confidence. “I wonder why was I invited, if you’re going to quibble over my relations with Constance?”

  “She was quite taken with you.” Graves cocked his head, his expression inscrutable. “Perhaps she wants a repeat performance?”

  “I was with her before your betrothal was finalized. I don’t involve myself with other men’s wives.”

  “That’s not what I hear.”

  “Enough.” Again, Madeleine’s tone held all the sharpness of a finely crafted blade. She turned imperious eyes on Graves and stepped forward, dragging Silviu with her by her hold on his arm. “The choice is yours, Graves Ngozi. You can welcome us into your…home, with good grace, or we can depart. Either option will suit me.”

  “He will welcome you, Mother Davenold.”

  Adam winced as Constance’s voice filled the lobby with false cheer. She and Daniel stepped into the fray, rushing down the long aisle between the furniture. Constance’s smile was brittle, but the gaze she turned on Adam sparkled with sexual welcome. He struggled not to shudder. If he’d never laid eyes on the clingy, petulant woman again, it would have been too soon.

  But she’d requested his presence at her betrothal celebration. He didn’t have to wonder why.

  Daniel cast a glare at Graves as he passed, arm raised to take Madeleine’s hand in greeting. Graves grinned, shrugging as if it were all a misunderstanding. The Levy Father set himself to soothe Madeleine’s ruffled feathers with soft words as Silviu reluctantly let the old woman go.

  He dropped back to take Georgie’s hand and a small, violent flare of gold light nearly captured Adam’s attention. Nearly, but not quite. Silviu and Georgie had set off sparks between them so often in Poland it was almost old hat. Ignoring them, Adam kept his gaze on the other women.

  Unfortunately for Constance, she’d come to a stop next to the glorious creature. Tulah. Adam turned the name over in his head while he compared them. Constance was of medium height, pretty enough with shiny blonde hair and blue eyes. Beautiful, until one was forced into her company for a few days on end. Her allure wore off quickly.

  Tulah was something else entirely. Exquisite. He wondered how long it would take before she would grate on his nerves.

  Constance shifted, wrapping her arm around Graves’ and forcing him to let go of Tulah. She leaned into him, her mouth barely moving, but Adam twitched his fingers in his pocket, casting a subtle spell that drew her words to his ears. Christiana casually placed her hand on his shoulder, magnifying the magic’s effectiveness through their Match.

  “What are they saying, Adam?” Silviu’s voice was barely a breath, traveling no farther than him, his twin and Georgie.

  The fact that Silviu knew he’d placed a spell was something to examine later, at a more convenient time. “She’s unhappy that he irritated Madeleine. She wants us here, wants the Sovereign Bestowal, and knows she won’t get it if Grandmother gets in a snit. Graves is trying to soothe her.”

  Silviu huffed. “I’m surprised he’s letting her express her displeasure.”

  “Judging by the Levy Father’s face, Ngozi is in the doghouse with Daniel,” Georgie whispered. “Graves is trying to make it up to him by indulging Constance.”

  “That’s part of it,” Silviu admitted, “but he’s patriarchal, and you don’t quite understand what that means for the women.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “No, love, you don’t.” Silviu’s eyes softened then hardened again. Taking advantage of their host’s continued distraction, he said, “There’s something very wrong here. I don’t know why you’ve all been invited, I don’t know what Graves’ problem is and I don’t know how Daniel or Constance really feels about this whole situation.”

  “It is odd.” Adam couldn’t keep his gaze from Tulah. “And what about her?”

  Silviu followed his stare. “He calls her his pet. Put on a disgusting show of ownership yesterday. I thought Eliasz would kill our host where he stood.”

  “Maybe I’ll help him.” Adam didn’t retract the statement, even when Chris pinched him.

  Georgie looked at Adam in shock. “You better haul back on those reins, lover-boy. Before you go jumping into the middle of another Family’s squabbles, a patriarchal Family at that, you better figure out just what the hell they’re squabbling over in the first place.”

  “Well, we’re here,” he shot back. “Perfect opportunity to gain some info, righ
t?”

  Georgie set her lips. “You’ll have enough on your plate dealing with Constance and Graves’ hostility.”

  Adam shrugged and shared a glance with his twin. “I’m resilient, strong enough to overpower Graves and I’m diplomatic.”

  “Graves is very strong,” Silviu murmured. “Equal to or even stronger than you.”

  Adam turned to the other man with a challenging glare. “Not with my Match at my side.”

  “Adam,” Georgie poked him in the chest, “I’m not about to let you get yourself into more trouble.”

  With a sigh, he again pulled his eyes from Tulah and faced his cousin. “You worry too much. This is a perfect opportunity to gather some intel, and I fully intend to take advantage.”

  “Relax, Georgie,” Christiana breathed. “We’ve got this covered.”

  Georgie opened her mouth to argue, but Silviu stopped her. “They’re right. We’ll all keep our eyes and ears open. Eliasz is nervous, and that holds weight with me.”

  Georgie went still. “Graves is a moody man. You never know what you’ll get from one day to the next, and there’s some scandal in his past.”

  “And yet he’s gaining influence,” Adam pointed out.

  Silviu hummed softly. “The scandal has something to do with the Ngozi Family Father, Muso, who will be here any day. Eliasz is looking into it.”

  “Why don’t we get you all settled, hmm?” Daniel’s voice broke into their whispered conversation. Leading Madeleine between the rows of furniture, he looked back over his shoulder with a smile. “Your luggage has already been taken to your rooms, which I’m sure you’d like to see.”

  Graves sneered and grabbed for Tulah. Hauling her along, he rushed to lead the procession up the sweeping staircase curving along one wall. Madeleine beckoned Christiana to her side while Daniel bent the full force of his manners on Margaret. Silviu guided Georgie with a hand at the small of her back, which left Adam to reluctantly offer Constance his arm.