Betrothed

by Lola White

  Eliasz hummed his agreement. “Too much, if you ask me.”

  Fredrik rubbed his eyes. “We can’t have the only daughter of the Lovasz Family die in our house. Alexandru will be quick to retaliate if she’s harmed.”

  “I would be more concerned with the reaction of the Davenolds,” Daniel pointed out. “And the combined outrage of the matriarchal side of the Schism should one of their most influential females come to a bad end while under the protection of a patriarchal coven.”

  Fredrik’s eyes flashed. “Madeleine knows I would never do anything to harm her granddaughter. Alexandru, however, is both here and unstable. He’s already looking for excuses to reject the marriage between our Families.”

  “Perhaps that’s the plan?” Daniel elevated his eyebrows and looked between the two men.

  “I really don’t know. Do you think he would risk killing his own granddaughter,” Fredrik asked, “when he could simply say no? I mean, yes, he’s capable, but would he resort to such a thing? He’s the Family Father, his word is law.”

  “I’m not convinced,” Eliasz said. “Ileana’s much more valuable alive, so I can’t see Alexandru taking the risk. He can continue to use her as a pawn. I might agree with your suspicions, but—”

  “Alexandru has no love for the Davenolds,” Daniel pointed out. “The knife could have been intended for Georgie, and the old man’s aim was simply…off.”

  “How would it serve? She’s to be his granddaughter-in-law, as he pointed out.” Eliasz jumped off the desk, only just managing to keep from pacing. He refused to let the Levy Father see how agitated he was. Vulnerability was impermissible. It was bad enough that he had to entertain the new Father long enough to get his blessing for the betrothal.

  Daniel was truly starting to wear on Eliasz’s patience.

  “It would start a war between us and Madeleine,” Daniel said. “Two of the most influential houses at each other’s throats would plunge the witching world back into conflict.”

  Eliasz glanced at his father before meeting Daniel’s eyes. “Madeleine controls the High Seat. She’d never let it go that far.”

  “Wouldn’t she?” Daniel’s voice deepened, smooth with a slight edge of menace. “Perhaps this is her plan. Exactly how many Davenolds were necessary to our gathering?”

  Fredrik was flabbergasted. “I’ve known Madeleine for a very long time. She’d never try to injure, let alone kill, her own granddaughter in order to start a war.”

  “Perhaps she wasn’t supposed to die. A Davenold culprit would know Georgie’s Bane deficiencies offered some sort of protection. The rest of us didn’t know that.” Daniel looked between the two men. “Did we?”

  “It was a surprise,” Fredrik breathed. “One for which I’m grateful.”

  The Levy Father cocked his head. “Ileana actually could have been the target, and Georgie has her own reasons for saving her. Perhaps the Davenold Bane wasn’t informed of the attack prior to it happening. Perhaps one of the twins is responsible. So many options.” Daniel pursed his lips. “Curious, wasn’t it?”

  “What?” Eliasz growled.

  Daniel looked momentarily surprised but quickly wiped the expression off his face. “I forgot that you didn’t see. That knife came alarmingly close to Georgeanne, then simply slid around her. Abnormal, in so many ways.”

  “You speak as if you don’t like Georgie,” Eliasz said. “But the two of you have worked well together in the past. She speaks highly of you.”

  “I adore her,” Daniel protested. “But I also know to watch her like a hawk. Together, they are terrifying but, while Silviu Lovasz may have magic, Georgeanne has political know-how. She’s more dangerous. It’s a good thing she’s Bane or she would’ve run the Council one day.”

  “As a Davenold,” Fredrik pointed out, “she’s ineligible. Her Family won’t be allowed to vie for the High Seat again for a hundred years.”

  Daniel simply shrugged. “Pity she’s betrothed to the youngest Lovasz. He’s truly beneath her.”

  Eliasz wasn’t sure what to make of that comment, and the magical wind that brought him so much information about so many topics was noticeably silent. It was difficult for him to read Daniel, and his magic obviously had the same trouble. “As you say, Georgie’s a political mastermind. Madeleine even more so, and she favors the match between their two Families. The Lovaszes would gain nothing by starting a war.”

  “But if this is a Davenold plot, I could say its purpose is to drive a wedge between patriarchal witches. Fatherhouses turning on each other would only benefit the matriarchs.” Daniel’s eyebrow quirked. “And, of course, the Lovaszes.”

  Eliasz held perfectly still. Fredrik’s jaw dropped. The older man sputtered before asking, “How do you figure that?”

  Daniel shrugged. “The Lovaszes have a great deal of magic at their disposal. We Levys may have more members and political influence, but if it comes down to a magical war, we won’t be the winners.”

  Eliasz pounced on that statement, pressing his advantage ruthlessly.

  “All the more reason to agree to the match between me and Ileana.” He met Daniel’s eyes boldly, wishing that his fickle talent would choose that moment to deliver an opinion on his own misgivings. “If Iley and I are allied, then the Lovaszes and I are allied. Most specifically, with Silviu. He and his sister are extremely close.”

  Daniel waved this comment away. “Silviu will be a Davenold. You can’t put your trust in any alliance with him.”

  “An alliance would benefit our Family. That’s one of the reasons I want to marry his sister. It’s no secret that Silviu is gaining power amongst the patriarchs. And with his marriage to a matriarch…” Eliasz paused to evaluate Daniel’s expression, but it was just as secretive as his own. Cautiously, he added, “Perhaps Silviu is trying to gain power over the Council, as well?”

  Daniel’s emotionless mask cracked just enough to show a hint of surprise. “You think he wants the High Seat? Like Georgie, he’d be ineligible as a Davenold.”

  “Who is to say he’ll take their name?”

  “You think Madeleine won’t demand it?”

  “Alexandru is just as stubborn as the old woman. He won’t like his grandson eschewing the Family name.”

  Daniel snorted. “It’s possible, I suppose, but futile, as I’m not sure any witch would elect a Lovasz to the High Seat. No matter how highly regarded Silviu is, his Family is less than advantageous and might unduly influence his policies.”

  Eliasz chose his words carefully. “What if that Lovasz was married to the Davenold heir and supported by the Davenold Mother? You said yourself, Georgie could run the Council if she wasn’t Bane. Her popularity would work in his favor.”

  “This is pointless speculation. The Davenolds will be ineligible to reclaim the High Seat for a century.” Daniel held up a hand to forestall Eliasz’s argument. “I will concede that your marriage to Ileana may be useful in regards to creating a network of political support spanning the Levys, Lovaszes and Davenolds. But I will suggest you be extremely careful in your dealings with those Families.”

  Eliasz let his voice grow chilly. “I believe I can handle it.”

  “If you can manage it,” Daniel nearly purred, “you would, in fact, be the best choice for our own Family’s Council Seat. You will have earned your place at the table, Eliasz.”

  Everything within him went still. Daniel was dangling a hell of a carrot, but Eliasz couldn’t shake his dislike of the man long enough to jump for it. He took a calming breath and tried to pinpoint the source of his unease.

  “And as our Family’s representative,” Daniel continued, “I would expect you to do everything in your power to keep a magically dominant Lovasz male out of our community’s most powerful Seat.”

  Eliasz went cold as the other shoe dropped. He wanted Ileana. He also wanted to gain personal power in both a world and a Family that continuously favored a branch other than his. Defying his Family Father could make his life miserable,
potentially stripping him of everything he’d worked so hard for and maybe even proving deadly if he courted treason, but standing with Silviu could bring rewards greater than Eliasz could currently imagine. He felt as if he walked a swaying tightrope, where one wrong step would bring him crashing down.

  He weighed the pros and cons quickly. Daniel, Silviu and Georgeanne weren’t the only ones who could play a deep game.

  He managed to keep his voice even when he replied. “My first loyalty is to my Family, of course.”

  For a long moment, the Levy Father did nothing more than stare into Eliasz’s eyes. Evaluating. Eliasz felt as if he were taking a test he was completely unprepared for, and the only way through it was to brazen it out. For that reason, he held the other man’s gaze and forced bland calm into his expression.

  “Excellent,” Daniel finally said. “In that case, allow me to wish you luck when dealing with your new in-laws. I will allow the match, if Alexandru agrees to it.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ileana

  Her stomach was a writhing mass of nerves as she left her bedroom. Ileana wasn’t sure if it was because now the ball was in the Lovasz court, or because she was heading down to lunch. Just the thought of sitting with the rest of the house’s occupants in the same room where she’d almost been murdered that morning was enough to destroy her appetite.

  Stepping out of her room, she saw a familiar dark head disappear around the corner up ahead. Ileana quickened her pace. “Georgie, wait up!”

  The woman popped back into view. She smoothed her hands over her skirt and pasted a bright smile on her face.

  “Have you heard the news?” Still near the opposite end of the hall, Ileana raised her voice to be heard. “Daniel has given his permission for the betrothal. Eliasz tracked me down not too long ago to let me know.”

  “Good. That’s one obstacle out of the way.” A slight frown marred Georgie’s brow. “Now it’s up to Alexandru and whatever practical magic Vasile can work on your stubborn Family Father.”

  “Eliasz was on his way to the initial negotiations when he found me. I’m a little surprised Silviu hasn’t told you yet.” Surprised, and vaguely suspicious, if Ileana was going to be honest with herself. It wasn’t something that her brother would keep from his betrothed, no matter how angry he may have been with her.

  Georgie’s cheeks took on a faint blush. “I haven’t seen him since this morning.”

  “Then what are you doing in this wing?” Ileana slowed her approach, both because she wondered why Georgeanne was on the opposite side of the house from either her or her cousins’ assigned rooms and because she didn’t want to broadcast her nervousness.

  Soon-to-be sister-in-law or not, she didn’t like the idea of letting Georgeanne Davenold see too much weakness in her.

  “I was in one of the lounges,” Georgie said breezily. “Are you heading downstairs?”

  “I’m starving.” Ileana forced a laugh. “I barely ate any breakfast, if you remember.” She tried to speak as calmly as Georgie, tried to compose her features into a serene expression.

  Georgie wasn’t fooled. “Nervous about lunch?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  Georgie linked their arms and tugged Ileana toward the steps, at the end of another acre of hallway. “It was alarming, sure, but I don’t think it could happen again. Whoever magicked that knife at your head worked hard to keep the others from seeing it. Now people are on guard, so it’ll be twice as hard to hide the magic.”

  “Have you thought perhaps you’re the target?” Ileana watched Georgie carefully, but could see no fear, no anxiety, no worry.

  She wondered about that. The last time she’d seen the Davenold heir, they’d been in her bedroom and Silviu had looked ready to strangle her. Not that Ileana thought her brother would hurt Georgie, but she expected the other woman to be at least a little cowed, more subdued. Anything but her calm, confident self.

  The Davenold heir only shrugged. “If I am, some witch learned a very important lesson. I’m not so easy to kill.”

  “Maybe they aren’t trying to kill you. Maybe they’re after something much worse.” Ileana stumbled to a halt at the top of the steps, stopping Georgie’s descent. “Oh! No, I mean, not that you dying wouldn’t be important, just that—”

  “If I die on the Levy property, there will be ramifications for your future in-laws. Maybe even the wider witching world.” Georgie smiled. “I know. It’s something to consider, but, quite frankly, I’m not going to drive myself crazy trying to puzzle it all out when we have so little to go on.”

  Ileana didn’t know whether to be impressed or terrified. “Then what are you going to do? Ignore it?”

  “I was thinking of parading around the house later, acting like bait. If someone is after me, I could work it so I look vulnerable and easy to get to.”

  Ileana’s mouth dropped open. “Have you run that plan by Silviu?”

  “No.” With surprising force, Georgie tugged Ileana down the steps. “Why should I?”

  “He won’t like it.”

  Georgie released Ileana’s arm and took a few more steps down before she spoke. “Iley, Silviu is my betrothed, but he’s not my keeper. I’ve spent several years taking care of myself, my Family and our allies. I know what I’m doing.”

  “I don’t think you do.”

  “I am a matriarchal witch, heir to my Family’s power.” Georgie’s chin flew up. “My betrothal to Silviu doesn’t change that. I make my own decisions, and he’ll just have to get used to it.”

  Ileana reached out to grab the woman’s shoulder, forcing her to half-turn back. The moment their eyes met, Ileana’s nervousness magnified beyond her ability to hide it. Just then, Georgie looked exactly like what a powerful Family Mother should, with her calm political mask stripped away and the light of battle shining in her dark eyes. Her chin was elevated and her lips were pressed tight. Her aura of strength beat at Ileana’s senses, even with the absence of magic.

  “Silviu won’t—”

  “I understand you want to make your brother happy, Iley,” Georgeanne interrupted, “but you also need to understand that I am my own person. I am not from your side of the Schism and I wasn’t raised to act like you. I was raised to be strong and stand my ground.”

  Offense ran riot through Ileana’s body. Courage rose from the chaos. “You were taught to meet your problems head on, I understand that. But as a patriarchal female, brought up in a world which you will be joining the moment you make your vows to my brother, let me explain something. Straight on isn’t always the best direction.”

  “You may feel free to do things your way, Iley, and I’ll do things my way.”

  “You’ll push my brother further than you can afford. You’ve been acting as if he’ll just fall in line, a few steps behind you where men apparently belong on the matriarchal side of the Schism. But he won’t. You’d better remember he was born to be a dominant male.”

  “And I was born to be Mother.”

  Ileana fought for calmer words. “Georgeanne, the way he was raised—”

  “I know how he was raised.” Georgie’s chin lifted higher. “But the two of you seem to forget how I was raised. I am the heir to my Family and I’ve been treated as such.”

  Ileana tried to tamp down on her anger, but it was growing past her ability to contain. “You have no idea what he’s gone through. You’ve been treated like a princess—”

  “Hardly!”

  “And he’s had to fight for every inch of ground he’s gained,” Ileana said over the other woman’s protest. “Which makes his dominant streak that much steelier. You have no idea what you’re inciting.”

  “He’ll have to get over it.”

  Ileana reared back. “His instincts and his heart are telling him to protect you. And you’re planning to run around the Levy estate provoking a possible murderer. You’ll only provoke Silviu and you won’t like the results.”

  “I expect him to give me the same re
spect he demands for himself. If it was him, I would let him see what he could find.” With that, Georgie spun on her heel and stalked down the steps.

  Ileana simply stared for a few seconds. Then she raced after her future sister-in-law, desperate to make her understand that Silviu’s anger was not something any witch should make light of. She caught Georgie’s shoulder. “Wait, please listen—”

  It was all she had time to say before the searing bolt of magic slammed into her spine. Her lungs locked as pain ricocheted through her bones. The space between her shoulder blades seemed to catch fire and the force of the magic pitched her forward. Ileana made a wild grab for the railing as she flew off the step.

  Georgie leaped for her. The two women crashed into each other, both fighting to keep from falling down the steep staircase. Ileana’s biceps screamed in pain as she managed to wrap her fingers around the banister. Then the scream erupted from her mouth as Georgie landed on top her.

  Georgie gasped and wriggled until her small body was curved around Ileana’s longer frame. Immediately, the heated magic was cut off. Ileana could see wide streaks of silver and small flashes of gold flaring around them, parting and flowing around their bodies as if they were rocks in a fast moving stream.

  Tilting her head, she saw Georgie gritting her teeth, acting as a human shield against the hard pressure of magic. Ileana twisted to look beyond Georgeanne’s jerking body, but there were too many currents of power to see through. The top of the steps was shrouded with writhing metallic light that hid the attacker.

  “Iley!” Georgie’s small body jolted. “Do something! I’m losing my hold on the rail.”

  Ileana immediately saw that it was true. Georgie’s hand was wrapped around the vertical stone post connecting the top of the banister to the steps. Under her thin sleeves, the Davenold woman’s biceps strained with her grip. Her hand slid on the miniature column, the circumference too much for her to get her fingers all the way around. Her other hand clawed at the steps in a desperate bid for security.