“I never wanted to be a savior, and I still don’t.” My voice was quiet.
I felt like an awful person finally voicing that opinion. But it was true. All I ever wanted was to leave and escape my stepmother. I wanted my home back and my stepsister Titania gone. I didn’t want a war between all the factions, didn’t want a flame-drenched highway chase, and I didn’t want to flee to Ireland to risk my life and spend eternity in the realm of the fairies. But now, with this power, with the Phoenix inside of me, I knew what needed to happen. I didn’t want anyone else to feel as helpless as I did under Madam Jupiter. And Brom was right. If I ran away right now, Madam Jupiter would make everyone feel as powerless as I had all those years as her servant.
“Make the call,” I told Brom, unable to look away from the letter before me. “I will not meet her at her new residence. I’m too smart for that. If I walk into her house, I may as well sacrifice myself.
“Might I suggest you Rose Eatery on 12th? Enough magicals work there that they’ll know you, and alert the syndicates if it all goes south. But it’s public enough that she wouldn’t dare show her hand and attack you outright.”
I nodded, and picked at my leggings. “I should probably dress in something nicer than this.”
“I have just the thing.”
“I did not expect you to be here so early.”
Madam Jupiter’s expression was benign, that soft half smile that you never knew was actually a smile or a look of contempt. I had known my stepmother would wish to arrive first at the restaurant I had suggested, hoping to set the tone of the meeting. Through all my years serving her, I had learned how she played her politics. I’d studied her, and that’s why I knew that, even though she smiled brightly at the waiter as he poured us both a glass of wine I had chosen previously, she was a shark waiting for any hint of blood in the water.
“This is a respectable selection, Eleanora,” she said with approval.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, watching her as I took a generous sip of the red liquid. I was glad that I had enchanted my veil so that I could eat with ease. “I had hoped you would enjoy it.”
“And why is that, Eleanora?” My stepmother cocked her head, her silvered hair statuesque even as she tilted her head.
She looked safe, as if she was someone you could trust and she was only asking my opinions on her out of genuine curiosity.
“I believe it was you who told Titania to always serve the best for your guests else they take some slight and decide to, how did you put it, slaughter your children in their beds at night?” I looked at her as if questioning my memory. That had been an eventful evening of an education. Madam Jupiter had drank heavily of the wine, though no one understood why. She wouldn’t even tell her favorite daughter.
I learned through rumors later that her current lover had left her for someone younger. That lover, now that I thought of it, didn’t live for much longer after that. It was a disturbing reminder of how brutal the woman before me was.
“Let me ask a question myself,” I said, matching her movements. “Why did you never kill me? It would’ve been easy enough for you to arrange an accident.”
Madam Jupiter laughed with the crystal clarity that men often sang about in women. She found it apparently quite amusing that I asked her so forthright
“Money of course. Though that isn’t entirely true. Had I killed you, I would’ve had to leave the estate. Though Thaddius was my late husband, he had willed everything to an insipid cousin of yours had you died before inheriting the legacy. I wonder now if that was less because of his uncertainty of me, and more the fact that he had concerned himself with letting you inherit his legacy so early on.”
“I guess we’ll never know, stepmother.” I paused while the server returned, taking our orders for dinner. The moment he was gone again though, I looked to her. “Concerning that topic, stepmother—”
“Yes, this revolution thing you have going on. Certainly not advisable. Are you curious as to my advice on how to shut this down and settle down with one of those three strapping men you seem to have ensnared under your spell?.”
“No,” I said with a quiet, as if forlorn, smile. “I know well enough how to settle down with those strapping young men as you call them. Our relationship status is not of your concern, Madam Jupiter. However, you currently lead the warlock syndicate and the lycans have sworn loyalty to Romulus and pledged themselves behind me.
“And of course you already have the vampire in your bed, oh, I’m sorry, I mean in your alliance. It seems you have turned two syndicates against me. I know it certainly wasn’t your pretty face, so how did you do it?”
Oh, I wanted to seethe with rage. And maybe I would’ve before my trip out of Ireland, back when the phoenix burned with its hate within me and not the cold starlight with the energies of the universe behind it. I maintain that is the reason why I did not end her that very moment.
“Simply by not being a power-hungry, cruel monster of a woman,” I answered with a sickly sweet smile.
She had the audacity to cackle. “Bravo, Eleanora. Do you feel better now after that?” She took another sip of her wine and the food was brought out as she watched me with amusement in her eyes. “I have no regrets,” she said as we were left alone with our meal. She seemed distracted, as if this topic truly did not bother her as she ate her dinner. She sawed into the red meat as she continued. “You were Thaddius’s child and, more importantly, a threat to the syndicate. Genevieve, that old lycan who clearly liked you even as an annoying brat of a child, argued that the syndicate could not kill children. That was too far for her, and Lord knows where Genevieve goes, so goes her brother. He has no spine, let me tell you. I am glad that your paramour seem to be otherwise.” She pointed her fork at me before she continued eating. “So I was outvoted and you stayed live. I’m glad now that I didn’t kill you. Because had you died without passing on the Bediver legacy, everything would have been pointless.”
I slowly ate my own food, the taste of the rich lasagna bursting on my tongue. I had ordered the dish specifically to annoy my stepmother. It was a dish she would never have allowed Beatrice or Titania to eat, fearing Titania become more like her sister, and fearing Beatrice becoming, well, more in general.
“Let me get to the point, stepmother. As much as I appreciate the insight into my childhood miseries”—I set my fork and knife down and looked at the woman, wishing I was brave enough to unveil my face before her—“the time has come for me to fulfill this destiny that you are convinced I am the harbinger of. I have never been one for revolutions or ideas of grandiosity. I know our people’s ways, and already lives have been lost.”
“And faces ruined,” she said with bitterness, interrupting me.
“Oh yes, how is Titania?”
I remembered catching her with my flames. It would serve Madam Jupiter right if her biological daughter became as scarred and hideous as her stepdaughter.
“She is doing much better than you. Thankfully, I know a fantastic healer specializing in magical wounds. Her face should have nary a scar on it. I’d considered offering you the same treatment when you were a child, dear girl, but then it just must have slipped my mind and your wounds had healed too much for his magic to work.”
I refused to be goaded by her. But I did reach back and unhook my veil. With one gentle wave of my hand over my face, the partial illusion of my veil disappeared. I watched her closely as my face was revealed to her, and she winced and frowned at me the way you would in front of a terrible piece of art.
“Yes, thank you, stepmother, for the gift of my face, apparently. It is fortunate that I have found those who love me for it. Anyways, with your gift on such loving display, let me continue. I want you to surrender without bloodshed.”
She leaned back, reaching for her glass of red wine. She watched me carefully as she asked, “And if I do, what will you do? What is this grand scheme for this revolution?”
“I don’t know.”
Sh
e let out a bark of a laugh, incredulous at my response. “You don’t have a plan? Dear girl, do you think cities are run without plans? Do you think Syndicates are run without plans? Certainly you could kill me and take over the warlocks and you would have all three at your hand. But do you know how to rule? Do you know how to prevent chaos from breaking out, how to continue and negotiate trade agreements? Peace agreements? How do you stop the infighting? Most importantly, how do you keep yourself from losing your power to someone else just like you?”
“I don’t know. But I know I’m meant to bring in something better.”
“I think you’re an idiot,” she said bluntly. “And to prove it, I’ll give you what you want. We shall throw a grand party where I devote myself and the warlocks to you.” She stood up and tossed her napkin on the table. “Have your warlock plan it and I shall be there. And then, once you rule, you will see it is not everything it is meant to be. And then who knows, maybe you will be running to me for help.”
She stormed out, her head held high. And I was left there, watching her leave the restaurant and slip into the crowd outside, wondering what the hell the trap was.
Chapter 17
Eleanora
Music filled the grand ballroom of the Bediver estate once again, but this time it was an entirely different affair. Instead of blaring music with heavy bass it was a gentle three piece cello group. The notes of the melodic sound settled over the room like a comfortable blanket, masking the tension that held each person's heart in its fist.
Tonight, nearly everyone important in the syndicates of New Londiumn, gathered to hear Madam Jupiter cast her allegiance to me. If half of them came simply to see a blood bath as we fought, I wouldn't have blamed them. I was draped against Merlin's side, his arm loose over the top of the couch, his fingers tapping out a familiar sounding tattoo.
I bit my lip, heat filling my face as I recalled where I'd heard it before, my grip tightening on his knee. Or, well, felt it before would be more accurate. Flashes of the evening before made me glad I was maintaining my habit of wearing a mask in public. Otherwise every person in these walls would easily guess the nature of my thoughts.
Still, my skin flushed with each tap of his finger. Flashes of the evening before, being splayed out before them, and those same fingers tapping the same rhythm on the inside of my ankle, then my calf, then my thigh.
Merlin turned his head and pressed his lips against my temple, nuzzling my hair. "What are you thinking about?" He whispered, his lips tugging at my earlobe.
I scratched my nails up his leg, closer to the growing bulge I spied as I turned my head towards him. "You know exactly what. Now, behave this evening."
"Never." The dark promise his rough whisper held and I felt chills run along my limbs, covering me until they verged on my center, my desire happy to be stoked.
"Madam Jupiter is here." Brom's voice saved me from distraction of Merlin and I straightened, needing to see her with my own eyes.
There.
"She's brought Beatrice with her," I said standing. Hei-Sook appeared at my side, the fox-spirit's eyes sparkling with mischief.
"It's not too late for me to slip something into her drink," she offered and the sincerity of her words made me laugh.
"No, unfortunately that cannot happen." I said, shaking my head, but giggling still. I chewed on my lips, trying to master my expression before remembering there is no need. "Everything must be above board this evening. If there is even the smallest doubt that Jupiter is being coerced, this will fail."
"Well, it's step aside for you or basically be tossed into the fire," Hei-Sook said with a shrug. She'd stuck with her white suit, her hair still in a severe bob at her chin, and I adored the fox-spirit's unapologetic badassery. If I had to choose someone to admire, it certainly would be her.
Romulus came to stand on the other side of me, hands shoved casually in his pockets. He scanned the crowd, no doubt looking over his lycans. There were more than the individual clan leaders in attendance. He had suggested a handful of the stronger warriors attend, for contingency purposes. Brom hadn't thought we needed them. I hoped the vampire was right.
The vampire stayed at the edge of the raised stage, leaning casually on the iron wrought decorative fencing. He watched my step-mother, eyes like a viper, deciding whether he should strike or not. I tilted my head towards Hei-Sook.
"Can you ask the musicians to finish their song as my stepmother joins us?"
"Yeah," the fox-spirit nodded, her eyes clouding in thought as she turned from me, agitation in the woman's shoulder.
Everyone was tense, no matter how we knew this was supposed to be a peaceful meeting. We watched Madam Jupiter as she made her way through the crowd with Beatrice, two steps behind her, following dutifully. Had my step-sister been on the receiving end of Madam Jupiter's punishments? I felt a pang of sympathy for her, knowing first hand how brutal the woman could be. No one deserved that.
It felt as if it took years for my stepmother to finally stand before me, her head tipped slightly back as she was forced to look up at me. It was a nice stab, even if it was a bit petty, and I would have to remember to thank Merlin for the suggestion.
As requested the cello music came to an end just as I met her icy blue eyes staring up at me, her face in a faultless expression of enjoyment. The ball room grew so quiet that the hairs on my arm raised in shock. It felt as if it was the calm of the storm. I knew, somehow, that beneath than perfectly polite smile and soft eyes was a violent and rotten soul, capable of the greatest evils.
"Eleanora," she spoke loudly for the crowd behind her as she reached her hands out towards me. Instinct had me accepting her hands as if to embrace each other. "What a lovely soiree you've put. I see that you've learned well under my hand." She squeezed my fingers tightly and I smiled brightly at her, refusing to flinch even behind a mask.
"Stepmother," I answered with as cheerful tone I could manage. I could sense Merlin's eyebrows shooting up at the sweetness in my tone and I scolded him internally while wanting to grin. He wasn't the only one who had petty ideas. "I am so thankful for everything you've taught me." I brought my fire to my hands, just under the skin. As I spoke, I gripped her hands harder. "Without you, I would never be where I am today." Her nails dug into the soft flesh of my wrists as my hands grew hotter. Certainly hot enough to be uncomfortable in fear of burning. "It is my hope that you will enjoy yourself this evening. And where is my beloved"—Romulus choked, turning it quickly into a cough—"sister Titania?"
"I'm afraid her recovery has been prolonged," Jupiter ground out, never losing that smile, as my grin went from kind to satisfied at her efforts. She blinked once, her hands loosening their grip, and I let the flames drift away. Her grin stayed there, the tension abetting only a fraction. She didn't have burns, I wouldn't have risked it, but certainly her hands ached.
"May I join you?" she asked. "I see no reason why we should prolong the matter at hand. I wish only to enjoy this evening, and it would be best to settle everyone's nerves."
"Of course," I said, letting go of her hands and stepping back. It was a minor insult, not helping her to the stage since we were already holding hands, but one that if it landed, Jupiter showed no wound. Romulus made a point to watch her, and Merlin didn't even bother standing. Even Brom, the picture of political refinement only straightened.
Beatrice stayed below, her eyes looked at us in puzzlement. I met her gaze and she shrugged. She had no more of an idea of her mother's intentions than I did.
"Good people of New Londinium's societies!" Her crystalline voice called out, loud enough to ensure even the farthest corners could hear her. "No doubt you have watched the, dare I say it, wildfire of a rise within our ranks?" A small uncomfortable laughter followed her words. "I know that there is fear of conflict between Eleanora and myself. This couldn't be farther from the truth tonight." I watched her carefully, my breath held, just as everyone held theirs, listening to Jupiter's every syllable and breath. "To
night, I graciously seceded the warlocks to Madam Bevider. May she use her burning light to guide us. Please, everyone," she turned towards me, raising her hands as if to display me, "join me in applauding our fearsome leader." She applauded, the clap breaking through the crowd making us all jump. They quickly followed, and soon the applause turned sincere, jovial even as some of the lycans playfully howled towards the ceiling."
I stepped forward, the sound lessening. It was as if the booming applause had diffused the tension, the faces of everyone hopeful.
"Thank you, everyone of you who have granted me your faith and loyalty. I shall endeavor to lead you with all of the strength I've gained under Madam Jupiter's hands."
I nodded to Hei-Sook who had returned to her position on the stage, and I wasn't entirely sure about the fox-spirit’s magic, but the staff began moving, tables being arranged and a dance floor appearing before the musicians. The musicians had grown from three cellos, an addition two violinists rounding out the band.
"Please join us for a celebration dinner and help us usher in a new order of alliances, peace, and equality."
Throne of Embers: A Reverse Harem PNR (Beautiful Secrets Book 3) Page 10