“These are grave tidings,” Leon said. “Very grave indeed. That a Bartlett cousin would betray his house is impossible to consider. But if both of you saw the same thing, then it cannot be questioned.”
Leon gestured with his fingers, and gold magic wrapped around the rock, bringing it close to him.
“I believe the only reason my cousin even considered it was because we have been without a king for so long,” Cade said. “The Jennings have fled, which I take as admission of their culpability in the car explosion. That, combined with Isaac’s betrayal, indicates that they were either working together or hired an outside source in order to poison the nightclub. I demand that this council resolve the issue of leadership in our house. I must be named king and ascend the throne.”
“This does answer several questions,” Petrona said slowly. “Unfortunately, when you were incapacitated, several more were raised.”
“What other questions?” Cade asked.
“When we cut off your magic, we got a full view of your consort and the bond that you two do not share,” Petrona said.
“What do you mean?” Cade asked. He gestured to me, pointing at my neck. “He wears the mark of my magic.”
“He wears your pet, Basil, who we all know moves on his own, without your bidding directing him,” Petrona said. Her eyes wrinkled in the corners, mouth turned down. “Please correct us, Prince Bartlett. Show us where else on his body he bears your magic.”
The words were a plea. Petrona was his most stalwart defender. If she had been turned against him, then everyone else on his side would follow her.
“You cannot ask me to display that magic,” Cade said. “It goes against all protocol. That magic is private.”
“In most circumstances, yes.” Leon looked down at the table before raising his head to stare at Cade. “However, the house bylaws are very clear. No unattached werewolves may be on the property without the consent of you, me, and the council. Have you brought an unattached werewolf here? You of all people know the risks. To display such a disregard for the safety of your house…”
Leon shook his head.
“How dare you question my loyalty to this house?” Cade said.
“Your loyalty is not what is in question,” Petrona said. Then she turned to me, the same piercing eyes that had seen me in the small little reading room. “Miles. You claim to be Prince Bartlett’s consort. Are you?”
Cade turned to look at me, and I stared down at him. We could lie. I was sure there was some loophole, some way to get out of this.
I opened my mouth, ready to say that I was, but Petrona’s magic wrapped around my throat.
“You cannot cast on my consort!” Cade shouted. “It isn’t done!”
“Itcan’tbe done if he is indeed your consort,” Petrona said sharply. “Are you Prince Bartlett’s consort, Miles?”
Her magic pulled the truth from inside me, yanking it loose. “No.”
I shut my mouth tightly, my teeth grinding together, my hand going to my neck. Basil was already there, wrapping around my throat three times, burning away the magic.
“No.” Petrona nodded, her chin brushing her chest. Then she stood, the expression on her face hard. “Cade Bartlett, you have lied to this council repeatedly. You have brought a danger not only to your house but to this room. What do you have to say in defense?”
“In defense?” Cade stood, shoving his chair backward. “Why should I have to defend myself? It became clear that no matter how many hoops I jumped through, no matter how old I got, you would never place the crown on my head. You even demanded I get a consort, even though it hasneverbeen required of past kings. Too many people in this room have benefited from my father’s death. You live in the past. All of you. What does it matter if Miles is my consort or employee or lover? All of you greedily suck the coffers of this house dry without realizing that they will need to be replenished.”
“Cade,” Sonja admonished. “Mind your words.”
“Why should I? They want to dethrone me on a technicality!” Cade looked around the table but was met with stony glares.
He inhaled, clearly ready for another volley, but I grabbed his shoulder tight. “Yes, Cade hired me. But he did so because he loves House Bartlett. He wants the house to thrive. Moreover, everyone in this room is losing sight of the fact that Isaac’s betrayal, the Jennings’ running away, all of it means that some other house is likely getting the inside information about House Bartlett from either Isaac or the Jennings. I’ve seen enough power plays to know you need to decide soon who’s going to lead the house. Vultures can see when something is dying, and this house is.”
“I agree, we will need to crown a king soon.” Petrona swallowed.
Sonja sat up, glancing significantly at Leon, two lines between her brows. Tyson’s shoulders went back. This wasn’t news to either of them.
“In light of what we have learned, I move to immediately install a new king. We must choose someone who has been loyal to this house and whose blood is as close to the royal line as Cade’s. Whose power is so expansive that they need and use their consort regularly. Who knows the ins and outs of every position, rank, and responsibility. I move that we crown Leon Lucas our king.” Petrona looked around the table. “All those in favor?”
Her magic flew around the table, the familiar voting squares. One by one, council members tapped the squares, and they flew up, hanging above the table like an enormous tapestry. Sonja glared, not touching the square in front of her, but Petrona shook her head and waved a hand, the tapestry shimmering, revealing a unanimous blue.
Sonja was glaring at Leon and raised her voice to be heard over the murmur of the council members.
