It seemed to mollify the bear, and they ended the call with pleasantries and promises to check in.
When he turned around, Helena stood in the doorway, a half smile on her face, sliding away into pity. “It went well?”
Mads shrugged. “Only two ways it could have gone. Bad or worse. There’s no good that could come from not being there for your kid growing up. Like father, like son.”
“Come in. Let’s get you something to eat. Marquis will murder me if I don’t make sure you’re fed. He’s absolutely in a tizzy because he couldn’t bring you with him.” She gave him a maternal gesture, shuffling him out. She was maybe ten years his senior, but so much of Mads’s life was missing. He didn’t feel much older than the thirty-one he was when he’d had Rexford. By mage standards, he wasn’t even pressured to begin dating back then, just immature and sewing his wild oats. Marquis had been the only male he’d encountered of the omega-interested persuasion that didn’t seek him out with shit intentions. Mads had to press the issue to get what he wanted.
But at the end of everything? Life was perfect. It’d be even more perfect if Marquis was home.
For the time, though? He was protected. The only people he had to fear were long gone, and one of his coven subordinates had made lasagna.
Chapter Twenty-One
Marquis
Every moment away from Mads tugged at his soul heavier than it ever had before. He wanted to fall asleep with the warm weight of Mads’s head on his shoulder. The faint scent of lingering sweetness, the tingle of familiar magic, all of it culminated into a pain in his heart that he couldn’t shake.
Izohr sat in observation as boxes of paperwork, cases of cash, gold, and coins were carried out of the storage unit. Baron had to have lost track of it, or someone had hidden it from him. “I wonder if Justin knew this was here.”
Marquis shrugged. “There’s none left to question things. How is Leon, by the way?”
Izohr grumbled. “Miserable. We’re not ready for another child, and suppressants can only ease symptoms for some familiars.”
Non-mammal familiars had a near-impossible time with preventatives, which made Marquis very grateful for Mads’s future heats. “My condolences. Condoms aren’t an option for you?”
Izohr rubbed the back of his neck and coughed. “Ah… Anatomical issues.”
“Say no more.” Marquis waved a hand as Izohr’s cheeks pinkened.Mage in appearance but canid where it counts.
“Change of subject, though.” Izohr pulled out his phone and held it up to Marquis, an email with a letter of introduction and request to join his coven. They’d not even decided on a name, whether it would be a subsidiary of the Arborae or Penumbra, as Izohr had no coven ties with his family and RedSky had taken him in as a young male, giving him Penumbra status. The covenlands were originally Arborae, the Willow coven, and Leon had been Oaken, in the Arborae line.
“An alpha pair of polar bears?” Marquis frowned. “How would they know to contact you?”
“Touch base with Mads, please. It’s by his recommendation.” Izohr stared at the email for a second and the name hit Marquis, tickling a nearly forgotten memory. “Mads’s father.”
“No shi—way?” Izohr had never grown accustomed to formality, and Marquis, while he had relaxed in the past two years, had not given up all pretense of formality between coven heads. Izohr needed the practice.
“I’ll talk to him this evening when I’m home. As for the application, do as you wish. If Mads recommended him, there’s likely some chance of good blood.” Marquis pondered the male. Until recently, there’d been no attempt at communication either way, nor had Mads ever searched for him. Things were always changing, though.
Sailor scrolled the email and tilted his head from side to side. “He’s a licensed plumber, and his mate owns a construction company, does roofing and masonry.”
“Speaks for itself, does it not? Mages rarely go into the trades.” Marquis handwaved the notion and moved to inspect a box of paperwork. Mostly tax records, some deeds, and the final piece Marquis needed to see before he headed out—the Eclipse trust.
Marquis snatched the letterhead of an investment firm up and called the number, praying that the New England company was still open. It’d be just after two in the afternoon their time. It rang three times before a cheerful female answered, and Marquis asked for the account representative for the Eclipse accounts.
Silence.
“May I ask who is inquiring?” Her hesitant voice trembled.
“Marquis Penumbra. Baron Eclipse’s brother. Last surviving heir of the family.” Marquis tapped his fingers on his phone case as he strode off, a wicked grin spread across his lips.
“Transferring you right away.” The line clicked. More ringing, and the line that picked up was a cellphone, if the hiss of traffic in the background were any indication.
An older male answered, surprised to hear from Marquis and polite if not clipped.
“And what is it you wish for us to do?” The manager, a human from the name, Gerald or something of the sort, cleared his throat. “Mage Eclipse was a strain on our resources.”
“I merely wanted to know what was left in the family trust. Where it is, and who I needed to speak to about remanaging it.” Marquis rocked on his heels as the male informed him that it was left to Justin, who Marquis had confirmed was passed on.
