I thought that was the one thing we could agree on. I don’t want anything to do with that wanker’s house or title. The only reason I entertained his brutal version of ‘training’ after Eddy was healed was because he made it very clear that my twin would never be able to safely leave the Arcanaeum if I didn’t.
“I don’t hate you,” she corrects, but doesn’t elaborate.
What does that mean? Argh. I’ve never wished I could read someone’s mind quite so much.
“What’s the third option?” Leo asks.
“A truth spell, in the presence of an enforcer, where you swear you didn’t kill your father.”
My teeth gnash when she calls Josef my father, but I don’t correct her. “And they’ll accept that?”
“As long as I cast it, then they should, since I’m not allied with any of the houses.” She narrows her eyes at all of us, like we can miss the point she’s making. “I did the same thing with an Ó Rinn some centuries ago who was trying to prove her innocence, so there’s a precedent for it. It sets a better tone for the start of your reign than running or hiding from the problem. Provided you didn’t kill Josef, the enforcers will have no cause to come after you again.”
“And what then?” I ask.
“Then a vicegerent is appointed to oversee Ackland’s affairs while you gain your magister qualifications.”
What? “You mean a vice regent?”
“Vicegerent,” she corrects. “Though the principle is the same. A person with the experience necessary to step in on a temporary basis. The moment you’re qualified, you’ll take over. Until then, you’ll still need to contribute and?—”
“I’d rather drive it into the fucking ground.”
“Don’t be callous,” she snaps, brown eyes flaringwith impatience. “Hundreds of arcanists depend on you now, so grow a pair and learn to become a parriarch worthy of them. Someone is clearly trying to destabilise your house, or they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to set you up. It’s your duty to defend the innocents from getting caught in the crossfire.”
Like it’s so easy? I can barely protect my twin, let alone hundreds of strangers. They all probably know more about magic than I do.
“You do it then, if you care so much.”
Honestly, Kyrith would make a better parriarch than any of us. Definitely better than Josef, that’s for sure.
Her brows furrow as she pushes free of Lambert’s arms and advances on me. “I can’t. Only the most powerfulAcklandcan be parriarch.”
“So that’s it then? I don’t get a say?”
Her expression softens, but only minutely. “There are precious few moments in life where you can be the architect of your own destiny. Most of the time, the only choice you get to make is how to do the best you can with what Fate has handed you.”
The touch of sorrow at the edge of her words cuts, and I turn away.
A bang echoes down the hall, and the Arcanaeum does one of those angry bristles. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that these enforcer assholes are getting tired of waiting nicely, and I don’t want to be the reason that they break down the Arcanaeum’s doors. Eddy would murder me for upsetting her new best friend.
“The nerve!” Kyrith growls under her breath, turning to face the door at the end of Botanical Hall. She straightens her shoulders like she’s about to go into battle with the enforcers on the other side. “This is?—”
“Fine. I’ll do the truth spell. But I want you to be regent.”
Lambert winces. “She can’t. She’s not an Ackland.”
“The rector usually appoints someone…” Jasper adds. “Or Josef will have named one in his will.”
Great. Fucking great.
The bang comes again, and this time a scream follows it. What the…? Kyrith rolls her eyes, and without meaning to, I start striding past the rows of plant-laden shelves. She pops up in front of me a second later, and this time we collide. The contact turns her solid and almost sends her flying. I grab her waist, snatching her against me before she can fall on her too-round ass. As it is, I get an armful of lush, sweet-smelling Librarian pressed against my front before she shoves away.
“Watch it,” I snap.
“You can’t just barge in there?—”
“They’re causing trouble for you, aren’t they?”
