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Henry stayed rooted on the spot as she disappeared down the corner, unsure what to say or what to do. Ryan gave him another uneasy look before running after her, probably ready to shower her with apologies and praises. He sneered. He backed away a step, then another, inhaling deeply. He willed his rapid heartbeat and scrambled emotions to calm down.
Then Henry felt himself stilling when the unmistakable energy of his grandmother ripened the air with the scent of lilies, signaling her arrival.
Chapter 3
Out of the frying pan and into the fire was a saying that normally didn’t apply to her, mostly because Pearl was used to the sign of trouble and had become an expert at finding ways to dodge it. But now it felt like she was living that saying, as the argument with Henry gave her such a temper, one that hadn’t come out in a long time—only for it to crash back down at the sight of the stone-faced, haughty-nosed older woman blocking her way at the house’s front door. What kind of bad joke was this?
“Good morning, Mrs. Lyra.”
Silence. Verity Lyra scanned her from head to toe, a slow sweep that was even colder than Henry’s nature. With the polished white dress, understated jewelry, and neatly swept-back gray hair, it felt like a Queen giving her subject a very thorough analysis…then, a casual dismissal.
“Martin, where are my grandsons?”
No greeting, not even an acknowledgment that Pearl’s greeting was heard. Martin murmured something about calling them, then was marching off. Impatience uncurled from Pearl as she waited for the woman to step away from the doorway. When Verity finally did, the relief was short-lived as Verity’s voice pierced the air once more.
“So, what I heard is true.”
I hope you’re not talking to me,she pleaded in her mind, only to find the woman looking right at her. Pearl bit back a sigh.
“It depends on what you heard.”
“Don’t get cheeky with me. You’re working for us to pay off your brother’s debt. As I recall, he destroyed many of our properties during his rampantly scandalous state. He’s a disappointment to the community.”
“I’m not getting…” But she was getting cheeky, and Verity’s expression told her the woman wouldn’t hold back from doing worse things. As much as Pearl’s insides screamed at her to not back down, even she knew the consequences of messing with the Lyra family’s matriarch. “Yes, what you heard is true. I’m workingwithyou. And as I told your grandson…”
“She’s finding a solution, Grandma.”
Her focus drifted toward Henry, who walked with so much confidence that it filled the room like some odd kind of light—odd because he wasn’t smiling, and she didn’t think he was even capable of smiling. But the light came from his aura, a power that hadn’t been unleashed yet, and made her wonder what would trigger that tightly-held control to unravel. Was the temper he showed earlier a glimpse of it? Or would it be so much worse? What would make Henry Lyra fold and shatter from that arrogant coldness?
Her fingers itched, wanting to pluck his strings and find out. Her mind told her it was a bad idea, but Pearl wanted to know people well, especially the likes of him. In a way, he was similar to her two older sisters: Sapphire, who kept her sufferings hidden under her calm façade, and Emerald, who kept her emotions under a cool mask. Everyone hid something.
Unless the man has nothing but emptiness underneath.
“Henry, I want you to promise that you will be with her every step of the way. We can’t trust the help these days. So many slimy hands and sinister motives. After what her brother did…”
Jarred out of her reverie, Pearl’s back went up. But Henry’s answer puzzled her.
“She’s not the help, Grandma. She works with us and I’m assured that she’s the best.”
What?
“And she’s from a powerful family,” Ryan piped in, giving her an apologetic look.
“And my brother’s innocent,” Pearl couldn’t resist adding, which earned her a warning look from Henry. She stared at him defiantly while Verity frowned in disdain. Then the older woman sighed and leaned into Henry.
“I hate that we have to get outside help. Outsiders can be so manipulative and stupid. Henry, you have to promise me…”
“I promise you that I will be with her every step of the way, Grandma,” was Henry’s prompt response. “She will be monitored throughout the process and I will make sure that she gets the job done.”
Great.Her mood plummeted, telling her that she needed to get out of there before she resorted to even more sarcasm. When Verity insisted on tea in the living room, Pearl slipped out as fast as she could, offering a friendly wave at Ryan who stood by the door. Henry glanced at her, too, while he escorted his grandmother away, and she couldn’t help glowering in his direction before she marched off with a scowl. It was crazy how one look from the man could rouse her temper so much, but she had a feeling the Lyras would be testing her patience for a long time.
“It’s not my problem,” she muttered. “I will prove to them what I’m capable of. Then they can all go to hell.”
The plan felt good, even euphoric. It didn’t come to fruition when she returned to her family cottage and tested some potions out, a process that took hours and eventually had her eyes crossing. Pearl stretched a bit and did a few more tests, but soon had to take a real break and decided the cottage wouldn’t do. Minutes later, she was ordering her usual at the bar while Rex gave her an incredulous look.
“Did you just say ten glasses?”
“Expect more after the first ten. I need to get drunk,” she explained matter-of-factly. “I need my overthinking brain to shut off so instinct can take over. Instinct gets my magic flowing freely.”
