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Four, the woman slaughtered Pampei’s family before the Council put a stop to it, including Pampei who decided to defend his wife up until her death. Pampei was then driven to madness, posing a threat to their society until the Council decided he needed to be kept in seclusion. None of those points comforted her, but she wasn’t here for comfort. She was here to search for the shadow that eluded them again, and the only way to do that—and to get out of here—was to get in the powerful warlock’s good graces.
“The soup’s still hot. We’ve been boiling some bones all day so the flavor’s concentrated by now. I’m Pippa, by the way. Pippa Magoo, but most just know me by Pippa.” At their silence, Pippa shook her head. “And the bones are animal bones if you’re concerned. Contrary to what the island likes to believe, Papa doesn’t eat human bones.”
Pampei chuckled darkly, holding out a bowl for Pippa to fill up. Henry did the same while Pearl surreptitiously observed their host. In a way, the man reminded her of her brother, but Silver had never been accused of having a bloodthirsty mate. She glanced around after, subtly tapping with her energy here and there in search of the shadow. But a finger tap on her elbow brought her attention back to Henry, who was warning her while he kept his gaze on the two.
Switching her focus, Pearl smiled. “Thank you, Pippa. You’re very kind to take us in.”
She tried the soup and was amazed when it tasted better than she anticipated. She tapped Henry in turn until he swallowed his hesitance and dove in too. Pippa smiled.
“I would like to take credit, but we all know you wouldn’t be having a sip of that soup if my father was in a fouler mood.”
Henry cleared his throat, as if that was the entrance he needed. Pearl tapped him again, but he ignored her.
“Mr. Magoo, I didn’t know you had a…”
“Child? Why should they know? So they could take her away like they did my wife?”
“Papa,” Pippa scolded mildly.
Pearl shot Henry a pointed look, then tried to infuse sympathy into her smile. “Mr. Magoo, he didn’t mean it like that. We’re just surprised. Everyone knows your story, but no one knows of your daughter’s. I say that’s pretty impressive.”
“John knows,” Pippa replied. “And yes, not everyone does. Those who know me think I’m either Papa’s servant or a regular messenger. And before you list down the dangers I pose, there are none. I can come and go, but magic here is null and Papa can’t leave. Besides that, she’s not my mother, so…there’s nothing to fear.”
Henry looked up at that, scrutinizing the woman. A multitude of questions flew into Pearl’s head, none of which seemed appropriate. Then she noticed that Pampei was scrutinizing Henry in turn.
“How are Carlos and Verity?” Pampei asked.
“They’re doing well.”
“I see.” A pause, then, “Did they tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“That they were the ones who snitched my wife to the Council, and insisted on her threat to Broom’s Isle.”
The dropped bomb abruptly changed the mood at the dining table, forcing Pearl to let go of her spoon. She braced herself for Henry’s defense, maybe even his anger on behalf of the family he protected and revered so much.
“I’m sorry for that.”
She blinked, dumbstruck. Pampei was taken aback, too, and the man kept assessing Henry before finally settling back on his seat.
“Don’t think they won’t do the same when they find out that you fucked someone like Miss Sutton, who I heard has also been fucking around—”
“Papa,” Pippa butted in, mortified.
“Not that I find fault in it,” Pampei continued, shrugging. “There’s no shame in being intimate with people you find a connection with, Miss Sutton.”
Pearl smirked in agreement, not bothering to correct the man that the people she had slept with had been anything but intimate connections. She shifted in her seat, the topic reminding her of the restlessness she felt lately—
A hand gripped her hip and pulled her closer, shutting her ruminations out. She froze.
“I don’t, either,” Henry said firmly. “It doesn’t matter who she was with in her past. What matters is she’s mine now.”
There was a hint of possessiveness there, sparking something inside her. Neither man noticed, too busy staring at each other.
“And what if your family says no?” Pampei challenged.
“That’s their problem, not mine. Pearl’s a great witch and her brother’s doings aren’t hers. It shouldn’t make her any less worthy, and neither should be used to judge her when she’s so much more than her brother or the men she was with.”
