As if it’s my fault they never spend time with me, or call.
“Technically, this is now my house.” I tap my finger on my chin, as if I’m thinking. “You wouldn’t want to rock the boat with Roth family tradition, would you?”
My mother sucks in her cheeks, her nostrils flaring as she brushes imaginary lint off her sleeve. “It doesn’t matter. The chateau is my least favorite of the houses. We’ll be out of your hair by morning.”
She gives me her back, but just before she steps out of the hall, she looks over her shoulder at me, and then Piper. “Well, not exactly out of your hair. We’re here as part of the new councilselection process, as it were. Honestly, I leave, and everything falls apart without me.”
“Council selection process?” What is she talking about?
“Didn’t you hear? I guess you’ve just been too distracted with your… wife.” Bianca eyes Piper, taking in her sleep-rumpled sweats and sweatshirt that’s been worn on planes, cabs, in wedding chapels. I think she still looks beautiful, but I know in my mother’s eyes, Piper isn’t enough. No one is as perfect as Bianca Roth envisions herself.
“Beaumont, did you say? Of the Lumen coven Beaumonts?” she says, as if only just recalling Piper’s last name.
“Well, now who’s been gone too long, Mother? Didn’t you know we’re no longer the Lumen and Tenebris covens? We’re the Luminara coven.”
“Of course. That’s why we’re here, after all. Things have gone very astray without real guidance from the council, obviously. I’ve returned to ensure that things go back to the way they should be. As for the council selection process, well, I’ll just leave you to find out. Get up to speed on what’s happening with your coven. Since you obviously haven’t been diligently keeping track.” She smooths her hair down and sniffs.
“Blaine,” my mother calls out listlessly as she leaves us. “We’re being kicked out of our own house. Have a servant gather things.”
“They’re not servants, Mother.”
My mother turns a blank stare in my direction. “What am I supposed to call them, Ambrose? Their whole job is to serve me.”
With those parting words, my mother sways off in a click of her heels and a jaunty tilt of her chin, leaving me and Piper in the hallway.
“Welcome to the family, Piper.”
10
PIPER
I’m frozen in place. The last few days have been a whirlwind, and I don’t know how to cope with this one last thing. Somewhere in the back of my head, I knew Ambrose still had two living parents, but they’re never around. I wasn’t expecting to walk into the chateau and be confronted with my in-laws.
Ambrose’s mom is elegant and as cold as ice. His father is disconnected and absent, even though he was standing right in front of us. It’s amazing that Ambrose exudes the warmth that he does. Then again, most of my friends are not at all like the rest of their families.
Ambrose extracts his hand from mine, and I realize how tightly I’ve been squeezing it. My nerves are just about shattered. I keep waiting for Tucker to burst through the door or something really horrible to happen. Not that Tucker can command me to do something because of my hex any longer, but he's a big guy. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s hit me. Not even getting rid of the hex will protect me from that.
Instead of walking away, Ambrose wraps his fingers around my shoulders and ducks down to look me in the eye. “I have a really big favor to ask of you.”
“I think I sort of owe you.” I offer him a wry smile.
“No. We’re not going to do that. You don’t owe me anything for helping you out. In fact, this is more to keep you safe than anything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t trust my parents. I don’t know what’s going on with the coven or why exactly they’re back in town, but I don’t think it’s safe for you to be alone.”
Someone in a maid’s uniform bustles by with a stack of clothing. People are running around with a frenzied anxiousness. How much stuff did the Roths bring back with them? “Do you think your mom would hurt me?”
“Probably not. It’s likely overkill on my part, but I think until we can break your hex and to hold up things for appearance’s sake, you should stay here.” He sounds unconcerned, but there’s a glint of worry in his eyes that he doesn’t hide.
“Okay.” It’s actually a relief. If I went back to my apartment, I’d be worrying that Tucker would come storming in at any moment.
His forehead creases. “Hear me out, it really would be safest for you all around.”
“I said okay.” I squeeze Ambrose’s arm, and my words finally seem to sink in.
His entire body relaxes. “Really? Just like that?”
