Married (30 page)

“Silviu—”

He steamrolled over Georgie’s protest. “You can break an effigy, love. Maybe you have some sort of thing against all dark magic. Try to find it in your grandmother while she rests and see if you can get rid of that, too.”

She sounded doubtful when she said, “Fine. I’ll try.”

“Eliasz, I want you to stay here, with the women. Learn what you can from whatever rumors you can hear, but guard my betrothed.”

He nodded. “I can do that.”

“Christiana and Adam,” Silviu spun toward them, “go mingle with the guests and keep your ears open.”

Adam spared a glance for Tulah. “You’ll be safe here with Georgie.”

“Iley”—Silviu beckoned his sister to his side with a finger—“you’ll come with me. We’re going down to the sitting room to see what we can find.”

Georgie folded her arms over her chest. “I wonder at this take-charge attitude, Silver. I hope you don’t plan to make it a habit.”

He grabbed her, pulled her close and kissed her, releasing her before she had time to respond. “Only when we’re in a mess of my making, my back is against the wall and my family is being threatened. We don’t have much time.”

“While you’re gone, I’ll get rid of the germ.”

“No.”

“
No!
”

Margaret’s shriek overpowered Silviu’s, but Georgie didn’t look away from his face. Her eyes narrowed. “It’s disgusting. I don’t see why I shouldn’t burn it.”

“Dark magic, love. You heard your grandmother, it’s volatile. No telling what will happen.”

“The effigy is broken.”

He waved toward the table. “Then there is no danger in keeping it where it is for now. At the very least, it’s evidence we can use to make our case stronger.”

Georgie frowned. “What case?”

“Graves will die before the night is out. Not killing him isn’t an option, Georgeanne.”

* * * *

Ileana kept her silence as they moved through the hall at a near-run, but her elevated eyebrows conveyed more than enough censure.

“What?” Silviu snapped.

“Just wondering why you would dare to show such dominance. I thought the idea was to make both Madeleine and Georgie think you’re a tame house cat, rather than a rabid lion.”

He didn’t slow his pace as he steered her through the lobby, where a few guests mixed and mingled. He nodded to those he knew with all the politeness he could muster and leaned down to snarl in Ileana’s ear. “My family is being threatened and I’ve been played the fool. I used my magic on Muso, and he still lied to me.”

“That’s certainly interesting, but do you really think it’s wise—”

“Madeleine doesn’t know if Georgie can inherit the power. I’ve been wondering the same thing for years.”

Ileana stumbled. “But our father said—”

“If he’s wrong, there will be a power vacuum unless I can maneuver Madeleine into blooding
me
as her heir. Georgie is my Match, my magic would be hers. It’s not a bad deal.”

“She’d let the Davenold women duke it out before giving the power to a Lovasz man.”

“We’ll see what I can accomplish with her being ill and the Ngozi Family surrounding us with dark magic.”

Reaching the sitting room door, Silviu saw a weak silver spell coasting over the wood. Derision curled his lip as he threw open the door and dared the room’s occupants to argue with his entry. It took less than a heartbeat for Silviu to focus on Daniel and Constance, huddled together on the sofa. They both jerked and turned to peer over the scalloped edge, their conversation dying an abrupt death.

“Do forgive us for intruding,” Silviu purred, hauling Ileana into the room and slamming the door behind them. “I didn’t know anyone would be in here.”

“The door was locked.” Daniel lifted an eyebrow.

“Was it?” Silviu pasted innocence over his features. “I wasn’t aware. It opened easily enough. What are you doing in here with the wedding mere hours away?”

“Dealing with my Family’s business. Do you mind?”

“Were you in here this morning?” Silviu dropped Ileana’s wrist to move around the furniture. Daniel watched him like he would a predator.

“Yes, I was. What is this about, Lovasz?”

“Were you alone?”

Daniel drew himself up. “What is the meaning behind this? You are interrupting a conversation between me and my Family member.”

“She won’t be yours in a few hours.”

“Then time is of the essence.” Daniel’s face darkened.

“Yes it is.” Silviu moved to stand in front of the fire and sent his magic spinning toward the flames. He found a faint trace of darkness. Too faint to track. They were too late. He looked over his shoulder at Ileana but she could only shake her head. She’d found nothing.

He turned back to Daniel. “What business did you have in here this morning?”

“I’ve been away from home and need privacy. I’ve just about claimed this room as my own.” Daniel stared at Ileana for a long moment as his brows lowered further.

She lifted her chin and said, “He knows Constance is your sister.”

Daniel bent a dark glare on Silviu. “Then I’m sure you understand she’s nervous today and has come to me for support.”

Silviu didn’t bother to look in Constance’s direction. “Was she here this morning?”

“No,” Daniel gritted out. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Harmful magic.” Silviu watched Daniel closely, but the light in the other man’s eyes seemed to be genuine shock. “Do you know anything about that?”

“No, good God! Is everyone all right?”

“Yes, we’ve got the situation under control.” Silviu waved his hand. “You were alone in here?”

“Levys and Ngozis have been coming and going all day. The only time I’ve had more than five minutes to myself was just after breakfast, before the others realized where I was.”

The timeframe didn’t match Adam’s. “Closer to dawn, Daniel.”

The other man shook his head. “I didn’t come downstairs until breakfast, and then I came in here and hosted a parade of nervous Family members wanting reassurances that the Ngozi Father won’t kill my sister’s groom before the wedding night.”

“I wouldn’t put anything past Muso.” Silviu flicked a glance at Constance. “Cold feet?”

She lifted her chin. “I’m sure all brides are a little anxious on their wedding day.”

“Perhaps.” He gestured Ileana toward the door.

Daniel stopped him. “Wait! Do you know something about Muso you’d care to share with me?”

Unconcerned with Daniel’s interpretation, Silviu said, “Not particularly.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Tulah

Georgeanne sat on the edge of the bed holding her grandmother’s hand, eyes closed, face pulled into severe lines of concentration. Tulah remained as still as possible, curled up in the uncomfortable chair next to the bed, unwilling to draw the woman’s attention to her.

The Davenold Mother was also still, very close to the edge of sleep. She didn’t look well, yet she maintained an unbending aura of authority and there had been determination in her black eyes before she closed them. Traits shared by her granddaughter.

For as motionless as Tulah was, inside she was a ball of nerves. Hot and cold by turns, she felt electrified and close to jumping out of her skin. Her thoughts rioted, her heart stuttered. The petite Davenold heir and her deceptively calm betrothed were the source of her turmoil.

Georgeanne gave the impression of extreme confidence, treating Graves with a disdain Tulah wished she could match. But the woman was nonthreatening if you didn’t look at the hardness in her eyes or the set of her spine, and frightening if you did. Still not as dangerous as Silviu, who wore calm like a cloak, sharp intelligence glittering in his eyes.

Tulah hadn’t exactly been comfortable around them, but it had been easy enough to breathe, think and carry on without fear of extreme consequences. Now both witches considered themselves and their Family under attack, and the change they both exhibited was bordering on terrifying. The power that had passed between them when they touched had been enough to scorch every nerve in Tulah’s tense body.

Silviu and Georgie’s behavior would have been comforting if she was a part of their Family. But she wasn’t. Tulah was glad she’d abandoned her former plans.

However, Tulah was trapped with the Davenold Mother and her enraged heir. Silviu had spit out orders and the rest of the group had jumped to obey. Georgeanne had only made a token protest before she fell in line, Madeleine had agreed automatically. As he’d wielded authority over the Davenold Mother easily, Tulah knew she didn’t stand a chance against Silviu’s directives. She’d meekly done whatever he asked of her, his power great enough to override all her common sense. She was regretting her weakness.

Georgeanne opened her eyes with a sigh. “I have no idea if I’m even doing anything. For all I know I’m just holding her hand while she sleeps.”

Tulah dared to shift the tiniest bit in her chair. “Maybe that’s the best thing you could do. Let her know she’s not alone.”

Georgie snorted, stood and waved Tulah toward the connecting sitting room. “She’s the Mother of a very large Family, a master puppeteer, and surrounded by people who would lay down their very lives to keep her happy, let alone safe.”

“But not now. Now she’s surrounded by
my
Family, and I can assure you they are the furthest thing from supportive you could possibly find.”

They stepped over the threshold to find Margaret on her knees before the table, examining the blood-soaked scrap of fabric without touching it. Eliasz sat in an armchair that looked entirely too delicate for his big body. A soft breeze ruffled his hair.

Georgie tossed her response over her shoulder as she moved toward her aunt. “You’re wrong, Tulah. How many of us were in here? Not just Davenolds, but people who are tied to me and Silviu. Together, we are a force stronger than anything your Family could throw at us.”

Tulah had her doubts. “Even with dark magic?”

Georgie nodded. “Graves, and whoever he’s working with, is strong and smart, but so are we.
And
, if we put pressure in the right place, Muso will fold. Silviu is very good at finding pressure points, and now he’s pissed because Muso tried to make a fool out of him.”

Margaret looked up from the table, her eyes focusing on her niece. “There’s really nothing new to learn about the fabric. It seems as if it’s an ordinary germ.”

“We can’t destroy it?” Georgie wrinkled her nose at the offending silk.

“We don’t know the consequences, dear.”

“We don’t know a lot of things,” Georgie grumbled. “What the hell is Graves really after? I mean, power, yes, but how would this marriage benefit him in the long run?”

“An alliance with Daniel is no small thing,” Margaret pointed out.

“True.” Eliasz joined the conversation. “The Levys have a lot of influence.”

“Sister or not, Daniel would never put Constance’s welfare before the Family’s.” Georgie’s eyebrows snapped together. “The Levys are huge, widespread and taught from birth that nothing but the primary branch truly matters. Graves won’t benefit greatly from the match.”

Siblings. Tulah struggled through her shock. “But maybe Daniel doesn’t feel that way. Maybe he loves his sister.”

“Georgie’s right.” Eliasz’s tone held a hint of bitterness. “Primary first, above love, money or politics. Constance barely rates on the hierarchy of my Family.”

“Maybe Graves is supposed to provide some magical muscle.” Georgie lowered herself into a chair. “Daniel is notoriously weak in magic, and while that’s true of most Levys, especially the men, they do have a few strong witches that would win a challenge for the power. Eliasz, for example, could take Daniel down with minimal effort.”

“Then why haven’t you?” Tulah stared at the man—his blue eyes like chips of ice, the way they had been the night Graves had humiliated her in front of his new guests. She didn’t doubt his strength but questioned Eliasz’s motivation.

He shrugged. “The covens support him and Daniel is a very good politician, angling our Family into a position of strength.”

“Then maybe that’s the point,” Tulah said. “Maybe Graves gets power through Daniel and Daniel gets more power through Graves.”

“Daniel needs to balance the Ngozi–Njele match.” Eliasz exhaled roughly. “The only way Daniel could have more power is to challenge for the High Seat, and he’d never win against Madeleine.”

“Who’s being targeted,” Tulah pointed out.

“Even so,” Eliasz argued back, “there are others who would throw their hats in the ring. He would never gain enough support to rule the covens with such weak magic.”

“Besides”—Georgie shook her head—“Graves is more a liability. The difference between an assassin’s sword and a terrorist’s bomb. Graves has no precision. He barrels forward with brute strength.”

“Don’t underestimate him,” Tulah warned.

“He shouldn’t underestimate me.”

Georgie’s smile sent a chill down Tulah’s back, making her flinch, turning her knees to water. She sensed the steel inside Georgie, the sheer force of will the woman could bring to bear against her enemies. It was more terrifying for the fact that Tulah knew the woman had no magic, making her not only determined but unpredictable.

Like Graves.

Tulah sank down on the couch and focused on breathing. “Maybe it’s not about Constance then,” she croaked. “Maybe it’s about Warner. I mean, Graves is very attached to the man and has stopped attempting to hide it.”

Georgie’s black eyes lit with an unholy light. “I overheard Warner scolding Graves. Told him he was jeopardizing
the plan
.”

“What plan?” Eliasz asked.

“I guess the effigy.” Georgie jumped to her feet to pace around the coffee table. “Let’s see, Graves wants an alliance with the Levys, the Levys need an alliance with the Ngozis and Constance wants power. Daniel is doing his damnedest to bring more magic into the fold. But Warner has no power, is married to his Match and carrying on an affair with his son-in-law. What does
he
want?”

“Maybe that’s all he wants,” Margaret said. “Maybe Graves’ plan is simply to marry Constance and spend the rest of his life in close quarters with Warner.”