“Nick.” Michelle’s voice was nothing more than a whisper. “I—I have to say something. Before we go in there.”
Goose bumps broke out on her arms, and Nick had to catch herself before she started shaking her head. Instead, she walked over and knelt in front of Michelle. “What is it?”
Michelle’s eyes looked huge in her pale face, and so lost. She curled her hands around Nick’s fingers and took a slow, careful breath. “I don’t want you to do this. Whatever they’re going to ask…it’s not fair.”
“I don’t think they care about what’s fair.” She smoothed a stray lock of hair behind Michelle’s ear. “We all do what we have to do, sweetie. That’s all.”
Tears welled up, and her sister closed her eyes. “I feel so selfish. You’re in love with him, Nicky. I see it. I feel it. I’m letting you throw your life away because I can’t let them take my child.”
“Please stop.” Nick took a deep breath and hugged Michelle. “I love him, but I can’t let the Conclave take your child either. Derek understands that. Just…let me do this for you.”
Michelle’s tears fell fast and hot against her shoulder. “Does—does Derek know?”
She’d spoken to Mackenzie that morning, and she’d told her about the tense conversation where Jackson had told Derek the truth. “He knows.”
Michelle’s arms came around her. “I’m so, so sorry.”
If she started crying she wouldn’t stop, and Nick refused to let the Conclave see that. “We should be focused on you right now. You and Aaron and this kid.”
“Aaron doesn’t think he’s going to survive this. He spent all morning making me listen to him talk about what to do when he’s gone, but he got so upset when I tried to stop him.” Her voice broke. “He—he said goodbye when I left. Like he wasn’t going to see me again.”
“He tried that with me.” She would have said or done anything to rid her sister’s voice of that soft note of resignation. “But I refuse to accept that, because I fixed it. You’ll see.”
Michelle lifted her head and caught Nick’s hand. “Did anyone tell you? About the baby, I mean. The magical midwife examined me again. She told the Conclave I’m having a son.”
A boy. “Michelle, that’s—”
The office door swung open, and their father’s assistant stuck his head in. “They’re ready for you in the conference room.”
Nick shivered and rose, holding her hand out to Michelle. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s get this done so you can see Aaron again.”
Michelle wiped her cheeks and smoothed her hair into place needlessly, a ritual Nick recognized. She was donning her public persona, the one she struggled to keep in place for her own safety. Quiet, obedient, harmless. Michelle seemed to shrink into herself as she rose until she was little more than a shadow.
A shadow whose powerful magic vibrated in the air between them when she took Nick’s hand. “I’m ready.”
The walk down the cold, sterile hallway took too long. Nick’s mind began to race with possibilities, contingencies for which she hadn’t planned. What if they won’t let go of the child? Aaron? If the mess with Talbot scared them too badly to let Michelle—
Her mind mercifully blanked out before they reached the meeting, and she did nothing more than breathe and cling to Michelle’s hand as they walked inside.
The small, lacquered board table stretched out before them. The seat in the middle of the table was empty, and their father stood behind the table and off to one side. The rest of the Conclave members filled the other four seats.
Tense power made the air heavy. Whatever decision the Conclave had arrived at, it hadn’t been a choice made easily, and not everyone agreed. Veronica’s father Noah sat, tight-jawed and furious, on the right side of the table, his gaze fixed straight ahead and his shoulders stiff. Next to him, Jorge Ochoa seemed almost relaxed, though his sharp eyes assessed Nick in an uncomfortably proprietary fashion.
Enrica Maglieri watched her the same way, with a smug certainty that made Nick want to scream. Only Conrad Hoffman seemed capable of hiding his feelings. He nodded politely to them both before speaking to the man standing just inside the door. “Please, bring a chair for the Seer, and Miss Peyton, too, if she’d like one.”
Noah Coleman’s lips pressed into a tight line.
It was then that Nick realized she must have won some measure of leniency for Michelle. The rest of them would never have been so solicitous otherwise. “Thank you, Mr. Hoffman.”
He smiled as someone placed a chair behind Michelle, who sank into it as if her knees couldn’t quite hold her. “Of course. The Conclave has reached a decision and apprised your father of it. Hopefully you’ll find the compromise to your satisfaction.”
Nick remained standing, and she looked at each of the Conclave members in turn. Fear churned in her stomach, but she managed a smile. “I look forward to hearing what you’ve decided.”
When she returned her gaze to Hoffman, he nodded again, and this time it seemed almost respectful. “It is our decision that your sister be released to your custody today. She’ll be restricted to the city unless her travel plans are vetted and approved by the Conclave. When outside of New York, she’ll be accompanied by a Conclave-appointed bodyguard to ensure her safety and the safety of her child.”
Michelle had always had to follow those rules. Nick tensed even as relief began to unfurl inside her. “What about the child?”
“The child will remain with the Seer. The midwife we consulted seems certain the baby has none of his mother’s magical aptitude, but I feel it’s only fair to stress that this compromise is contingent on that holding true. You’ll understand that different arrangements will be made if the child is born with magic.”
They didn’t need to spell it out. There was no way they’d let the magical child of a Seer live for very long. Nick felt numb as she asked, “What about Aaron?”
The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch, and Michelle shivered. “Aaron Spencer will be granted a stay of execution, but will remain in custody to ensure the Seer’s continued cooperation. On the day you marry a suitable candidate, Miss Peyton, Spencer will be released to your husband’s custody. The restrictions on his actions will be considerable, but fair. You may consider it a probation.”
Noah Coleman made a rude noise. “You may consider it a bribe.”
They couldn’t hold Michelle without angering the Alpha, but they could dangle Aaron’s life in front of Nick like a carrot until she married one of their sons as planned. It wasn’t a bribe; it was extortion.
She met Coleman’s angry glare with a level look. “I consider it a blessing. I’m sure my future husband will be just as concerned with the well-being of my sister’s family as I am.” Just in case anyone sees this as a temporary solution.
Hoffman looked smug, probably because he knew Luciano wasn’t ruthless and Ochoa’s sons weren’t likable. He probably thought his own son was the strongest contender for her hand, putting him in line to gain considerable influence and control of Nick’s inheritance.
His easy smile reinforced the impression. “I’m sure whoever is lucky enough to marry you will do everything he can to care for your family. The midwife is on my payroll, but her services will be made available to the Seer at any time. Your father has asked that we allow you to take your sister home and make sure she’s settled before you return in a few days’ time to finalize your marriage choice.”
Nick sought Michelle’s hand and held it tightly. “Thank you all for your time, and for your careful deliberation.”
Michelle’s kept her gaze lowered in what seemed to be a careful show of submission, but Nick could feel the strength in her fingers as her hand squeezed hers. “Thank you. I’m—” The tiniest flare, enough for Nick to taste how much it hurt her sister to force out the words, but her voice was quiet and subdued. “I’m sorry I…betrayed the trust you’ve shown me.”
Nick needed to get her sister out of there before they both broke. “If we can be excused, I’ll get Michelle home.”