Chapter 213

Arthur

My desk is nearly clear. End-of-year reports have been signed, emails have been answered, last-minute meetings completed. I’ve spent the last week rushing through work that would normally take me a month, all in preparation for a vacation with my family.

With a satisfied sigh, I close the last folder and add it to the outgoing pile. Finally, it’s time to step away from Ordan and get a breath of fresh air. Anything else can wait until after the holidays.

But just as I’m packing up, there’s a light knock on my office door. I glance up, expecting to see Ezra or my assistant, but instead find a different familiar face peering in at me.

My father.

“Father,” I say, surprised. I haven’t seen him in months, not since right after Iris’s public debut as my mate. That day had been so strange; he and my mother had suddenly acted as if she were valuable since she was found not to be a human after all. It sickened me so much that I stopped bothering to treat them like family.

“Arthur,” he nods, stepping into the office without waiting for an invitation. Typical. “Do you have a minute?”

I glance at my watch. Iris and Miles are expecting me home soon so we can leave for the ranch. But I suppose I can spare a few minutes, if only to avoid him getting pissed and making things worse.

“I was just about to head out,” I say, but make no attempt to hide my disdain. “What can I do for you?”

“I heard you’re taking a vacation. You purchased land in the territories?”

I simply nod.

My father tilts his head. “How is the boy?”

“Miles is fine,” I say carefully. “Doing well in school. Looking forward to the holiday.”

“Good, good. And your mate? How is she after all that unpleasantness?”

“What are you really here for?” I fold my arms across my chest. “Don’t act like you suddenly care about Iris and Miles.”

“Fair enough.” My father chuckles. Chuckles. “I’ve been hearing some interesting things lately, Arthur. About your mate’s family.”

A cold prickle runs down my spine, but I keep my expression neutral. “Oh?”

“Yes. Seems the Willfords have quite a… unique heritage. On Maeve’s side, specifically.”

I say nothing, waiting to see how much he knows—or thinks he knows—about them. Iris only told me about her family’s abilities a few days ago, and she made it clear that it’s a closely guarded secret. I don’t intend to confirm anything to my father, of all people.

He studies my face, clearly hoping for a reaction. When he gets none, he continues. “There are rumors, you see, about certain people with special abilities. Abilities that could be quite valuable to someone in a position of power.”

“Yes. Just that; rumors,” I repeat flatly. I’d like to ask how the hell he heard about this, but I don’t want to insinuate that it’s the truth. “You know how people talk.”

My father’s lips curl into a knowing smile. “Indeed. And yet, sometimes rumors have a kernel of truth to them, don’t they?” He slips his hands into his pockets. “They say that these people can see the future. That they receive visions, warnings of things to come. Imagine the advantage that would give someone—a businessman, a general… a politician.”

I feel my jaw tighten. “Good thing they’re not real.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I’ve never been the type to buy into old wives’ tales,” I say coldly. “And if you’re just here to spread needless fear right before the holidays, it won’t work on me.”

“Trust me, Arthur, I’m not needlessly spreading fear.” My father’s eyes narrow. “After all, if the rumors are true, the boy could be quite a target. Especially with the end of your first term coming up in a year.”

The implied threat is clear. My father thinks that he can use this knowledge of Miles’ abilities to control me. To make me do what he wants when—or if—I run for my second term. To exact the sort of control over me that he’s always resented not having.

“Well,” I say, snapping my briefcase shut with a loud click, “if you’re quite done, I’ve got a plane to catch.”

My father stares at me for a moment longer, but then nods and turns on his heel. However, he stops just before he reaches the door and says, “Be careful, Arthur. There are certain people who would see your son as a potential tool for their own purposes. People who might not have your best interests at heart.”

“People like you, you mean.”

My father doesn’t respond to that; just gives a curt nod, then strides out of my office without another word. I watch him go with a sour taste forming in my mouth.

What in the fresh hell was that about? Does he actually know about Miles’ abilities? And if so, what is he planning to do with that knowledge?

I shake my head, trying to clear it of these troubling thoughts. I refuse to let my father’s cryptic warnings ruin the start of our vacation. Whatever political storms are brewing, they can wait until after Christmas.

Gathering the last of my things, I switch off my office lights and head out.

The drive home is quick, the streets already emptying as people head out of the city for the holiday. When I pull up to our apartment building, I can see Iris moving around through the window facing out over the street, and the sight makes me smile.

Upstairs, I find Miles waiting by the door with his suitcase packed and ready to go. He launches himself at me the moment I step inside, nearly knocking me over in the process. Already, he’s getting so big; a day will come when he’s big enough to really tussle with me, and I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to it or not.

“Daddy! You’re finally home! Can we go now? Please?”

I laugh, ruffling his hair. “Let me change first, buddy. Then we’ll hit the road.”

Iris appears in the doorway, dressed in her yellow sweater and a pair of leggings. There’s a smudge of purple paint on her cheek as if she were working in her studio right up until this moment. “Everything okay?” she asks quietly as she plants a kiss on my cheek. “You look tense.”

“Just work stuff,” I assure her, not wanting to worry her with my father’s warnings. Not yet, anyway. We’ll have plenty of time to talk after our vacation. “Nothing that can’t wait until after the holiday.”

She studies my face for a moment longer, clearly not entirely convinced, but nods. “Alright. Go change. Miles has been bouncing off the walls since breakfast.”

Ten minutes later, I’ve traded my suit for jeans and a sweater, and we’re loading our luggage into the car.

Iris catches my eye over the top of the car, smiling softly. She looks beautiful in the winter sun, her hair catching the light, her cheeks pink from the cold. In that moment, I’m struck by how lucky I am, how close I came to losing all of this because of Veronica’s manipulation.

Never again, I promise silently. Nothing and no one will come between us again.

“Ready to go?” I ask, opening the passenger door for Iris.

“More than ready,” she says, sliding into her seat. “This vacation is long overdue.”

Indeed it is.