Chapter 16
Jack
Jack bowed his head out of habit at the appearance of his boss, while everyone else kept their backs straight and chins up. Except Claire. Her chin was hanging a little bit as she took in the sight of the silver-haired king dressed up like an eighteenth-century gentleman.
Usually honored to have an audience with Arthur, Jack felt himself panic at his appearance.
People came to Arthur; Arthur didn’t come to them. The fact that his boss had sought them out in a backroom at a party was evidence enough that he was angry. Very angry.
“Father,” Malachi said. “So good of you to join us.”
A literal chill filled the air as Arthur moved into the room, eyes dark with anger directed at exactly one person. Malachi.
“Don’t be obtuse,” he sneered. “Do you know how much embarrassment you’ve caused me already tonight?”
“Don’t worry, Father,” Malachi replied. “The night is young.”
The instances where Jack didn’t know what to do were few and far between, but this moment was quickly becoming one of them. He was sworn to Arthur, yes, but Malachi’s offer to hold the metaphorical door for Claire seemed genuine.
A door that Arthur wanted to shut for some reason.
“You’re leaving,” Arthur commanded Malachi just as Prince Abed’s entourage passed the doorway on their way back up to the pedestal.
Time was up? So soon? The timing literally could not be worse.
“Now,” Arthur said. “And you’re taking her with you.”
Prince Abed reappeared in the doorway, flanked by four knights. The prince seemed to take in the scene with measured looks at all participants, the four knights bringing an aura of credibility to his scrutiny.
“Funny,” the boy said. “I thought only I gave commands today.”
Ren was the first to drop to his knee at the boy’s appearance, with everyone following suit a breath later. Jack looked Claire’s way to try to coach her, but she’d already taken notice of Margot’s deep curtsy and mimicked it.
He couldn’t believe how well she was taking all this. So many curve balls in one night, and she was barely even blinking. Except when she looked at Malachi.
Jack had to admit he wasn’t a fan of whatever unspoken connection existed between the two. Claire would probably deny it if he brought it up, but even Margot seemed to have noticed how often the two of them shared looks that communicated way too much for two people who had just met.
Claire clearly wanted to trust Malachi, and Claire didn’t naturally trust anyone.
Jack didn’t like it.
The prince let them all hold their bows for a beat, while Arthur glared at his son as if he’d planned the moment. Which of course he hadn’t.
Had he?
With Malachi, you never knew.
“Rise,” Prince Abed said, assuming both the tone and posture of authority. He wasn’t done with the room. “Please share what was being decreed in my absence on my Day of Anemone?”
Wow. The kid was gambling big. On every other day of the year, Abed bowed to Arthur just as quickly as Jack did. As king of their shared banner, Arthur’s judgment was not questioned.
And yet the boy was standing tall and questioning it. It was a move that could either earn mad respect or terrible wrath.
For the kid’s sake, Jack hoped things played out in favor of option one.
Everyone rose as Arthur made his diplomatic reply. “My apologies, Your Highness. This is family business.”
“Under my roof on my Day of Anemone,” the boy pointed out, looking at everyone in turn. “Including multiple houses and banners. Forgive me for pointing out that this woman you seem to be talking about is not your family, nor is she of our banner. I don’t need to see her test results to know she aligns with Malachi.”
The tension in the room rose to levels where Jack had to consciously remind himself to breathe. Only two people seemed to be taking things in stride, Prince Abed and Malachi.
Arthur, on the other hand, looked ready to punch something but tilted his head in deference to the young prince instead. “Well observed, Your Grace.”
Prince Abed studied Claire for a moment, and Jack felt his heart hammer helplessly against his chest. He wanted to do something. Anything. Everything. But he could do none of it. He couldn’t even speak unless the prince asked him to.
All he could do was glare at Malachi and pray the man had thought this all through.
“It does beg the question as to what she’s doing here,” the prince mused, looking at Claire like she was hieroglyphics he intended to translate.
“She’s my plus-one, Your Highness,” Malachi said with a tip of his head. “The invitation said I could bring any guest of my choosing.”
“Yes,” the prince replied. “But the assumption was that it would be someone from among the banners, not a commoner.”
Well, they all knew what Malachi did with assumptions. Next time the invites might just be a little more specific.
“I assure you, Your Grace,” Malachi said, ignoring the implied censure. “Claire Ramsey is quite uncommon. Your pimpernel adviser would agree. As would Margot, a future queen.”
“Sentimental assessments,” Arthur accused. “Not objective ones. I’ve seen Miss Ramsey’s charts, and it is my impartial analysis that she is dangerously unsuitable.”
Dangerously unsuitable.
The words echoed in Jack’s ears like a slap. When he looked to Claire to see how she took the claim, she was looking right back with panic in her eyes.
Dangerously unsuitable? Arthur must have gotten something wrong because Jack had never met anyone more suited.
“The sentiment you speak of is apparent,” the prince said, sounding unimpressed. “That is why we test each candidate with equal rigor—to ensure personal bias holds no sway.”
“She’s not good enough to test,” Arthur replied.
Ouch. Dangerously unsuitable? Not good enough? It was like the man knew right where to aim when kicking Claire in her insecurities. It physically hurt Jack not to speak up on her behalf, but if he did, it would only be used against her.
This was a conversation for Royals. The only one who could weigh in was Margot, but even she would need to tread lightly. This had nothing to do with her house or banner.
“Your Majesty,” Malachi said, still holding his ground with applaudable cool. “Claire is not ready to test because she hasn’t been mentored yet. She has only been nominated as a candidate for the pimpernel’s house.”
House? Jack could almost see the confusion in Claire’s eyes at the term and he mouthed the word team to her. It wasn’t an exact synonym, but close enough for her to keep up with the conversation.
“I see,” the prince said, not letting his age get in the way of his authority. Jack got the distinct sense he was looking at one of the few princes who would rise to king one day. “So the candidate is at your discretion because your pimpernel invited her into his house.”
No! The prince couldn’t give in that easily. Not when Jack had just started respecting him.
“We understand each other, Your Grace,” Arthur said, no longer sounding annoyed. “I was going to talk to our pimpernel after the party to let him know we are letting his girlfriend go. Malachi knew this and decided to try one of his usual games of subversion. So, like I said at the beginning, this is a family matter.”
When Malachi stepped forward to object, Jack broke into a sweat for him. “It would be if Claire was of your banner, Father. But she isn’t. She’s mine.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed at the last two words, physically clenching his jaw not to contradict him as Margot joined the conversation.
“And Claire has the right to be seen and judged by her own,” she said, eyes all frost. For the first time since walking in the room, Prince Abed looked a little intimidated.
The boy had good sense for someone his age.
“The future queen brings up a good point,” the prince said, looking to Arthur. “This candidate is not of our banner, and therefore, not ours to ban. Correct?”
Arthur took a visibly calming breath. “True, Your Grace. But it is within my right to reject her as my charge.”
Jack had never seen Arthur so unyielding about something so far below his station. Jack wasn’t really one of those people who believed in people’s birth charts being predictors of their destiny, but Claire’s must really have something going on in it for Arthur to be this adamant.
That did not bode well for her, no matter how this night played out.
“Of course,” the prince said. “But your son seems to think highly of her potential … enough that he brought her as his date to my Day of Anemone.”
“I see that,” Arthur bit out.
Once again, the boy looked Claire’s way with interest—his dark eyes boring into her as he walked closer, the knights flanking him every step of the way. Jack watched Claire take note of the guards and swallow back her nerves before standing her ground.
Good, he coached her, even though he knew she couldn’t hear him. You’re doing great.
“Tell me, Claire,” the boy said when he stopped in front of her. “What do you want in all of this?”
Oh, man. Jack hadn’t prepared her for this. And when Claire quickly glanced his way for support, all he could do was let her know he had her back no matter what.
Once their eyes caught, Jack knew she got his message just as he knew it was useless in helping her. When her eyes moved from his to Malachi’s, a flash of jealousy had him looking at the other man to see what Claire found there.
Be specific, Malachi mouthed to her, and when Jack looked back at Claire, she was blinking like those words meant something to her.
Renewed jealousy had his muscles tightening and his neck sweating as he glared Malachi’s way. The other man ignored him.
“I want a chance to do what I do best,” Claire said, pulling his attention back to her. “And I want to help Jack while doing it.”
As far as answers went, it was pretty perfect. Jack breathed a sigh of relief even as he resented that it had been Malachi who had coached her. Not him.
Jack had failed her, and Malachi hadn’t. That burned.
He was still seething when the prince turned to face him. “And do you want her help, Jachin?”
He saw Claire perk up at the use of his full name. He’d never mentioned it before, but if the look in her eye counted for anything, he would be hearing it again shortly.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Jack said, without hesitation. “I have never met her equal outside the banners. She belongs with us.”
“Hmm,” the boy said. “She has a problematic chart on one side and the full faith of a pimpernel on the other. It sounds like we need a tie-breaker.”
Jack hid his smile more successfully than Arthur hid his rage.
“Listen to me, boy—”
“Your Majesty,” the prince corrected with authority, turning to face Arthur—his knights in lockstep. “Your Grace. Your Highness. Your Lordship. These are all appropriate ways to address me on this day.”
He was right. Everyone knew it, including Arthur, who looked ready to punch something.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Arthur conceded and the boy gave him a look of consideration before turning to Claire again.
“I’ll confess that Jack and Malachi have raised my curiosity about you,” he said. “And this is my party, so you will get your tie-breaker.”
Claire’s total lack of a poker face was on full display when she smiled with relief. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Perfect, was all Jack could think. She caught on quick.
“Don’t thank me yet,” the prince said. “I won’t make things easy for you. Your challenge will be public, with Malachi’s reputation on the line.” The boy glanced at Arthur. “If he champions you and defies my king without cause, all will see your failure and mark it.”
Claire visibly paled at that, and Arthur’s chin came up. The boy was playing this smart.
“I cannot grant you the honor of challenging me,” the prince continued. “That right is reserved for Royals, but I will do you the honor of challenging you. Succeed and you will be seen by those who may wish to invest in your future. Let them decide which way the scales tip.”
Jack blinked in surprise at the declaration. Who was this kid? Jack certainly hadn’t been that smart at his age.
The prince turned to Malachi. “You brought Miss Ramsey here tonight. She is both of your banner and your personal guest, thereby making her your sole priority.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Malachi agreed.
“What role is she being considered for?”
“Oracle, Your Grace.”
The prince nodded as if he expected as much. “Then I will test her as such. Explain the role and skills required to her.”
“I won’t leave her side until you call for her, Your Highness,” Malachi said with a bow.
“Very well,” the boy said. “It is settled.”
Everyone bowed again, and this time Claire wasn’t the last. Arthur was. He looked at Jack with what appeared to be regret before lowering his eyes to complete a proper bow as the prince exited the room with his knights.
Jack’s time was up. He had to follow them. He didn’t want to. He wanted to stay with Claire, but he was duty-bound to advise the prince. And after what the prince had just done for Claire, the kid more than deserved any help Jack could give him.
He had time for a quick goodbye, then he had to go. The moment he stepped Claire’s way, she rushed him, crashing into his chest and holding on.
“That was intense,” she whispered against his chest.
“You did perfect,” he whispered back. “I wish I could stay with you.”
Behind her, Arthur watched the two of them with regret in his eyes.
“Don’t say I didn’t try, Jack,” he said, before turning and leaving the room.
What was that supposed to mean?
“He called me dangerously unsuitable,” Claire said softly. “What if this is a bad idea? What if I’m a bad fit?”
He could feel Claire’s uncertainty in her light shiver and knew she didn’t need platitudes in response. She needed answers. Answers he didn’t have.
“I’ve looked at the same information as my father,” Malachi said behind him. “I believe you are perfectly suited, Claire.”
Jack tensed with annoyance. He didn’t like this new trend of Malachi being the one Claire looked to when she needed information and encouragement. Especially if Malachi was looking for a phoenix. Because Claire was off limits and Jack was more than happy to fight about it. He’d lose, but he could make sure Malachi didn’t have fun winning.
But for now, they all had to obey the prince’s orders. That meant Claire was about to spend some time with Malachi, whether Jack liked the idea or not.
He put an arm’s distance between them and looked Claire in those soulful brown eyes of hers. She was scared. She’d never been able to hide that, and she wasn’t hiding it now.
“Malachi wants you to succeed,” he coached. “You can trust him to give you good information up until the prince calls for you. After that, all bets are off the table again, okay?”
She nodded as if the advice was a lifeline. “Okay.”
He moved to kiss her, but she pulled away when he leaned in.
“What if this is a bad idea?” she said. “What if Arthur is right about me?”
He brought his hand up and caressed her cheek. “No one can predict the future, Claire. Especially not based on where the stars were when you were born. We all make our own fates.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, without looking totally convinced. Arthur had really rattled her, it seemed, although she’d waited for him to leave before showing it.
Jack slid his hands into hers, wishing he was touching her skin rather than silk. “I’ve got to go.”
“I know.”
He released her hands.
“Jack?”
He stilled. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
His heart triple-timed in the space of a blink. “I love you, too.”
“Finally,” Margot groaned behind him.
She wasn’t wrong. It was a disgrace Jack had never said the words before. He hadn’t wanted to complicate things, but the truth wasn’t really that complicated once it was on the table.
He loved Claire. And he really wanted to kiss her right then. So he did. This time she didn’t dodge. She rose to her toes to catch him en route—kissing him soundly and with a little bit of teasing before pushing him away by the lapels.
“Now go,” she said before offering him a brave smile. “I need to study.”
Yeah, she did. He opened his mouth to say something when Margot came up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Go,” she said. “I’ll stay with her and make sure Malachi behaves.”
He’d guessed as much but felt relief rush through him to hear Margot say it. Jack still didn’t know what Malachi’s designs for Claire were, but Margot would keep things all business. He had no doubt about that.
He sent Claire another look. “I love you.”
She smiled. “You just said that.”
“I know. It’s fun.”
“That’s it,” Margot moaned. “Get out. We need her brain on, not swooning.”
“And let’s relocate somewhere with a little less traffic, shall we?” Malachi said, gesturing toward the door.
Jack walked out with them, giving Claire one last quick kiss as they parted ways on the stairs. He started up to the pedestal while Claire went down the stairs with Margot, Ren, and Malachi.
“Yep,” Tiki said, suddenly at his side. “Your girlfriend is definitely the most interesting thing about tonight so far.”
How. Did. She. Do. That?
“Where did you come from?” he asked, starting to take the stairs two at a time. She bopped up right next to him, treating each step like a game of whack-a-mole only she could see.
“Oh, I’ve been listening in the whole time,” she said as if that was a foregone conclusion. “Nice dancing, by the way. Didn’t know you had that in you.”
He wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so he just stuck with, “Thanks.”
“I’m still not buying that she’s a phoenix, though,” Tiki pouted as they neared the top. “She totally stinks of something else.”
He wanted to ask her about that so badly … about everything Arthur said as well. Tiki had to know something. But if the number one rule was not to accept gifts from a fae, the number two rule was not to put yourself in debt to one. And information was their currency.
He’d already let her buy him twenty-five minutes with Claire. Best to see how that played out before he added something else to the tab.
With that thought in mind, Jack pressed his lips together and walked back to his adviser seat.