Claire continually felt uneasy about Rye. She itched to get him out of her store but, as far as she could see, he was doing nothing wrong or offensive. Her magic nagged at her but there was nothing to act upon. Perhaps it wasn’t magic, so much as…paranoia.
“Yes,” she said to Tiff. “It could mean that. But I’ve come to no hard decisions yet. I rather think the Families are doing fine as autonomous entities.” She smiled coldly. “And I rather doubt it would be a shift to my family, as I would simply be taking the place for which I’ve been groomed. At any rate, I take it I would have your support if I should decide to ascend the Throne?” Though Claire detested these people and the idea of currying their favor, she rather preferred this line of discussion over Leo’s claimed demise. She felt an odd change in the men behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw nothing strange and turned back to Tiff.
"Of course,” Tiff replied immediately. “Like my parents and their parents before them. There was always a comforting firmness when they were ruling. Am I right, Josh?"
Josh nodded, and smiled at Claire. “My father spoke highly of yours. His warlock beheadings were talk of legend in my former clan.”
Tiff knew most of this was empty talk, a distraction, even though most of it was true. What Rye saw in his vision was affectionate, to the point where they all thought it was some nightmare. The warlock and a witch heiress they all looked up to? Could it be true? Tiff hoped not, but Josh and Rye were adamant. So certain that Claire had betrayed them all.
Rye’s lip twitched just once as his desired outcome locked into place. His face was still ever-unreadable, and he turned to his friends ever so casually and nodded once, as if merely agreeing with what they said. “Miss Devereaux,” he said at last, “I could not help but admire the warding of your home. The magic rings out to me as clearly as an aura.”
"Rye’s an expert in the unseen barriers: auras, gates, walls, and the like,” Tiff explained.
“I do have a question for you,” he continued innocently, “Why do you have a protection ward for something smelling like yesterday’s sewage?"
