Bound by Sarah M. Cradit

Author:Sarah M. Cradit [Cradit, Sarah M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sarah M. Cradit

* * *

Nicolas sat in the seventh seat, looking like the child he’d never truly been. His chestnut eyes were wide and curious, his cheeks pale. His dark hair, curled at the temples from nervous sweat, looked as if he’d been running his hands through it all night. He kept glancing up at the magistrate portraits warily as if he expected them to jump out of the frame and strangle him.

Colleen wished for a moment they were alone so she could tease him, or even offer reassurance, but they were not, and they had important business to attend to.

“Nicolas, we’ve all agreed to consider you as the candidate, but each of the Council now has the right to ask you questions designed to determine your fit and potential,” Colleen explained. “Realizing patience is not one of your strong suits, I’d ask you to employ what little you do possess, and bear with us.”

“Understood,” Nicolas replied, shifting nervously. His usual smirk was notably absent.

“My first question is, why are you interested in a Council position?” Evangeline began.

Nicolas sat forward in his seat, leaning over his folded hands. “The past few months have been rather... illuminating. It’s going to be one hell of a rollercoaster going forward, and I could really use some partnership before stepping over the edge into God knows what. What’s happening now affects all of us.”

Colleen’s lip twitched into a small smile. She knew he must have practiced some humility before coming in. It gave her hope, to see how much he’d grown up in recent days. “No doubt of that,” she agreed, nodding.

Pansy dropped her pen, with a bit more force than was required, and stopped smacking her gum. “Bull honky! You never attend family events and have never cared about any of this before. How do we know you will risk your spoiled hiney to protect the family the rest of us holds so sacred?”

Nicolas’ smirk finally made an appearance. “I can see family is important to you, Pansy. The Guidry tree never did have many branches...”

She sat up straight, aghast. “You are one to talk, making out with your sister, Anne!”

“I didn’t know she was my sister at the time!”

“We’re not going to indulge this kind of pettiness,” Luther said, fixing his sturdy gaze on Pansy. “Nicolas, please address the first part of her question, regarding the importance of family.”

“Couillon,” Pansy muttered, under her breath.

Nicolas squared his shoulders, shooting an insolent wink Pansy’s direction before answering. “You’re right. I didn’t much give a shit before now. Why should I have? You knew my father.” At this, several nodded sadly, remembering his childhood neglect. “But things are different now. Ana, who I love more than anyone in this world, is having a child soon, and that child will be my heir. That matters to me.”

“You’ve always been so good to her, dear,” Evangeline agreed, patting a hand over his.

“So ask me anything you like,” Nicolas finished. “I promise I won’t lose sleep over your opinion of me, and I can’t pretend I’m not going to continue to be an asshole when the mood strikes.

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