Page 23 of Mostly Shattered

Astrid nods.

I stare at them, feeling the weight of their words settle on my shoulders. They can’t be serious. This is not just about Chester, even though I can’t stand the man. This is about locking me into a life I have fought so hard to avoid. The legacy. The family. The endless politics. And for what? Power? Protection? I try not to care about any of that. I care about getting out and being normal. I care about living a life where I am not someone else’s pawn.

But can I turn my back on my family? Does what I want matter?

If what Mortimer says is true, and the visions are real, do I have the right to refuse? The thoughtmakes my chest tighten, anger bubbling beneath the surface. It’s not just Chester I hate—it’s the idea of being forced into a future I never wanted.

“I…” I glance toward the kitchen. Conrad is still there, staring at me. I can’t force the words out. “You really think Chester is the answer?”

My tone is more disrespectful than I intended. The name alone makes my skin crawl.

“You don’t understand,” Mortimer states, his voice strained. He paces behind the couch and leans to grip the back. I watch his knuckles turn white. “We’re walking a tightrope, Tamara. We’ll lose everything if the Freemonts or the Blackwoods turn against us. They have resources we can’t match, and if they side with our enemies, we won’t survive what’s coming.”

I stare at him, taken aback by the genuine fear in his voice. Mortimer has always been so calculating and in control. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him scared.

I try to think of a solution that isn’t marriage. “But Chester?—”

“Is our only option,” he interrupts. “I’m not asking you to like it. I’m telling you that you have a duty to save your family.”

I try again. “Maybe we should see if your premonitions change?—”

“He’s the only answer,” Mortimer interrupts, hiseyes flashing with frustration. “My visions don’t lie. If we do not solidify an alliance, we won’t survive what’s coming.”

I want to point out that he just admitted his visions changed.

“I know you think we’re being unreasonable,” Astrid says, her voice cool as ever as she adjusts her diamond bracelet. “But this isn’t about what you want, Tamara. It’s not about what any of us want really. This is about the survival of our family, of our legacy.”

My father stares into his glass and takes another drink.

I clench my fists at my side. “Please, I beg you. There has to be another way—something that doesn’t involve him.”

Astrid’s gauge flickers toward me, and her lips tighten. “This isn’t cruelty. This is survival. We can’t afford to let sentimentality or personal feelings get in the way of that. Sometimes, we must do things we don’t want because the alternative is far worse. Too much is at stake.” Her tone softens, and she adds, “Ours is not a life of Disney fairy tales. We all must make sacrifices.”

Her words land like a punch to the gut, and for a second, I wonder if she’s speaking from her own experiences.

“But Chester?” I feel like an asshole as the wordescapes me. But my repulsion of him is such a visceral reaction I can’t seem to keep it in.

“Would you rather Jasper?” Mortimer asks.

I know firsthand that he’s a cheating asshole and a control freak. He never actually hit me, but I saw violent tendencies in him that frightened me. Between the two, at least Chester will ignore me most of the time.

I shake my head in denial.

“Tamara, the Freemonts hold more power than you realize,” Astrid says. “I know you don’t fully understand the inner workings of the magical world.”

I can’t help but think that’s their fault, not mine. They’re the ones who decided I needed to be sheltered from such things because of my mortality.

“Their reach extends into the highest levels of the magical councils,” she continues. “They control key alliances we can’t afford to lose, and if we’re tied to them through marriage, no one will dare make a move against us. Including them, if indeed they are the threat we are facing.”

Bile rises in my throat. History and logic tell me not to keep pushing, but this might be my only chance to protest the decision. What is it with today and fate? First, Costin and his prophecy nonsense. And now Uncle Mortimer with his premonition. Part of me wishes I could break theamulet all over again to erase this timeline and start a fresh one.

“Do you really think Chester’s family is going to protect us out of the kindness of their hearts? Maybe this gives them exactly what they want,” I say.

“Kindness has nothing to do with it,” Astrid says. I can tell by the coldness in her gaze that I have pushed too hard and too far. “The Freemonts are pragmatic, and they understand the value of strategic partnerships. If we offer them what they need, they’ll give us the protection we require. It’s simple math. Power for power. Alliance for an alliance.”

I can tell by her tone that she believes this marriage to be a political necessity, and that my resistance could have real consequences for the family. If I continue to protest, it would be like saying I don’t care if they all die.

But I do care. I can’t live through that again.

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