Page 96 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

“What inheritance?” she asks, bristling. “No one is going to make me archduchess anytime soon, and I have no desire to take charge of a house.”

Gerald shrugs, his eyes moving to me once more. “There’s one problem with your plot to thwart me.”

The words are spoken sardonically, making him come off as kind of a snot.

“What’s that?” Cassian asks.

“There is no archduke to sign your paperwork. So as far as that’s concerned”—he glances again at the marriage license—“Piperstill belongs to me.”

“Since when does it have to be approved?” Cassian snaps.

“You didn’t know? Etienne changed it during his brief reign.”

“Even if that were true, we have no duke at the moment, so my signature alone is binding.”

“Perhaps for the heir transfer, since that’s your own house’s business. But without a duke’s permission, don’t you need my signature to steal Piper from my house?”

“No,” Cassian says bluntly.

“I think you do.” He smiles at me. “And I don’t think I’m going to give it to you. After all, I don’t have that many progenies, and Piper and I haven’t even had a chance to get to know each other.”

“You have plenty—you just created them through my line, using Sophia.”

A smile toys at Gerald’s sharp lips. “Took you long enough to figure it out.”

Cassian narrows his eyes, looking like he’s not in the mood for these games. “Let’s cut to the chase. Are you really trying to keep me out of the running for the throne because of one small incident that happened twenty years ago?”

“No.” Gerald crosses his arms. “I’m trying to keep you out of the running because you endanger the very people you would like to lord over. How can you become archduke of the vampires when you personally believe vampires are a stain on the Earth?”

Wow, he’s dramatic.

“I don’t believe we are a stain, but I do think the virus needs to be controlled. When it runs amok, we are no better than monsters.”

“You make a solid point, Cassian.” Gerald nods solemnly, but there’s a glint in his eye. “I have an idea. What if someonewere to come up with a version of the virus that eliminated the monstrous side effects?”

“We both know why the Cure All cannot exist,” Cassian says sharply.

“Just admit it—you’re a gatekeeper.” Gerald smacks his hand on the table. “I’m trying tosavepeople, and your only goal is to kill them off.”

“Which house are you working for?” Cassian demands, losing his patience.

“What makes you think I’m working for anyone?”

“Because Alfred said you are.”

Gerald rolls his eyes. “Alfred is an idiot.”

“Then why use him as a henchman?”

Gerald sits back in his chair and crosses his arms. “Piper, tonight, you’re going to leave with me. After the nominations, I’ll allow you to return to your new husband.” He smiles. “Congratulations, by the way.”

Noah tenses beside me, making meverynervous.

“You’re not stepping foot out of this room with Piper,” Cassian says a little too calmly.

“She’s mine.” Gerald stands and presses his hands to the table, leaning across it and narrowing his eyes. “I can do whatever I like with her, and we both know there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

Noah and Cassian rise. Feeling vulnerable at the table, I stand as well, moving behind them. Sophia joins me, wringing her hands.

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