Page 183 of The Forsaken Heir
Elle had used her newfound power to dissolve several of her family’s chemical, pharmaceutical, and health-and-wellness companies. Anything that had to do with magic was liquidated, the human staff were all given exorbitant severance packages—everyone from managers down to janitors were given a full year’s salary, including estimated yearly and holiday bonuses. Along with that, every employee was given an option to join the non-magic based companies in new roles.
Given that none of the humans in the world understood what was happening, or why, the Laurent family stock holdings plummeted. Elle considered it a small price to pay. However, when the generous severance packages were announced, along with the estimated profits her family would receive from the sale of the commercial and manufacturing real estate, the stock rebounded quite a bit.
Now, it was my turn to do what needed to be done. Not only was I dissolving several of my family companies, but I was alsodonating the profits of the sale of our real estate to charity. With our smaller numbers, the dragon shifters didn’t need that kind of money. We’d already stockpiled more than enough to last for generations to come. Even those who weren’t in the highest noble houses were always taken care of with monthly stipends. That would continue, but it was nice to give back to others as well.
“Knock knock.”
Glancing up, I found Rasp and Vince at my door, grinning like madmen.
“Can I help you?” I asked as I stood. “I thought you’d still be hungover from last night, Rasp.”
“Bro, I’m no lightweight. I’m still a little irritated that you wouldn’t let me take you to a strip club, though. It would have been a pretty freaking grand ending to bachelor life.”
Straightening my tux, I reached up to adjust my tie. “Strip clubs aren’t my thing. How do I look?”
“Like an emperor penguin,” Rasp said with a snort, then smoothed his own tuxedo jacket. “Though, I guess I look the same.”
“Sahalie said I lookdistinguished,” Vince said, his cheeks coloring like they always did when he spoke of his lady love.
Nothing had ever made me happier than to see him find someone who loved him for who he was. Sahalie saw the Vince I did—a fiercely loyal and honorable man, who would do anything for the people he loved. And it seemed his father was finally coming to understand it as well. I flicked a bit of lint from his black jacket.
“She’s right,” I said. “I think you pull this dressy stuff off better than I do.”
Vince grinned and lowered his eyes. Since meeting Sahalie, the rubber band that had lived on his wrist had vanished. Her presence had reduced his need to self-stimulate.
“Are you ready, dude?” Rasp said. “Most of the guests have arrived.”
“Do I look ready?” I put my hands on my hips, striking what I hoped was a silly superhero pose.
Both of them snorted, and Rasp shook his head. “I’m not sure why Elle wants to marry a doofus like you, but there’s no accounting for taste.”
“Very funny. Have you seen my dad? He’s supposed to walk me down in”—I glanced at my watch—“about fifteen minutes.”
Vince nodded. “He was with some of the staff. They were trying to get him to wear some ceremonial fur cape, and he wasnothappy about it.”
Chuckling, I moved into the hallway. “Doesn’t surprise me. I’ll go find him. You guys head down and get ready—” I slapped a hand to my forehead. “Shit. I almost forgot. Have, uh, Elle’s friends arrived yet?”
“That Lorraine lady and the others from the sewing shop? Sure. Last time I saw them, Titus had nestled them away in a sitting area on the second floor. He isfreakingout about humans being here, but Elle insisted.”
“Good. Go and make an appearance. See if they need anything, then lead them down for the seating. Everyone has been told not to mention, like, magic and whatnot, right?”
“Already on it, dude,” Rasp said. “Word has been spread. I even got Octavius milling through the crowdremindingfolks.”
I could imagine how well a burly man like Octavius could persuade people to keep their mouths shut.
“Sounds good. See you guys soon,” I said, hurrying off to find my father.
The day of the wedding had come rather quickly. Elle and I both knew we wanted to be together forever, and once Bastien had been dealt with and her parents sent into exile, we’d started planning. Now it was here, and it was honestly hard to wrap my head around. Even now, it felt a bit like a dream. I was about to take the love of my life to be mine forever. After all the years I spent hoping and wishing to find her, she would be mine soon.
The house was crammed with people. I’d never seen it this full. Dad said it hadn’t been this way for a couple centuries. We had guests from all over the world: dignitaries from foreign dragon families, indigenous shifter envoys, the councils from every fae tribe in America, and more. When I finally found my father, he was hidden away in a small alcove, most likely trying to hide from the swarms of people who would want to shake hands with, or have a word with, one of the most powerful men in the shifter world.
“There you are,” I said.
He glanced my way, and sighed with relief. “Thank God, it’s you. I was afraid Benedictus was coming to complain about the wedding menu.”
I grinned. “He’s not a fan of chateaubriand? I thought he loved steak.”
Dad waved a hand through the air. “The menu is just an excuse to segue into something else. He wants to be placed on the board of the non-profit we’ve created. I think he wants to do good, but the man can drone on and on if you let him.”
