Page 92 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
But Cyprian trilled, gazing up at Percival. And he couldn’t regret his choice.
His uncle glowered. He opened his mouth, about to speak.
But Percival wasn’t done. “You will leave your son alone. I will take over this factory. You will give me complete control.And you will leave immediately. We will sign the contract that you previously planned, except you will not profit from this business. I will own it outright. You and I will be done.”
“How dare you?” His uncle’s eyes flashed. “Why would I do that?”
Percival let the tension mount in the air between them. “What do you think the powerful in Anorra will say when they know your own son plotted with ice sorcerers to kill you, his own father?”
Uncle Ignatius gaped, face flushing redder. The smell of soot thickened in the air.
“It would make you look so weak, Uncle. Your reputation would be ashes and dust. Reputation is important. Reputation is power. You taught me that.” Percival lifted his chin. “Once everyone knew that your son, who you raised, betrayed you and his kind, no one would respect you. And the fact that you did not see that coming, what would others think of that?”
“You will not tell anyone. No one can ever know!” his uncle said between gritted teeth. “You will do as I say!”
“You do not control me. Not anymore.” Percival squared his shoulders. “Soyouwill do asIsay. I will take care of Cyprian, and you will give me control of the factory. Then I will keep my silence.”
His uncle’s hands clenched into fists.
“You can start again, Uncle. Do whatever you want. I am not taking your wealth. You can go on and start other enterprises.” Percival paused. “Otherwise, I will tell the world everything and it will ruin you.”
“It will ruin you too!” Uncle Ignatius shouted. “You’ll be scorned by the powerful people in the city. You’ll be tainted by association!”
“I don’t mind. I find I don’t care about the powerful in Anorra.” Percival looked at Leo, who stood watching him. “I’vediscovered recently that I’d be happy with a quiet life working in a bakery. With a certain baker by my side, that is.”
Leo smiled.
With some reluctance, Percival turned his attention back to his vile uncle. “But would you, Uncle? Would you be pleased to work for others and live a life without influence and power? With people whispering about you behind your back? If you agree to my terms, you will merely have to start something new. Like you planned. You will still have your name and your wealth. I just want this factory.”
His uncle stared at Percival. A muscle beneath his eye twitched. “I agree to your terms.”
“Excellent.” Percival smiled. “I’m glad we could come to this agreement.”
His uncle glowered.
“You should be proud, Uncle. You made me strong. Without you, I wouldn’t have been tough enough to finally stand up to you.” Then he turned and walked towards the door.
Leo placed a hand on his lower back. Cyprian trilled, and they left the room.
Chapter
Forty-Three
Leo sighed as he stared up at the falling snow. Leo and Percival had finally left the factory.
Uzoth and Grady had returned with two nightwatchmen. Honestly, they hadn’t been much help. But they had suggested the bodies be taken to the morgue. Which Uzoth had begun to do.
Tomorrow, Grady would contact the Sorcerers Council. Hopefully, the council would look into the fact that three sorcerers had tried to kill three phoenixes. Grady also planned to inform the Sorcerers Council about the two sorcerers who had fucked with Percival’s memory earlier that day. Hopefully there’d be consequences for them.
Before they left, Percival had told the guards the factory would be closed tomorrow. But Percival would need to return early tomorrow to inform the workers that the factory would be closed for the day.
“I’ll also have to organise repairs and the clean-up.” Percival had a hand cupped against his chest, holding Cyprian.
“I imagine Nix and the other workers will be glad you’re back.” Leo wrapped an arm around his waist.
Ebony perched on Leo’s shoulder. She clicked. His familiar had done so well tonight. She’d saved the day.
“Why did you want to keep the factory? Not that I expected you to want to keep working in the bakery with me,” Leo rushed out.
