Page 46 of House of Pawns
I’m not sure what to say. I’m not entirely sure what to do. I’ve tried capturing Raheem for some time now, but with so many other fish on my plate, I didn’t give much thought as to what I would do when I caught him.
“How long have you been spying on me?” I ask, because it’s been forefront on my mind for some time.
“A while.” And the cold smile on his lips tells me he will say no more.
“The King will arrive within two weeks,” he moves on when I do not say anything and I feel that is the first mistake I have made in this meeting. “He will check to be sure you are actually of Royal blood. Mistakes have been made in the past, claims made that were untrue.”
Yikes. What if I really weren’t a Royal Born and lost my fear of death, only to learn too late that I wasn’t an immortal after all?
“Once confirmed, you will begin receiving money every month to maintain your House.” Raheem reaches into a breast pocket on his black tunic and pulls out a piece of paper. He slides it with enough force that it makes it all the way down the table to me. “But for now, until confirmation is made, this is for you and what is hopefully the return of the South Eastern United States House.”
I take the piece of paper, picking it up, and realize it is a check. With my name on it. Written in the amount of one million dollars.
I’m about to call him out for the King attempting to buy my loyalty, when I realize I’m doing the exact same thing with all of Silent Bend.
“King Cyrus is very generous,” I say. I have no idea how much my father left me, just that there are more zero’s attached to it than I will ever be able to spend, so really, only six of them should be somewhat unimpressive.
But only six months ago I had a grand total of a two and two zeros to my name.
“It isn’t much, but you can call it a show of good faith,” Raheem says. “The Conrath name has deep origins, beingestablished just four generations from the King. They were a proud and prosperous family. And if you are who you say you are, you are the only one left.”
Suddenly I feel guilty for not claiming my family’s name. If I am to be the last one, the name will die with me.
Yet so will the Ryan name. The only daughter of an only daughter.
“You haven’t seen the picture of her father yet,” Samuel pipes up. “She looks just like Henry.”
“Oh, I’ve met Henry, on two different occasions,” Raheem says as his eyes go to Samuel. “And yes, I know how much she looks like him. But looks can be deceiving, but blood never lies.”
I resist the urge to bite the inside of my lip, buying myself some more time to say whatever it is I’m supposed to say. I’m learning the difference now in the Born—who are old and sometimes wise and a force to be reckoned with, and the Royals—who have so many connections and history that I cannot comprehend.
“Well, we look forward to meeting the King and seeing how events turn out,” I say. I stand, and instantly, so does everyone else. “There’s no sense in you sneaking around any longer now that we’ve all met. You may stay here, with us.”
And for a moment, I wonder if I’ve gone too far, because each of my House members stiffen and all their eyes dart to me.
I don’t look at any of them though. This is my decision. This is my House. And it’s my call.
“Thank you very much, Alivia,” Raheem says as he smiles at me with that devil’s grin. “I think I’ll very much enjoy staying in your House.”
Chapter
Seventeen
“CAN YOU HAVE REGULAR DELIVERIES made?” I ask Nial. I can’t quite look him in the eye.
“If that’s what you wish,” he says. There’s concern in his quiet tone. He’s so caring, so observant.
“Please,” I say. “Make sure he has plenty.”
“Of course,” Nial says. He doesn’t leave at first. He stands before me, there to support me if I just reach out and ask for it.
But I can’t. I won’t.
Ian may have ended it. Stuck a knife through my heart and pushed it clear through and out the other side. But I can’t help it. I can still give to him what I can.
I’ve just asked Nial to continue sending deliveries of blood to Ian’s house.
“I’ll be back later,” I say to him. I’m distracted, my mind too full of too many things. Surely I’ll just topple over at any moment because it’s too bogged down.
