The transport spell yanks me away from Central Park. As the red haze fades, I find myself back at my parents’ penthouse. Diamond and Legend stand nearby.
Legend flashes me a charismatic grin. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
Diamond slides onto a leather chair across from my favorite gaming couch. “Trust us, you’ll want to sit down.”
I lean against the wall. This is me, not sitting. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Elle.”
Legend’s smile doesn’t falter. “We’ll tell you the full truth now.”
“Still not happy about being dragged away from Elle,” I state. “Go on.”
Legend slides down to sit on the armrest of Diamond’s chair. It’s strange to see my parents purposefully staying near each other. Yet another example of why this conversation will not be pleasant.
“We held off on sharing this before,” begins Legend. “There was no deceit from Elle?”
My voice lowers. “Deceit from Elle? What do you mean?”
“We only want what’s best for you,” adds Diamond.
My pulse beats so hard, I can hear the whoosh of blood in my ears. “Disrespect Elle again, and I’ll leave this room.”
Legend holds up his hands, palms forward. It’s the universal hand symbol for calm down. “Son, I know your mother told you about me and Raelyn.”
The muscles in my throat tighten. “She did.”
Legend sighs. “I’ve had years to think this over. There are two reasons why Raelyn refused my proposal.”
As Legend says refused my proposal, Diamond visibly shudders. That cools my rage a little. Clearly, this isn’t easy for my parents. They’re both a little unhinged, but they do care about me.
“Raelyn turned me down because of the family curse,” says Legend. “But there’s more. Rae was a flighty girl. You know, the kind who gathered many admirers.”
“Don’t beat around the bush, Legend.” Diamond looks to me. “Rae lied and played with men’s hearts.”
“That is not Elle.”
“Please,” says Legend. “Haven’t you seen her with other men?”
A memory appears. Jacoby. He showed up both at the park and at school.
“See?” asks Diamond. “He’s not denying it. That means he knows it’s true.”
“I know nothing of the kind.”
“Take a word of advice from someone who learned a lesson the hard way,” says Legend. “You don’t want this kind of pain. That’s why your mother and I have been working so hard with Marchesa. We simply can’t allow your life to be ruined like ours was.”
“So what are you proposing?” Because my parents wouldn’t bring all this up unless they had a plan.
“You father and I discussed it,” says Diamond. “We’re willing to create a trust fund for Elle. Marchesa will assist. Elle will get Cynder Mercantile back. All her animates will be restored. Elle can even have her old fairy godmother in residence, if she likes. And Elle will always stay safe. No more troll attacks.”
My brows lift. I haven’t known Elle forever. Even so, I know she’d love this idea. “And what would you get in return?”
“Le Charme Jewelers will receive the Coffer of Wonders,” declares Legend. “It will save our company.”
“You want that, don’t you?” asks Diamond. “It would keep Wilhelm and his crew safe.”
I lace my fingers behind my neck and work this through. It’s a lot of information for one chat. In the end, I decide to tell the truth. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Well.” Diamond turns to Legend. “That’s a start.”
Legend stands. “All we want is for you to consider what we’ve said. In the meantime, you must stay away from Knox and Elle until your Glass Slipper Ball.”
“And no casting spells or using human technology,” says Diamond.
On reflex, I reach into my pockets. All my gemstones are gone. My cell is missing, too. Rage corkscrews up my spine. “You can’t force me to stay away from anyone.”
“We can’t,” says Legend. “Your magic is too powerful. But there are other ways to motivate you son. You are rather close to the dwarves.”
I step forward, my throat tight with rage. “What did you do to them?”
“They’re safe,” says Diamond. “For now.”
“We didn’t want to do this,” explains Legend. “It’s a last resort.”
I push off from the wall and stalk across the penthouse. Reaching the library, I sit in the transport chair. A fresh gemstone sits on the armrest. My fury burns brighter. Legend and Diamond left this stone for me.
They planned everything.
I set the stone into my fist. Soon overlapping rings of red power whip about the chair. One second, I’m in the library. The next, I’m underground.
I reach the dwarves cave. The cavern lies empty, save for one figure who sits against the far wall. It’s Wilhelm, and he’s never looked sadder. I rush over to his side. “What’s wrong? Where’s your crew?”
“Your parents took them,” says Wilhelm. He grabs my wrist. “Do whatever they say, Alec. I can’t lose my brothers.”
“Legend and Diamond wouldn’t really hurt them.” Yet even as I say the words, they come out as more of a question than a statement. With every passing moment, I’m realizing I don’t really know my parents. It makes my love for Elle shine even more brightly.
Wilhelm’s grip on my wrist tightens. “Promise me.”
I meet his gaze straight-on. “I’ll protect them with everything in me.”
Wilhelm releases my hand. “Thank you.”
All of a sudden, I feel like a sleepwalker. I stumble back to the chair and grip the stone once more. The transport spell kicks in. I return to the library. Both my parents are still there.
“So you’ve seen the truth,” says Diamond.
When I speak, my voice drips with stage. “If anyone so much as scratches Wilhelm’s crew—and that includes both of you—then I will make them pay. Do not forget I am the warden of all magic users. I can do things you can only guess at.”
“We thought of that,” says Legend. “Cast a single spell and they will hurt. Talk to Knox or Elle and the same will come to pass. Do you really want to risk that?”
“You know I don’t.”
Diamond lifts her chin. “This is about our very future, Alec. Le Charme is bigger than the three of us. It must be preserved, no matter what the cost.”
I stagger backward. Once again, the truth stares me dead on through the eyes of my parents. They said it without any nuance. Le Charme is first. I’m not.
“Now,” says Diamond. “Let’s discuss what will happen at school.”
“And at the Autumn Masquerade ball,” adds Legend. “Let’s not forget that.”
My parents then list all the specifics of their plan. I can only half-process what they have to say. Obviously, they’ve been scheming about all this for some time. And with Elle’s evil stepmother, no less. As they talk, I occasionally grunt a short phrase in reply.
Inside, I’m seething. I won’t allow Wilhelm’s crew to be hurt. And I won’t be sacrificed to a loveless marriage… just another in a long line of Le Charme princes lost to hate.
Yet I don’t know how to stop it. At all.