The dinner was seven courses, and by the end everyone was too full to dance. Cocktails were served in the parlor on the second floor, where there were high glass walls for them to view the castle grounds. There was still that heavy peppering of snow falling, but from inside the castle, everything seemed peaceful, if not whimsical.
They talked about the silly and the serious, even venturing into polite debates that Henry never shied away from. “Then the budget for that isn’t large enough,” Cordray challenged Henry, who sat in his light gray suit with his legs crossed, and his hands clasped over his knee.
Henry wore a calm smile of veiled delight at the challenge. “The government already allots a sizeable sum towards further development of the pill. How do you think it came about in the first place? Progress will evolve as time, and funds, come.”
Cordray leaned forward on his chair next to his wife’s. “You can’t honestly tell me you believe the pill is fine as is. It mutes our Lethal abilities, yes, but it also leaves us without any magic. I should be able to perform charms first graders can.” At this, he froze, his shoulders tightening as if he’d said something offensive.
It was widely known that the Chancellor’s daughter had been a DeadPulse for most of her life, and had never been able to perform the simplest of spells.
Belle had never seen anyone with such composure. Rory’s posture was straight, but not rigid – like a ballerina’s. The social scale of praise or bane was largely linked to one’s ability to perform spells. Everyone knew that Rory had been given a seat on the council only because of her birthright, and not because the magical community saw her as being of any use to the world at large. When she was awakened by Cordray’s kiss, her Pulse finally surfaced, bringing Peace to everyone she chose to dole out her gift upon.
Cordray lowered his chin and leaned his head toward hers. “I’m sorry, Rory. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Rory reached over and rested her hand atop his ebony wrist. “Go on.”
Henry reached over to mimic the familiar gesture with Ella, but as soon as his hand touched down on hers, she retracted it, looking away as if she was trying to remain invisible. Henry’s jaw tightened, but he focused on Cordray. “I agree with you. The pill has a long way to go. However, I fail to see how the nuances are the government’s responsibility. There are privately-funded labs that are well-equipped to handle such things.”
“Yes, and they’ll do what they like with it when they make their alterations. They could force us to register, collect all sorts of data on us that can be used against us if the wrong person is at the helm. They could enact all kinds of rules and make hoops for us to jump through. Then the government will have to intervene during a much bigger crisis than a simple discussion of budgetary allocations.”
Henry gave Cordray his best bedroom eyes. “I love when you say things like ‘budgetary allocations’ to me. Rory, is that the kind of saucy bedroom talk he uses on you? Because I must say, it’s working its charm on me right now.”
Cordray shot Henry an eye-roll to show that their friendship was good-natured enough to weather a little political tension. “It sounds like you’re saying you feel you’re owed a vote in how it’s distributed, and that matters like this shouldn’t be left to the council.”
“I think that’s a right everyone should have, since Lethals affect the entire community.”
Henry nodded. “That’s exactly why anything beyond the standard pill can’t be government-funded, and why the vote can’t be public. The nuances to a new pill will have qualities that not everyone will agree on. The throne will take the heat, and the fall, if anything should go wrong in the experimentation phase. When everything surrounding the welfare of Lethals is a fight the whole way, the government can only involve itself in the most basic of ways. That’s why we’re considering allowing privately-funded companies permission to attempt improvements to the pill.”
Cordray shifted next to his wife. “They’ll make a mess of things. It’s too important a tool to be played with by just anybody. So much could go wrong.”
“Agreed, which is why the basic pill that’s available now will still be available to anyone who wants it. If they want the variant, though, which might come with perks and unknown cons, we’re leaning toward outsourcing that social responsibility to private companies. We simple don’t have the funds for such things.”
“Listen to what you’re saying. You’re expecting private companies to behave responsibly. What obligation do they have to us?”
Henry let out a sigh and ran his hand over his face. “You’re thinking of you, which is good. My father and I have to think of the entire country, and the faith in the throne that needs to stay steady. The risks far outweigh the benefits right now.” Henry glanced up at the ceiling. “Is there never a camera around when I have a valid point? What’s in this whiskey, Adam? It’s making me brilliant.”
“Arsenic,” Adam replied glibly, bored that this was what his friends considered interesting after-dinner conversation.
Henry smacked his lips. “Delightful.”
Cordray sat back with a frown. “You didn’t win.”
Henry shrugged. “It’ll be put to a vote, which I don’t expect will be an easy road. However, that’s the way of democracy under an aristocracy. Sometimes you love me and want to jump into bed with me, but other times you can’t understand a thing I do. Actually, I think that’s how it goes with any type of government. Would it help if I took my shirt off? People usually like me better that way.”
Rory covered her mouth to stem her amusement, knowing Henry’s politics better than most. He played the charming cutie to the public, but he was well-educated on the issues.
Cordray frowned as he downed the rest of his drink. “So the government is washing its hands of the pill because there might be a fallout?”
“Of course not. We offer the basic pill with all of its advantages and dysfunctions, and we always will. It’s free of charge, since the Lethals who take it are helping keep the world safer by muting their abilities.” He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “Rory, don’t let him make me the bad guy.”
Belle could tell Rory was caught in a tight spot. She had to think and vote as both the future Chancellor of Avondale, and as a wife of a Lethal. “Our duty is to give the world a chance, not bend over backwards so we can levitate teacups. The details after that are just that – details.”
Henry’s eyes widened as Cordray harrumphed at his wife. “Oh! Watch this. I haven’t done this with a drink in me in ages.” Then he let go of his crystal high-ball glass, drawing Belle’s eyes as it floated in the air. He clapped for himself, clearly amused as he elbowed Ella. “Are you seeing this? I’m incredible! With a drink and a half in me, at that!”
“Show-off,” Cordray grumbled, but that seemed to be the end of his frustration.
Ella snatched his glass out of the air and downed the fiery liquid, shrugging at his affront. “See that? Henry missed out on the important thing – the whiskey – because he was focused on magic. He just doesn’t want the same thing to happen with the pill issue.”
Henry threw his hands up. “Did that truly need a visual demonstration?”
“Nope,” Ella replied with a light snigger.
Henry smirked at her gall, and then shifted next to her, hooking his arm around her shoulders to bring her tighter to his side as he turned back to Cordray’s issue. “Millions of dollars and possible negative side effects to you aren’t worth that parlor trick, Cord.”
With a little levity and whiskey in her, Ella’s tongue loosened. “Your taxes should go to things that are desperately needed. Life and death come before innovations for mere comfort.”
Cordray scoffed and looked over at Adam. “Where do you land on the issue?”
Adam shrugged. “I only know your last name because it’s now Rory’s. You can imagine how much less I care about your magical dysfunctions.”
Belle scoffed at Adam and batted at his arm. “Be nice.”
Adam raised an eyebrow at Belle. “Was that not nice? Sorry. Cordray Phillips, do accept my apologies. It’s just that as I’m about to turn into a wolf and join the Lupine in less than a week’s time, I find it hard to care about things that don’t matter.”
“Adam!” Rory was out of her chair, as if that might make the time he had left slow down. Belle could see Rory mentally tabulating her calendar and realizing that Adam’s thirtieth birthday was sooner than she remembered. Her hand went over her mouth to stifle the horrified gasp. “I’m a terrible friend!”
Henry turned his chin away and closed his eyes. Ella reached out to the prince, her hand atop his thigh to comfort him over the impending loss of his friend.
Belle’s heart raced at mention of the ticking clock. Adam knew the date was just around the corner, and he’d made a joke about it.
Adam regretted his blasé retort when he saw Belle’s eyes start to mist over – half-sad and half-angry. “Belle, I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “I shouldn’t have said it like that. I’m sure I have more time than that.”
It was a lie, and they both knew it. But he’d lied for her comfort, which was a true pledge of loyalty between them.
No one spoke for nearly a minute; there were too many things to say. When Belle leaned in, Adam pressed his forehead to hers, and their eyes closed in unison. “Lie to me,” she begged. “Tell me we have years.”
Adam couldn’t give her the lie she needed, so he remained quiet. He breathed in and out, dragging the scent of her skin into his lungs as if he meant to memorize every detail of what made her the only woman to captivate him so thoroughly. He wanted to savor her and be near her so the storm inside of him might have a chance at calming.
Belle shivered, since her seat was nearest the window. Without a thought, Adam removed his tuxedo jacket and wrapped it around her slight shoulders, swallowing her frame in the black material that had been tailored for his broader body. He rubbed warmth into her shoulders.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“You’ll never again be cold in my presence. That was my promise to you.”
Adam didn’t break his focus from Belle until he heard the sound of Rory sniffling. He turned his head to quirk his eyebrow at his friend, wondering what he’d missed. Whenever Belle spoke, his entire focus was on her. Whole worlds could’ve collided, and he wouldn’t have batted an eye if Belle was near.
“I’m sorry,” Rory said, dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief. “It’s just that I’ve never seen you like this. I mean, our whole lives you’ve been… And now to hear you say such beautiful things to someone? I can’t tell if I’m crying because I’m proud of you, or because this whole thing is breaking my heart.” She leaned into Cordray, who wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple.
Adam cast a conspiratorial eyeroll at Henry, but the prince was equally stunned, his mouth popped open in shock at the sweetness he no doubt never expected to witness in his oldest friend.
Adam wiped his palms off on his pants and stood. “Quit staring. I had to watch the two of you fawn over who knows how many dates through the years. This is a drop in the bucket.” He extended his hand to Belle. “I believe you promised me a dance.”
Belle ignored the stares and the tears. She ignored for the moment her plans to give up five years of her life for the possibility of a couple decades with him. She ignored her nerves, her fears, and the millions of questions that might never have an answer. She took his hand and rose, knowing this first dance just might be their last.