Page 62 of Strange Familiars
“Thank you, Mr.Price. I appreciate it.” I really don’t. The last thing I want is to end up anything remotely like Nathaniel. Or my father, for that matter.
Nathaniel straightens, shoving his hands in his pockets. Rockinga little on the balls of his feet, he says, “I’d really encourage you to think about it, Harrisford. Imagine how thrilled your father would be if he awoke to find that his son had chosen a more lucrative path.” He spreads his hands wide. “I needn’t remind you how much…impact…someone with his connections can have on your career.”
My heart drops like a stone, settling somewhere in my gut. Nathaniel says it like it’s my choice, but in truth, it isn’t. I have to consider the very real possibility that Gwendolynne will beat me and steal the Ministry job out from under me. And the thought is terrifying, because in this moment, everything becomes distressingly clear: I’m going to have to betray Gwendolynne, the woman who I’m getting uncomfortably close to. Or else I’m going to have to sacrifice myself to the capitalist machine that is Magecorp—and a lifetime of servitude beneath my father.
One of us will end up deeply unhappy and…I don’t want it to be her. The issue is, I don’t want it to be me, either.
I’ve been reckless, letting my little crush get in the way of my singular ambition, my lifelong goal…mywhy.
Suddenly, I feel vaguely nauseated. So I don’t respond. I just turn back around and stare down at the dance floor, hoping to glimpse a certain plum dress, as Nathaniel Price claps me on the shoulder and leisurely strolls away.
27
Gwendolynne
“She didwhat?” Harrisford roars.
He hasn’t seen us. He’s standing with his back to us, unleashing his ire on some poor young coat-check clerk.
The freckled boy quails. “She—she already checked out her coat, sir.”
“Comeon, Gwen,” Heloise whispers, tugging me away from the scene. She all but pushes me down the entrance steps to where the valet is waiting with her car.
“Do we need to wait for your mum?” I say, breathless. I know it’s foolish, but I’m half hoping I’ll get the chance to go back and confront that prick who kissed, then abandoned me on the dance floor.
“Nah. She usually grabs a hotel room in the city after attending functions like these.” Heli grabs the keys from the valet and slides into the driver’s seat. She leans over and speaks to me through the passenger window. “And don’t you eventhinkabout going back for him, G.” Her voice is stern.
I sigh, clutching my coat tight around me, and climb into the passenger seat. Heloise’s ride is a sleek little sports car, all smooth lines and black leather and tasteful silver finishes. As we zip throughthe city streets, I lean my head on the cool window, feeling the car’s judders right down to my bones.
Heli checks her reflection in the rearview mirror, then throws a glance at me. “Are you all right? What happened back there?”
I quickly explain to her what I’d learned about the surges since she’d given me the scrolls from her mother. About how Magecorp uses tethers to hold open the portals that allow them to harvest magic, and how someone is trying to sabotage Magecorp by making them lose control.
“So the surges are being caused by some external party?” Heli says, concentrating on the road.
“Yeah.” I frown. “I think so. I don’t know who yet, though. But after what your mum said tonight…I think they’re usingpeopleas tethers, Heli. And that’s why we’re seeing surge-related deaths.”
Heloise sucks a breath through her teeth. “Wow,” she says after a pause. “That’s messed up.”
“It is.” I sigh, frustrated. “It’s just—I feel like I’m stuck now. I’ve hit a dead end. We have a list of people who’ve died, but no way of telling who killed them.”
Heli’s mouth twists as she considers. “Maybe we should report it, G—”
“No!” I cut her off so abruptly that Heloise throws me a quick, surprised glance.
There’s a long, awkward pause during which Heli focuses back on the road and I slump into my seat.
“Are you gonna tell me what’s going on, Gwen?” she says eventually, smoothly swerving into the next lane to overtake a slow driver.
I hesitate. “Well, I…” I really should tell Heloise about Percy. “I kind of maybe stole a cat.”
“A cat.” Heli lifts both eyebrows. “Youstole a cat?”
“Yeah. From Saint Gertrude’s.”
She gives a low whistle. “Well, shit, G. I’m impressed.” Heloise has been trying to get me to loosen up for almost seven years now.
“And Harrisford—he knows I did it.” The familiar feeling of dread slithers up my spine. “He’s threatened to tell Dean Kaur if I go to the police.”
