Escaped Daughter (Morrigan University #1)

20

Clare

Mother sat down at the table and let out a soft huff. I stared over my latte and took in her perfection. I’d always felt horrible for her, seeing her as one of Father’s victims… But everything changed with Bevin’s accusations.

Now I didn’t know what to believe.

“Your father gets more unreasonable each time the High Council makes a move against him,” she grumbled as she flagged the server. We liked this café because it was nice and not well known, so if we came at the right time, the outdoor seating was empty and we were left alone to talk.

“I would never defend the little twit, but Bevin was right that Father’s sexism is one of his biggest hindrances,” I said, keeping to my normal character. “Anyone with eyes could see that Gregg was a stupid weasel. Him assuming all men are smarter than all women is—Father is hurting all of us with his outdated issues.”

She gave me a look that I was preaching to the choir but still would never say anything against Father. Not really. She might make small quips about him being more unhinged than normal or going overboard, but she would never stand up to him.

It always made me sad for her or pity her—downright think worse of her. Now, after what Bevin said, I wondered if it was just because she was as big of a monster as Father and she simply knew the price of her disloyalty to the devil.

The server came over and she ordered, checking that I didn’t need anything… And that my drink wasn’t full fat and hadn’t added sugar or anything to gain weight. I swallowed the need to roll my eyes but told her that I was fine and had ordered my normal beverage.

I could have a cheeseburger and fries on the way back to the office, so one flavorless, bitter latte was fine to keep up appearances.

“The Haddocks are demanding we save their son,” she told me after the server was gone. She nodded when I couldn’t hide my shock. “Appalling, right? The worm botches everything up, lays everything at our feet, and now they’re demanding we ruin our reputations even more to save him.”

I shivered as I had when I heard Father had planned to match Bevin to Gregg Haddock. I might not have ever liked my useless baby sister who my parents gave everything to and got to live an easy life instead of with all the scrutiny of a Shaw like the rest of us, but no one deserved Gregg Haddock. That slime was gross and everyone knew it.

There was no way that Father didn’t, but we were all broodmares and useless to him, so he didn’t care. Disgusting.

So was Gregg. I was a senior when he’d come to Morrigan, and the balls on that slime had been gross. He’d walked right up to me at a party and said our families wanted an alliance and he’d rock my world and I’d be blessed to let him.

If the gods were kinder, my handprint should still be on his face I’d slapped him so hard. Pissant. Disgusting, gross pissant.

“Clare, are you even listening to me?”

I shook myself out of the past and looked at Mother. “Sorry, sorry.” I sighed when she made it clear that it wasn’t enough. “What Father did was disturbing, Mother.” She swallowed loudly and looked away. “All his preaching we’re family and to be loyal—that was too far. We didn’t know Bevin was playing us, but even what she said was reasonable .

“Pick from five. Give her five options and she could pick from them. That was reasonable . And he rigged it so she was raped? His own daughter?” I went on when Mother gave me a look that it was enough. “Everyone is talking about it, even the important magical families, Mother. He’s hurt all of our marriage prospects and our work.”

She frowned. “How so?”

“I had two clients drop contacts, and they were clear that was the reason,” I told her firmly. “That even if the Shaws were a bit underhanded, we had morals, but clearly that’s changed. If we would betray our own family in such a disgusting manner, we weren’t to be trusted at all. And I do interior design. Fine, I’m in people’s homes, but this isn’t going to go away.”

Mother pressed her lips in a thin line. “It wasn’t my choice nor how I would have handled it.”

That was only as much as she would ever say against Father.

She wanted to go back to complaining about the Haddocks and having to deal with Father’s whims, but I wasn’t letting this one go. I knew I would never get straight answers with this family, and now I wouldn’t even trust the answers Mother gave me, but things were happening with Bevin being disowned, and I was fairly sure they were going the wrong way.

“Mother, it’s not just a few clients,” I told her, testing the waters. “A few cousins called me about what Bevin accused—”

“That is a lie and—” she snapped, looking away as she went tense… Because she was lying.

The watch I’d worn had a small stone that was bespelled with the magic to sense the truth. It was completely unnoticeable to most, but I’d had it for years. It wouldn’t work in my family’s home with all the wards and magic laid down to protect against such magic… But it was perfect for instances like this.

And the stone gave off a small, subtle glint. If anyone else noticed it, they would think the light caught the face of the watch or something. Nothing more.

However, I knew and had used it for years, and my mother had just lied to me. She had planned to sacrifice her own damn daughter for power for her eldest son. Grandmother had done the same.

By the gods, my family was so much worse than I had ever understood.

I did my best acting ever and sighed heavily. “Of course , it’s a lie, Mother.” I continued when it was clear Mother believed me. “Bevin threw everything at the wall to get free because Father went over the line. I cannot even blame her this time.” Mother tried to argue, but I dug in. “Mother, he went too far. I would have done the same.”

“You would never have betrayed us like that, Clare,” she scoffed.

“If Father betrayed me like that, yes, I would have.” Tears filled my eyes when she was shocked. “Mother, rape? Forced mating with a rapist? Are we truly nothing to him? Have I not done everything he’s wanted? Could he truly do that to me too?”

“No, not to you,” she promised.

“I don’t believe that,” I argued, quickly wiping my eyes when I saw the server approaching. We thanked him and I even had a strawberry from the fruit plate Mother had added. “Jean was beside herself as well. A few of the cousins contacted me wanting to know, their parents in an uproar about this hurting the family. Some are discussing ousting Father.”

That was a complete lie, but it worked and Mother seemed worried.

“This was too far. It cannot be glossed over. I took a career I didn’t want and hate because Father wanted me in people’s houses and thought it would make me look like the perfect fucking wife to the right partner. If the man is awful and abusive, will he just have the man rape me? Is that what loyalty is in this house? We knew Gregg was trash!”

“Calm down, Clare,” Mother hissed.

I apologized but made it clear that I was distraught, and I didn’t need to fake it. “I know you don’t go against Father, but Mother, love Jean and me enough this time to take a stand that this was too far. Father isn’t repenting, simply pissed it didn’t work. Alex made jokes after the hearing that we could be next and the potion needs to be worked on so it couldn’t be detected.”

Mother went a bit pale at hearing that. Good.

But she still wouldn’t do it. I saw it in her eyes.

So I went to the real power of the Shaw family—Grandmother.

I waited a few days and found the right excuse, saying tickets to a show fell in my lap and asking if she wanted to join me. She was thrilled I wanted to spend time with her. I admitted I wanted to discuss some concerns with her in private and she took it in stride.

“What worries you?” she asked after I picked her up and we pulled out of the Shaw estate.

I told her the truth, even the discussion I had with Mother.

“Your mother is weak and spineless,” she grumbled. “I told Charles in no uncertain terms that if he ever pulled such a disgusting stunt again that I would strangle him with my own hands.” She reached over and patted my knee. “You don’t even think on it again, my gorgeous darling. Your father lost his head and forgot to think like a father.

“Bevin was a disgrace to this family for so long that he forgot to be human to her. It’s still unforgivable what he did. He loves you and would never. I will make sure that he understands the damage he’s done to you good girls and fixes it. You have been too loyal for you to doubt he would mistreat you. Never. I would never allow it.”

“Thank you, Grandmother,” I whispered. “I want to do right by the family, but Gregg Haddock is a snake. I saw him slap a woman and—”

“Truly?” she asked.

I nodded. I cleared my throat. “It’s distasteful, but he tried to pressure me for sex when he was a freshman. I told that to Father.”

“To give up your purity? And you told your father?” She was disgusted.

I was disgusted that she thought I still had my damn purity at twenty-four and would look down on me if she knew the truth. Gross. She thought Alex was a real man for being experienced and bragging about all his “dates.”

I swallowed my revulsion. Why had it taken me so long to see so much wrong with my family?

Oh right, I’d been working hard to get out of the house. I’d only just graduated Morrigan and been given permission to have my own condo closer to my job. That could still go away, along with my trust fund and bank account, if I wasn’t careful.

Which meant I needed to be smarter… Like Bevin. Had she really worked with Grandfather to get free starting ten years ago?

I was equal parts angry and hurt. Why had Grandfather only loved her like that? What could I have done wrong to him at fourteen to not be worthy of being protected too?

I had always been jealous of Bevin for being special and yes, apparently I was wrong about that, but maybe not? Just in a different way?

Clearly, she was the only one really special to Grandfather.

Funny, because he’d been my favorite. I’d barely gotten out of bed for months when he’d died. I’d been so lost and beside myself.

And he hadn’t loved me the same.

How nice for Bevin to be someone’s favorite. I’m no one’s favorite, same as always.

Grandmother and I watched the show. She was overly critical and harsh as always, expecting Broadway and humans to bow to us like we were royalty as the magical community did. Still, she was clearly appreciative that I thought of her and offered to take us out to dinner.

“I would love to, truly, but I have an early meeting,” I said, noting how disappointed she looked. I decided to take a chance and maybe get closer to her. “But could we maybe Saturday? Lunch?” I cleared my throat when she raised an eyebrow. “I love my condo, but I miss you, Grandmother. I know it’s not how Shaws should—”

“I’ve missed you too, darling,” she said quietly, reaching over and rubbing my arm. “Truly.”

“Please don’t tell Father,” I blurted, putting on the act. “I love my condo and I don’t want to move back home. I don’t, but I was hoping that—I don’t want to be childish but—”

She fell for it—hook, line, and sinker. She beamed at me. “I would love to spend more time with you too, Clare. Yes, of course. I miss you and we won’t—your father isn’t the boss of us. How about lunch weekly, and we can catch shows or something fun now and again?”

I smiled at her. “That would be amazing.” I leaned a bit. “And I hate the couch Mother picked out for my living room. It’s horrid. Can you help me ruin it?” I smiled when she burst out laughing and promised to handle it.

“Tell me what else is new in your life on the drive back,” she said.

That was easy enough. When we got closer, I decided to take a chance to maybe get my own answers. I told her that I had a fundraiser coming up Father asked me to attend, but the dress was falling a bit flat. Since I was there, the diamond necklace I had borrowed at Christmas would be perfect if it wasn’t too much bother.

She said it was fine, and I knew where it was. She needed to use the bathroom, and then we could have a quick bite in the kitchen.

Perfect, I said I’d meet her there.

I hurried up to her room and found it but was alone in her suite. I didn’t know what I should do or… Clearly, I would never make it as a spy.

Then I remembered that she’d complained last year that she had a bunch of boxes in the back of her second closet that took up too much space and wanted to reorganize them. She’d said they were nothing important, journals from her youth and probably moldy by now, so there was no point in keeping them.

I ducked in there and moved one box aside. I shoved my hand into the second box, pulled out a smaller notebook from halfway into the box, and then rushed to put it all back.

Now what?

Just to be safe, I stuffed it in the back of my pants and moved my shirt and jacket over it. I checked myself in the mirror and headed out.

I gave a half yelp when Grandmother was standing in the hallway reaching for the doorknob.

She gave me a suspicious look and then glanced past me. “What took you so long? You know where the jewels are.”

I held up my phone. “Work. I apologize.” I let out a huff. “Clients go too far. It’s eight at night and they’re sending me emergency messages about their bathrooms? Me? And not that the contractors did something wrong and the bathroom is flooded. No, her husband doesn’t like the paint and—sorry, you don’t need to hear the stupid I put up with, Grandmother.”

I opened the jewelry case and let her inspect it asking if she thought it was the right one to go with the dress I was thinking. She nodded and promised me that my taste was flawless as always.

She was clearly convinced, and we had a quick bite in the kitchen. She walked me out to my car and promised to speak to Father, and I said I’d pick her up Saturday. She gave me a wink and said we’d find me a better sofa as well.

Good. I really did hate it. It was so uncomfortable I would never sit on the damn thing.

I let out a whoosh of breath when I was off the estate, running through my mind again and again that I put the boxes back exactly the right way. I was going to bring the journal into my condo, but then I realized that I didn’t want it there. I left it in my car and brought it into the office the next day. I worked for a human company without any witches or wizards, so it was safer there.

Funny, right?

The journal wasn’t a smoking gun, but it was definitely bullets that fit the gun that Bevin accused the family used. I was so horrified that I had trouble looking at Grandmother at lunch.

Because I knew I was with a murderer.

Not just any murderer but one who killed her own child.

That was a level of monster that I couldn’t even imagine… And I had to pretend to get closer to her to survive this family?

Now I was really jealous of Bevin.