Phoenix Found (Brothers of Fire #5)

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

“Monsieur,” Perrin said as he stepped into Dalmon’s office, inclining his head. He’d booked the appointment after checking that Alice had indeed eaten his chicken hearts. That would teach him for putting them back in the kitchen fridge instead of taking them to his quarters.

She’d done it to annoy him and, as always, he let her get under his skin. Just like when they were children. And now he was following up on her idea because it wasn’t as stupid as it first sounded. Just because tradition said that the woman moved to be with her future husband didn’t mean it had to be that way.

“Take a seat. All my diary says is Coven related—another expensive repair bill might be easier.” He laughed, but it was a little strained.

Perrin gave a small laugh. “You may still receive one as I’ve arranged a clean of Maison des Arbres and will go and check it over.”

“I saw that. Thank you. I would like Oliver to see his estate. I’ll see if he is interested in attending with you, and if he is, have Kaine arrange the necessary security.”

Clearly, Oliver hadn’t spoken to Dalmon. He needed to admit to speaking with Oliver. “He expressed an interest to me, which is why I sent the cleaners.”

Dalmon’s eyebrow twitched, but that was the only sign he was surprised.

While he didn’t need to offer an excuse, Perrin felt as though he should. “We ran into each other in the kitchen. I had to show him where the snacks are kept.” Because no one else had.

Dalmon nodded. “And what is your Coven issue?”

It was only kind of a Coven issue, but the Coven could act on his behalf while his father wasn’t even listening.

“I’d like the information on my ghoul match.” They were words he never expected to say.

“Your father hasn’t told you anything?”

Perrin pressed his lips together. “My father won’t do anything. He thinks it’s right that she turns up and marries me without prior introductions. We may hate each other.”

Dalmon leaned back with a grunt. “That is your tradition, is it not?”

Perrin stared at the tidy desk. His was never this clean. If the head of the Coven refused to help him, he was, in Alice’s words, fucked.

“It is, but I am not interested in being married to a woman.”

“Ah. I’m guessing your family didn’t take that well.”

“At least he hasn’t arranged for me to be ripped apart and eaten.” Apparently, that hadn’t been done in at least one hundred years, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t happen again.

“Before I release anything, I need to confirm she wants to be contacted, as correspondence is usually via parents.”

“Yes, it’s an archaic system from a time before telephones and planes.”

“It is, but when a parent is sending their daughter off to be married, they want to vet the future husband. But if you do not want to marry her, why the request?”

“Because I want to do the right thing. I don’t want ghouls to become extinct.” He wasn’t that selfish. “I can offer to father her children if that’s what she wants.” And if she didn’t, that was a win. “Maybe there’s another option, a more suitable match for her. It’s all based on family trees and who’s the most distantly related?” His father would lose his skin if Perrin wriggled free of the arrangement. “I didn’t know who else to talk to or what else to do.”

“And if she agrees to direct communication?”

“Then I could call her or take extended leave and see her to work something out…” Perrin glanced up. “Perhaps travel a bit?”

“You don’t like living here?”

“I do, and I love the castle, but it has been my entire life, and I want to experience more. This will always be home…assuming you’ll have me back.”

“Of course. You’re taking leave, not resigning.”

Perrin exhaled as some of the tension he’d been carrying eased. When he returned, unmarried, he’d need to face his father. Though his father wouldn’t approve of him traveling to meet the woman either. It wasn’t how it was done.

“I understand these situations can be difficult, especially because sometimes the previous generation followed traditions without question, and people like you make them question their own lives. If you need other assistance, request it before it becomes urgent. There are a couple of ghouls on staff in Germany. I can invite one over on a pretense.”

“I don’t think I need that much help…” Did he need that kind of help?

From the way Dalmon looked at him, he did. “I don’t want Dad to be in trouble. He’s following tradition and doing what he thinks is best for me.”

Even though Perrin had tried to explain several times, he didn’t like women. His father believed it was a luxury or a choice.

“I don’t want it to get that far. You are both staff, so there is a duty of care. You have expressed you want to break with tradition but will work to the spirit and need of that tradition. Which is admirable but not needed.”

It felt as though it was needed. He couldn’t ignore the plight of his kind. What if the woman wanted to follow tradition, and he was messing up her life? Messing up her life at the expense of his own. Why was he selfish and she wasn’t?

He shouldn’t have listened to Alice.

His forehead furrowed. This was a mistake. Or would he say that in ten years’ time when his marriage fell apart because there was no love, only tradition? He’d seen how history didn’t keep anyone safe and warm. The phoenixes were living examples.

“What is the right thing to do?” His entire life, he’d done as he was told and, as expected, right down to his job. The only time he rebelled was when he went into town. They were the nights just for him where he pretended he was a human, looking for some fun.

“If I had the answer to that, I’d be able to solve everyone’s problems,” Dalmon said with a sigh. “Wolves are facing similar issues, allowing gay wolves to either remain in their family packs or even form their own packs. We are all facing the issue of how to stay hidden amidst all the new technology. The Coven is working on the latter and has been involved with the former. The Coven was asked to help the ghouls facilitate contact with families they are distantly related to, but that only happened about three hundred years ago. Before that, we weren’t involved at all.”

“I don’t want to disappoint or appear ungrateful.” He was spilling far too much of his innards.

While Dalmon wasn’t his boss, he’d talk with Kaine and Gerrit. He probably shouldn’t have booked an appointment to speak with Dalmon—there was a smaller office—but Perrin was used to dealing with the phoenixes and fixing their issues, and no one had questioned him about booking an appointment…

“It’s more important not to disappoint yourself. Besides, no one wants to be forced to marry. Lying for the sake of tradition isn’t a noble thing to do.”

Perrin nodded. “True… I hadn’t looked at it that way.”

“You intend to travel, regardless?”

Perrin opened his mouth. The word was right there on the tip of his tongue while his mind screamed at him to pull back from the edge and stay safe. Mont de Leucoy was home. Paranormals were protected. Out there was unknown and unsafe…but that was part of the adventure. He nodded. “Yes. Three months? I know I’ll need approval.” Was he asking for too much?

“How long have you worked here?”

“Twelve years.”

“And how much annual leave have you taken?”

“A week or two every year.” It wasn’t as though there was much to do besides party with tourists and spend that week half-drunk and half-naked.

“So you have approximately twenty-four weeks of leave to use.”

Perrin nodded. “My leave isn’t your problem. ”

“I’m making sure you have the time to travel should you need to…to discuss options with your match.”

“Right, of course.”

But from the way Dalmon studied him, that was not the entire reason. “Are you making sure my father can’t argue against me traveling?”

Dalmon gave him a knowing smile. “Leave it with me and either myself or… No, I’ll deal with this as it’s castle business. But don’t start packing your bags yet.”

“I won’t. Thank you, Monsieur.” He stood and dipped his head.

It wasn’t a yes, but for the moment, a maybe was good enough. And more importantly, Dalmon wasn’t calling him selfish for wanting more than what was being offered.