"That's..." Magnus began, his voice faltering.
"Fair?" Selphira turned toward him with an expression that was all teeth and no warmth, like a beast showing its fangs. "Do you really want to talk to me about fairness? You, who have been trying to steal your niece's inheritance while her father is missing? Please..."
The words dripped with contempt.
Magnus's mouth snapped shut with an audible click. His jaw clenched so tight the muscles jumped beneath his skin. Beside him, Dorian had gone perfectly still, like prey hoping the predator would lose interest if he didn't move.
"But there's more," Selphira continued, pacing around the table again. "Because clearly I can't trust you to behave without supervision. So I'm going to assign you a... let's call it an 'observer'. Someone who will ensure everything is 'proper'. Who will report directly to me and the castle any additional irregularities."
Her fingers trailed along the back of one of the chairs as she moved.
