Rasslor didn’t answer.
Tavlor stepped forward. Our shoulders brushed and I was suddenly filled with a sensation of safety. Even though Rasslor posed an immediate threat to me, I would overcome it with Tavlor by my side.
“Where is the High Warlock, Rasslor?” Tavlor asked. “We need to speak to him. Immediately.”
I loved how strong and calm Tavlor’s voice sounded and I forced myself to focus on that, and not the anger boiling in my belly at the pure stupidity of the situation. Somehow, despite Rasslor’s insults, Tavlor rose above it. He did not let the words affect him.
At least, he didn’t show it. And that was something I desperately needed to work on.
Rasslor stuck his nose up like he was the most important person in the room. I wanted to laugh at his ignorance.
“Matlock is not here, nor will he be here while she is in the room.” He didn’t even find it in himself to acknowledge me.
He didn’t have to.
“Excuse me?” Why was he talking like I was some sort of disease that my father had to avoid?
Rasslor stepped closer to me, making sure he had my full attention. “Your... father...” he said, spitting the word as though it tasted foul, “wants nothing to do with you. He has relinquished all control over these matters to the Council and has agreed to step down until it is all resolved. As he should.”
It?
I looked over at Tavlor to check the validity of what was being said. He shook his head infinitesimally, but it didn’t stop the pain and grief descending and wrapping me up.
I needed to keep a clear head right now.
But how was I supposed to do that?
My father wanted nothing to do with me? No... Tavlor had said...
I took a few steps back, away from the intensity of the situation, reeling from the emotional blows. I didn’t want Rasslor to think anything he said had the capability of actually hurting me. I needed to be strong. I needed to remain focused.
“But... Tavlor...” I started.
He turned on Rasslor, his hands clenching into fists. “We demand to see Matlock. Now.”
Worry began to claw at my insides. Was Rasslor right? Had my father abandoned me to my fate? Had he turned everything over to the Council when he knew they wouldn’t give me a fair chance at proving myself?
Rasslor huffed as though he was amused. “Don’t raise your voice to me, you filthy half breed,” he said with a sneer. “We all know the only reason Matlock keeps you around is out of pity for you.”
But what about me?
I was still a threat. If Tavlor was an abomination, I was much, much worse.
“Pity?” I didn’t realize I was the one who spoke until my voice echoed off the walls.
Even so, I could not help but laugh at Rasslor’s words, breaking some of the tension within my body. I couldn’t seem to defend my own relationship with my father, but I knew why he kept Tavlor around. They all did, and for Rasslor to imply otherwise, it amused me more than it should.
“Yeah, right.” I scoffed. “None of you pity Tavlor—you fear him. He’s more powerful than all of you supposed pure bloods and you know if he turned on you, you wouldn’t have a chance. So, don’t go belittling him. I won’t stand for it.”
“You?” Rasslor said. He wrinkled his nose. “And what do you think you can do about it?”
“Considering I’m the High Warlock’s daughter and this hybrid has both magic abilities and Fae abilities, I would say we would give you a run for your money,” I snapped.
A strange smile spread across Rasslor’s face. “Oh, isn’t this sweet,” he said, clapping his hands together. “The dirty half breed and the illegitimate trash. You two make a perfect pair, don’t you?”
The slur hurt more than it should have, because it wasn’t true. But the amount of hatred pointed at us both was hard to handle. Especially since we had done nothing to this man, to anyone. Our only crime was being born, and that wasn’t exactly something we could help.
I squared off against him. At least I had a direction for my anger and didn’t need to keep it bottled up inside of me any longer. It felt good to spar with someone, especially if that someone deserved it, which Rasslor most assuredly did.