“You were given express instructions not to interfere with this investigation.”
We all looked at Yuen. The anger or frustration he’d been holding in had apparently boiled over. I’d figured him for calm and collected, at least in comparison to Dearborn. But there was no calm in his eyes right now.
“We didn’t interfere with your investigation,” I said. “Youweren’t investigating the fairies because you’ve already decided Riley’s guilty. We’ve found a new suspect.”
Yuen stepped forward. “That is beside the point. You violated Cadogan’s contract with the city. Penalties will be assessed, financially and legally.”
Damnit. There was no way to avoid this now, no time to prepare my father. “The deal doesn’t apply to me.”
“As a member of Cadogan House—”
“I’m not a member of Cadogan House,” I interrupted, and steeled myself, made myself look at my father. “I’m the daughter of its Master, but I’m not a Novitiate. I was never Initiated or Commended. I’m not a member of any particular House. That makes me a Rogue. And Rogues didn’t sign the deal.”
The room went absolutely silent. And my father’s expression went absolutely blank. And a little bit lost. My heart clenched uncomfortably.
Gabriel walked to Yuen, put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m going to get some coffee, and you’re going to go with me.” He all but pushed Yuen out of the room. Connor and Theo followed, Connor giving me a supportive nod over his shoulder.
They closed the door and left us in silence.
It was a full minute before my father spoke.
“You are as much a member of this House as anyone ever has been or will be,” he said. And I could plainly see the hurt in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I wanted to talk to you about this before I said anything, but there hasn’t been time. Cadogan House is my family,” I said, wanting to take a step toward him but not sure if that was the right thing to do. “It always has been. I didn’t grow up feeling excluded.” That would have been impossible in a House that had basically adopted me as its mascot.
“But you weren’t Commended,” he said. “Not officially. And you consider yourself a Rogue.”
“I don’t consider myself anything,” I said, not realizing it until the words were out. Maybe that’s why I’d felt such a strong kinship with Maison Dumas. Because I hadn’t had the same connection to Cadogan, at least not like my parents had. And maybe that’s one of the reasons Seri and Marion’s leaving had hurt so much. Because Dumas had been my House as much as any other. But when it had been time to run, they’d left me here.
“I’m not sure I agree with your argument,” my father said. “But there’s no precedent to measure our behavior against. You were the first child. TheCanonhad nothing to offer.” TheCanonwas the collection of vampire laws. “But if you’re right,” he continued, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that we didn’t think to make it official.”
His voice was colder now, controlled in a way that only a Master with experience could manage. He stood apart from us, and my mother looked between us with concern, trying not to take sides.
“I didn’t feel excluded,” I said again. It was the only thing I could think so say. “And in this particular situation, it’s handy.”
My father nodded. “Tell them we’re done here, will you? And ready to discuss the rest of it.”
I nodded, knowing I’d been dismissed. And left my parents alone, with a cold ball in my stomach.
• • •
“She’s right,” my father said when the others were back in the room. Theo came in with coffee, offered me a cup. But my appetite—even for caffeine—was gone. Connor watched me carefully, as if trying to gauge how the talk had gone. I didn’t meet his eyes; I wasn’t ready to dive into those feelings.
“She wasn’t Initiated into the House or Commended, and theCanondoesn’t provide for membership based solely on a genetic or familial relationship.”
“That’s a technicality,” Yuen said.
“No,” my father said, “it’s a contract. If you want to enforce the deal so carefully negotiated according to its terms, then you have to adhere to those terms.”
I thought I saw appreciation in Yuen’s eyes.
“This isn’t you, Yuen,” my father continued, his voice softer now. “I’m sure Dearborn is angry, but you know better.”
“Could I trouble you for a drink?” Yuen asked after a moment, and my father smiled.
“That bad, is it?”
“Dearborn’s pissed,” Theo said as my father went to the bar, poured two fingers of Scotch, neat, into a chubby glass, then offered it to Yuen. Yuen sipped, lifted his brows.