Chapter 8
CONDITIONS? Stipulations. Of course, they had those! Why was I even surprised? And from the evil look on Thomas’s face, I wasn’t going to like them.
I looked away from him. The last thing I wanted was for him to notice the hesitant weariness inside of me, itching to come out.
I rushed forward to join my father, who put a hand out to stop me coming too close. I stopped in my tracks, trusting him to guide me the right way.
I couldn’t help but wonder why he needed me to stop walking, though. What would happen if I did get too close? Was there some kind of trap?
Matlock spoke. “So, the Council is willing to accept Ava as my legal heir? Irrespective of illegitimacy and... her female gender?”
He furrowed his brows, as though he didn’t trust the Council to make sure all our condit
