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Arthur

After breakfast,Vander took Alexis and Jupiter to go play, and Perry and I went to the sitting room to speak. Mom and Dad seemed unusually calm about the situation, considering how sudden it all was. I realized that they both understood the significance this had to me. With my track record when it came to prospective mates, they'd been worried that I would continue to shirk commitments and only go after casual romances. Honestly, if it wasn't Perry, it couldn’t be anyone else. I only now consciously understood that was the reason why I couldn't seem to care about any of the people I slept with. As pathetic as it was, I'd been hung up on him this whole time, only now I saw it for it what it was. If Perry was taken away from me this time, maybe I wouldn't even bother tryingagain.

"Iwishthere was something more we could do," Mom said. "But for now, we can at least do what we can to provide sanctuaryhere."

"Joseph would never challenge me,"Dad said, speaking of Perry's father. "He's not going to try and force you to come home, unless he's willing to risk ridicule in thecommunity."

"He won't,"Perry said. "Mom might've, but my dad has nobackbone."

Dad stroked his chin."What we can try is to make an offer to your husband. He'll come here, or send someone eventually to fetch you. Perhaps he'll be willing to agree to some terms to void yourmarriage."

After finishing speakingwith my parents, Perry and I went back to my bedroom. He sat down on the edge of the bed and I joined him, putting my arm aroundhim.

"Ifeel good about this,"I said. "My parents want to helpyou."

He nodded,but he didn't look veryhopeful.

"What is it?"Iasked.

"Gregor may not bein love with me, but heisin love with the power he holds over me and our daughter. That's what he loves more than anything else. The control.Especiallythe control he has over Jupiter. At least I can see what he's doing. I can resist his manipulation and his mind games, but Jupiter can't. It's warping her, and eventually it'll break her. I wish I could believe that offering him something as an exchange would work, but I just don't think that anything will make him want to give thatup."

The rage stewedinside me like boiling water in a pressurized pot. I hated this helpless feeling, but I had to keep it together for Perry. Whatever I felt was nothing compared to what he was going through. This was what he'd been dealing with for thirteenyears.

"Arthur...I hate that I've suddenly dragged you and your family into this mess. It isn't fair that I just showed back up in your life and brought all this misery withme."

"It isn'tfair that you have to deal with this shit," I said. “Perry, I've been lost this whole time without you, and I didn't even realize it. I willfightto the end. No matter what theoutcome."

There wasa knock on the bedroom door. It was Vander, and his eyes were wide with eagerexcitement.

"What is it?"Iasked.

"Loch and Tresten are here.And he thinks he might've found a way to help youguys."

Perryand I exchanged a puzzled look and hurried alongside Vander to the sitting room. Mom, Dad, Loch, and Tresten were seated inside, talking quietly while Alexis and Jupiter both sat on the floor with Ian, who was reading a book tothem.

Loch stood. "Stephen,"he said, "Could you please have the kids entertained for a littlewhile?"

"Certainly, sir,"Stephen said, emerging from a corner of the room with two other housestaff.

"Daddy will be here,"Perry said, smiling at Jupiter, who looked to him for approval. "Go have somefun."

Igave Loch a quick hug."You've actually found something? So soon? It's not having a bunch of fighters beat the shit out of him, is it? Because I wouldn't object tothat."

"Me neither,"Perrymuttered.

"Close,"Loch said, smirking. "I spoke to Master Graffer and some of the other fighter masters at the school this morning, and I was told about 'the rite of challenge.' Apparently, it's actually an old highbornlaw."

Dad laughed."The rite of challenge? Like when you fought the Bellock boy, Loch? I thought that was just a Fighting Arts Schoolcustom."

"Yes,but there's also an officiallawregarding it," Loch said. "An ancient one, still in effect, even though it's not really in useanymore."

"Fightingto the death isn't as glorious as it once was," Trestensaid.

"So...Ihave to beat the shit out ofhim?"

"Imean you could...But the law applies to almost any other measurable challenge where the two people are on equal competitive ground. You submit an official notice of challenge with the terms, and it's distributed amongst the leading members of both party'sclans."

"What happensif I lose the challenge?" I asked. "If it's not a fight to thedeath?"