Axis couldn’t wait for the dinner portion of tonight’s events to end, so he could steal Lexia away from Gauge’s rakish gaze. Even with the glasses, Axis had seen the man’s eyes lower to the elegant neckline of her bodice more than once. Why wasn’t anyone doing anything?

Across the room, Dr. Tempest stared as if petrified—a frozen witness to the unfolding events. And Rhyme? Lexia’s bodyguard stood behind Leon, watching her eat with their rogue of a host. He glanced Axis’ way and gave an unhelpful shake of his head.

“She’s breathtaking, isn’t she, son?”

The last thing Axis needed right now was his father investing any attention to Lexia. He touched his timepiece beneath his sleeve, refusing to respond to Valve’s barbs.

But the sickly man persisted after another round of coughing. “Lexia has grown into a fine young woman, and Gauge is a man of influence. Perhaps you were but a rung in the ladder on her way up to the top. I tried to warn you—”

“Father, I’ve learned quite a wealth of information from foreman Walker about your part in the recent dissension in our factories. I’d say it’s enough evidence to sway the other Founding Families into legitimizing my challenging you to a public duel.” Axis turned and faced Valve across the table, let him see the resolve in his son’s eyes. “It would be the first permitted patricide in our brief history, but don’t underestimate Dr. Tempest’s and Count Snow’s disdain for you.”

Valve wheezed into his napkin, staring over it at Axis. He said, “Snow would never allow it.”

Axis smiled, and he knew it was cruel. “Snow would allow anything if it provided him with enough entertainment. He could make a spectacle of it and demand the presence of every citizen in Winter. Why, I’m already certain that’s how I’ll pitch it to him. Threaten my inheritance again, and I will see it done.”

There was a slinky shift to Valve’s eyes, and Axis approximated he was already scheming other avenues to spoiling the factories out from under his son. But Axis couldn’t care less so long as the man did it in silence.

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Laughter burst from the front of the room, and Axis turned to see Gauge smiling at Lexia. It had startled many others who flinched at the unfamiliar sound. Dr. Tempest had closed his eyes like he was praying. Axis was relieved to see Rhyme re-sheathe some kind of weapon. At least they were all treating this with the gravity it deserved.

Reassurance.

That’s what Axis needed, and he sought it in the same place he’d done his entire childhood. He didn’t bother excusing himself from the Flicker’s table as he made his way over to Dr. Tempest. The man’s sandy brown hair boasted gray at the temples, but he still looked as kindly as always. He whispered to the associate beside him, who abandoned their seat for Axis.

Lexia’s father tried to keep the conversation professional. “I heard you had some trouble in the looms yesterday.”

“An opportunity presented itself which took a moment of physical exertion to seize.”

It warmed Axis to see the older smile fondly at his choice of words. Dr. Tempest said, “Admirable. Let me know if I can help in any way.” He kept his eyes on Gauge’s table all the while.

Axis loosened his tie a bit to say, “Well, you could help with the situation at hand.”

That tore Leon’s eyes away from Lexia. He fell still, blinking at Axis.

Perhaps, he’d been too subtle, but the slight tick of the vein at Leon’s temples said otherwise. Axis said, “Dr. Tempest, spare Lexia and insist she spends the rest of the night under your escort. When she accepted the invitation, I doubt she expected to be Snow’s amusement for the night.”

Behind Leon, Rhyme disguised a bark of laughter into his fist like a cough.

Lexia’s father swallowed hard. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, son.”

Son.

From Valve, the word coated the back of Axis’ tongue like a toxin, but from Leon it swelled Axis’ chest with pride. Every time. So it twinged a bit in this context. “Why not?”

“Gauge Snow is the Founder of our way of life, including Lexia’s. If I interfere, I risk breaking the accord, and I risk her in ways you cannot imagine. The man is civilized, and so far, has only treated her to his company over dinner. The only man who can escort Lexia from such a simple engagement—the only man with any right to do so—would be her betrothed.”

Leon gave Axis a pointed look which burned through his eyes and into his soul.

What must Lexia look like to a man such as Snow? Gorgeous and sweet but also honest in her eloquence. She was a fair arbiter at work and destined for greatness, surpassing even her father in ensuring the happiness of her employees. With a smile to light up even the darkest corner of a man’s soul.

The anxiety in Axis’ chest loosened its grip. Lexia was worth conquering his fears.