How did you fight against someone who'd rather sit there laughing? Avery huffed and flicked his hair out of his eyes as he tried to look serious about the matter.

But then Leon was flicking through his book, glancing at the entries. "It's just an interesting subject, that's all. Not that I want to be a dark wizard or anything ridiculous like that, I just...well you have to wonder why they did all of those things when all it bought them was death or a life in prison."

Avery lifted his chin a little. "It's very rude to suggest things like that about people. Like I said, not all pureblood families are willing to go to those lengths to preserve their bloodlines. Some of my aunts and uncles are single; they were never forced to marry cousins."

Not that it had always been that way in the Flynn bloodline, but Leon didn't need to know about that. Tilting his head slightly, Avery locked his gaze with Leon's. "Why didn't you?"