71. Seventy-One - Consequences
Seventy-One - Consequences
Edric
Mina’s eyes go wide when she sees me and she hurries quickly across the tea shop to me. “Is Ana okay?”
“Yes, she asked me to extend you an invitation.”
This time, her eyes narrow and she looks at me like she’s not sure what that word means.
“She and your mother had an argument, she thought you might prefer staying at the manor house, as our guest, tonight instead of going home.”
“Oh!” Her eyes go round again and she grimaces. “That is a very kind offer, thank you.”
While she collects her things, I take a moment to purchase a few bags from Sabine and the fawn smiles up at me like she knows a secret.
She pats my hand when she gives me my tea and says, “The square is going to be awfully full that day.”
“What day?”
Her smile widens, and she turns away from me with a wink, instead of answering.
I haven’t reserved the temple yet. I haven’t even been to town since Ana said yes... but she has. And she was wearing the ring.
I would imagine the town was primed to look for that.
A brief glance around the room... they all know.
One of the perils of a small town. Though not one I am upset by.
Mina joins me with a bag slung over her shoulder and I don’t ask if she was, somehow, already packed for a visit.
“I could stay with one of my other sisters, instead,” she says as we walk past the statue Staci commissioned.
“You are family, well... soon enough. You’re welcome at the manor any time you want to visit or stay.” Unlike my father, she’s done nothing to make herself unwelcome.
“Thank you.” She hesitates. “Was the fight about your engagement?”
“I don’t think so.” The details had been hazy in that steam filled room. “You can ask her in a little while.”
She’s silent again for a few minutes and then, “Promise me you’re going to take care of her.”
I look down at her and if I wasn’t sure I’d heard her, I might have thought she’d said nothing at all.
“She takes care of everyone else,” Mina says. “If you don’t take care of her... the Queen is going to need another forest guardian.”
I smile at the threat. “I will make it my life’s mission.”
“Good.”
When we reach the house, Dorrian is waiting for us.
“This is Dorrian.” I turn to the gnarled, knotted door. “Dorrian, this is Mina, Ana’s youngest sister.”
He shifts and I could imagine him squinting at her. “A bud from the same branch. How delightful that we’ve begun a collection.”
He opens and Mina’s eyes go wide as she steps into the foyer.
“Ana told me it was beautiful,” she says in a hushed whisper. “I believed her, but…”
Blicks clears his throat from beside me and Mina spins toward him. “Oh. Hello.”
“Miss Eventide,” he says with a curt bow. “May I show you to your room?”
“Um, yes, thank you.”
He nods at her and then turns to me, his face devoid of all the gentleness it held when he looked at Mina.
“There is a guest in the drawing room. Kaelen is here to see Ana, but she and master Viggo are indisposed right now.”
He gives me a look that could so easily translate to “deal with it” and then turns back to Mina, all smiles and lightness as he leads her upstairs, explaining little details of the house to her.
I stop on the threshold of our drawing room and watch her for a moment before I speak.
She sits on one of the sofas, perfectly still, like a statue, staring at the chair opposite her.
“I did not expect to see you again so soon.” I tell her.
She doesn’t look at me. Her expression does not change. “I am not here for you, Forest Gurardian. Bring me the human called Ana.”
“You won’t even tell me what it’s about?”
“I will not.” She looks up at me and I am reminded of how dangerous she truly is. “The longer she makes me wait, the less time she will have.”
“Less time for what?”
Brow raised, she turns away from me, her gaze on the chair once more.
I know she won’t budge. There’s no point in arguing. No point in trying to bargain.
Turning on my heel, I go to do as she bids.
She is only loyal to the Queen. And if the Queen wants to see Ana, Kirra must have made her concerns known.