Chapter 15 #2
"How is that possible?" My mother's confusion deepened.
"I mean, I know my Lucinda didn't grow up completely in the world," she looked over at Luce with a tender smile.
"I was always so grateful to your father for that one.
" She turned back to Cade. "But as a Legacy, she is still aware of the world, and there will be some functions that she is mandated to attend, such as the Alumni Dinner.
Did you not go to these events growing up? "
"Mum, Cadence isn't a Legacy," I said quickly, trying to clear up the misunderstanding. "She came to Regents on a scholarship."
"Oh," my mother said, her confusion evident. I worried she was growing tired, which often led to her becoming more disoriented.
"Alumni Dinners?" Cade asked eagerly. "Did my mother ever go to them?" My mother settled back in her chair, her expression thoughtful.
"Well, I don't remember seeing her before Regents, but yes, she attended a few after graduating for sure.
In fact, I believe the last time I saw her was at the last dinner I attended.
" She smiled at me, reaching out to touch my cheek.
"I was just about to give birth to you," she said softly.
"I wanted to miss the dinner, but your father was so keen to prove his worth, to show off that he had a son on the way, that he insisted we go. " My mother turned to Cade.
"Your mother was there with..." She paused, searching her memories.
"That's it, yes, she was with Dexter Knotty.
" Her voice lifted with satisfaction at remembering.
"I recall because it was quite the scandal.
The fact that he was no longer with Annalee, who had been one of that year's Consorts, but was now with Lissa, who had failed to secure the Consort role. "
"Dexter Knotty?" Cade's eyes widened. "Who is he? Could he be my father?"
I watched Cade carefully, seeing the hunger for information in her eyes.
It had never truly occurred to me before now how painful it must be not knowing who your parents were.
I glanced at Luce, feeling a pang of sadness.
I knew she and Cade had bonded over both growing up without mothers, but knowing what I knew.
.. I wondered if it might be worth giving Luce at least a little hope someday.
"Well, I don't know about that, dear," my mother said gently. "I do know their relationship was more off than on. And that really was the last time I saw her. I was more focused on other things after that." She squeezed my hand again, smiling at me with such love that it made my chest ache.
I noticed Cade watching us, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
I knew she hadn't seen me in the best light so far, far from it.
With everything we were learning now, I realised I needed Cade to see that I wasn't the monster she thought I was.
Or at least that I was the monster who would protect her, not harm her.
"But I'm afraid that if your mother hasn't been to the dinners since then, I can only imagine what trouble she got herself into," my mother added, her tone suddenly strange.
She glanced around the room nervously, as if checking for eavesdroppers.
"If the Trivium wanted you to disappear, then you disappeared.
And young girls messing with their ways definitely posed a danger to their ecosystem. "
I immediately perked up at this. This could explain not only why I couldn't find anything recent on Lissa but might also reveal why Killingham and those other bastards were so interested in getting Cade away from us.
Could what Logan, Cole, and I did, bringing her into our world, be the reason she had a target on her back?
"You mean because she wasn't a Legacy?" I asked, imagining how a non-Legacy being so ruthless could present as a threat to the Trivium. My mother's brow furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean, Ryder?" she asked. "Of course Lissa was a Legacy. Why would you think otherwise?"
"Wait," Cade sat up straighter, leaning forward. "My mother was a Legacy? How?" My mother shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Well, because-"
A sharp knock at the door silenced her. My mother's mouth snapped shut as the door opened and a young nurse with vibrant red hair poked her head in.
"I'm sorry to cut this visit short," she said apologetically, "but it's time for Charlotte's therapy session."
"But-" Cade tried to protest, frustration evident in her voice.
"No buts, I'm afraid," the nurse said firmly.
"You really must all leave now." I could see the defeat in Cade's posture, the way her shoulders slumped as she realised how close she'd come to vital information only to have it snatched away.
But I had enough to work with now, enough to dig deeper and give her at least some closure.
"Come on," I said, standing. "Let's leave Mum to it. You can always come back with me when I visit again." I extended my hand to Cade, who looked at it as if I'd offered her a venomous snake.
"Oh yes, please! I would so very much like to see you again," my mother clapped excitedly. "Ryder, be a good boy and take care of this girl. She is a good one, I can tell."
"I will, Mum," I promised. "I've already made it my mission." I wiggled my outstretched hand at Cade and raised an eyebrow, silently pleading with her to just follow my lead. After a moment's hesitation, she sighed and took my hand, allowing me to pull her to her feet.
"It was very nice meeting you, Mrs Purcell," she said with a genuine smile.
"Oh please, call me Charlotte, sweet girl. And take care of yourself."
My mother then turned to Luce, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, my sweet Lucinda, come and give me a hug."
Luce leant down to embrace her, the scent of my mother's lavender perfume enveloping them both. "I promise to come back soon, Aunt Charlotte," she said, kissing her cheek.
When Luce stepped back, I gave my mother a tight hug, whispering that I'd visit again as soon as possible. Her fingers clutched at my shirt for a moment, reluctant to let go, before finally releasing me.
We filed out of the room and back into the sterile hallway.
The weight of everything we'd learned, and everything still hidden, settled heavily in my stomach.
With this new information about Lissa Turner being a Legacy, I had another direction to pursue.
If Cade's mother truly came from Legacy blood, I needed to find out where that Legacy originated, which meant looking into Cade's family once again.
As we walked silently toward the exit, I watched Cade from the corner of my eye.
Her face was a storm of emotions, hope, confusion, frustration, and determination all battling for dominance.
I wanted to reach for her hand again, to offer some comfort, but I knew she wouldn't welcome it.
Not yet. But soon. Soon she would understand that everything I'd done, everything we'd done, was to protect her.
And when she finally learned the truth about her mother, about her family's connection to all of this, she would need someone to hold on to. And I intended to be that someone.