Chapter 42 #2
Evelyne smiled despite herself, because she had been staring. The warmth of it faded quickly, however, when she noticed her mother watching them from the far end of the table.
Aurelia sat beside her, lightly tapping her spoon against the rim of her teacup as though daring their mother to mention Leopold again. Evelyne had never seen her sister speak to Lady Celeste with such boldness before. It was… strangely satisfying to witness.
“Well,” Lady Celeste said at last, “shall I break this dreadful silence and recount everything that has occurred during your absence, or will one of you kindly inform me of your journeys?”
Cillian tapped his fingers once against the table and drew a breath, but Evelyne spoke first.
“Mother… There is something we must tell you. Aurelia as well.”
The moment the words left her mouth, her stomach twisted. The room seemed to tilt slightly around her. She glanced toward Cillian, their matching golden eyes meeting. He rubbed his scruffy chin and gave her a small nod. Evelyne turned to Aurelia and gently took her hand.
Aurelia frowned in confusion. “What is it?”
Evelyne opened her mouth, but the words would not come.
“Father began searching for me after I disappeared,” Cillian said, his voice low. “Evelyne as well, as you both know. He left with several of his men to assist in the search.”
Lady Celeste lifted her teacup calmly, then set it back down upon its saucer with delicate precision.
“You mean to tell me your father has passed.”
The words struck the room like a thunderclap.
“What?” Aurelia whispered, tears already rising in her eyes.
“You knew?” Evelyne asked, stunned.
“I know it now,” Lady Celeste replied with an even tone. “Tell me how it happened.”
Only then did Evelyne notice how tightly her mother held her teacup. Her expression was calm, but the strain beneath it was clear.
“Oh gods,” Aurelia murmured. “When?”
“Before I found Cillian,” Evelyne said, voice trembling. “I am so sorry I did not tell you sooner. I wished to wait until everyone was safe.”
“We,” Cillian paused. “We wished to wait.”
Aurelia stared at them both in disbelief, shaking her head slowly. “You knew Father was gone… and you said nothing to me?”
Lady Celeste turned her attention to Kaldrek. “Perhaps we might have a moment alone.”
Kaldrek looked toward Evelyne. “Is that what you wish?”
Before she could answer, Lady Celeste spoke again, her tone sharper. “I believe I still conduct this household. I would appreciate a moment with my children.”
“Mother,” Evelyne said, each word certain, “do not speak to him that way. He is welcome here.”
Kaldrek pushed his chair back and stood, the legs scraping across the polished floor in a manner no noble gentleman would ever allow.
“I’ll wait just outside,” he said calmly.
You do not have to leave, Evelyne sent through the bond.
He only gave her a reassuring smile before stepping from the room. The door had barely closed before Aurelia turned on them.
“You both knew Father was gone and never thought to tell me?”
“Aurelia,” Cillian spoke with care, “forgive us, but when we found you… you were barely alive. Evelyne and I had time to grieve. You did not.”
Aurelia exhaled sharply, though her entire body trembled. Dark claws began pushing through the tips of her fingers. Evelyne reached out to touch her shoulder, but Aurelia pulled back.
“You must breathe,” Evelyne said. “Before you lose control.”
Aurelia glanced down and gasped, pulling her hands to her chest as the claws slowly retracted.
“This,” she whispered, “is why I cannot return to Leopold, Mother. I am frightened. I have changed. And now I have lost our father.” Her voice broke. “I came home because I did not know where else to go.”
“We are not the same people we once were,” Cillian said with a stern voice.
He straightened in his father’s chair, and for the first time Evelyne saw him truly command the room.
“We are shifters now. We know of magic where others do not. We have seen horrors no one in these lands has ever imagined. But we are still Duskwoods, and we will not falter. Father would not want us to.”
Pride swelled in Evelyne’s chest.
Their mother sat in silence for a moment, studying each of them carefully. “You can all transform?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Evelyne replied.
Lady Celeste let out a slow breath, not in disbelief but in acceptance.
“You three are my entire world,” she said softly. “Every ounce of joy I have ever known. Your father and I believed we were protecting you by keeping certain truths from you. I see now that silence was not always kindness.” She lifted her gaze again. “For that… I am sorry.”
The apology stunned them into silence. Lady Celeste had never apologized before.
“I felt the moment your father died,” she continued. “The instant he rode out that night, I knew he would not return. But he went for his children. For that, I will not curse his memory.”
Tears now ran freely down every face at the table. Slowly, their hands found one another across the polished wood.
“I do not believe my heart is ready to hear the details of Aron’s death,” Lady Celeste said, her voice gentle. “But you must tell me everything else. Help me understand what you have endured.”
Aurelia’s quiet sob nearly broke Evelyne’s composure.
But the truth had to be spoken.
And so Evelyne told them everything.
She spoke of death and corruption, of the terror they had witnessed beyond the southern territories, of Vaelora and blood magic, and of the darkness that had nearly consumed them all.
She spoke until her throat felt raw and her chest hollow.
At last she reached the part she had quietly dreaded—the end of her betrothal to Alaric.
It was there that her mother finally lost her composure.