Chapter 58
Blade
One day before the funeral…
“It’s okay, Fluffy. They’re friendly.”
Rebecka patted Fluffy’s back. “Don’t lie to him.”
Blade glanced over his shoulder at the guvres now gracing their courtyard.
They’d been suspiciously docile since their arrival, swooping around the manor like soaring birds searching for a perch.
The female’s belly remained extended, holding on to another set of guvre eggs she’d lay, by Blade’s guess, any day now.
They were swiftly becoming a guvre baby daycare, and Blade wasn’t certain he was at all qualified.
“Was it wise to leave me in charge of them? I know the others had to depart for the funeral this morning, but this seems misguided.”
Rebecka quirked a brow. “Your job title is dragon trainer.”
“Maybe it could be changed to Beast Greeter? I could give them a wave and bow out gracefully.”
It had been a day since the animals’ arrival, and Blade had spent most of it feeling as if he were playing The Villain himself, keeping the guvre babies away from their parents.
Rebecka was too distracted to laugh at his joke. “I don’t like keeping the babies from them. It feels cruel.”
“I agree, but if we bring them their children, they’ll all fly off, and we need them for the prophecy ritual thing.” Blade rubbed a finger down her arm. “When it’s over, everyone will ride off into the sunset.”
That morning on horseback, Trystan, Clare, Tatianna, Alexander, and Evie Sage had embarked on their journey.
The others had remained behind, as the larger the group, the riskier it was, and they were already pushing it.
Blade and Becky, in particular, were tasked with ensuring that the animals didn’t melt the manor before they could put the window there.
“They’re calm now, at least,” Rebecka remarked.
“That’s Lyssa’s influence,” Blade added, observing the little girl at work, using her glowing starlight to play with the animals, who in turn were made docile by Lyssa’s efforts.
Evie had given the little girl a choice, either to join them or stay behind. Though it didn’t appear to have been much of a choice to Lyssa at all, for she’d hugged her sister, whispered something in her ear that made Evie giggle, and then, with a final kiss on the head from Evie, waved them off.
“They’re sleeping,” she whispered now, tiptoeing over to them with a chunk of meat in hand for Fluffy. “I haven’t forgotten you, Fluff.” She tossed the bit of meat, and Fluffy perked up immediately, swallowing it whole.
“You faker,” Blade accused, pointing a finger at the animal, who appeared very smug about getting an extra helping. Lyssa sat on the ground and took folded parchment from her satchel. “How’s the story coming, kid?”
Lyssa’s eyes twinkled when she peered up at him. “I’m nearing the end. It just— I suppose I’m confused because all signs point to a happy ending. I worry that I’m missing something. It doesn’t feel over.”
Blade shrugged. “Then perhaps it’s not.”
Lyssa turned over her palm. “What do you think, Blossom?” She smiled down at the snail, and Rebecka groaned.
“Her keeping him as a pet feels unethical,” she said. “It’s got to be against some kind of company policy.”
Blade scoffed. “As opposed to all the ethical things we normally do?”
His tone was a bit harsher than he intended, but he caught it too late, after Rebecka flinched lightly.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been on edge since Fate showed me my father.”
Rebecka softened, and Lyssa asked curiously, “I don’t know anything about your father, Blade. What’s he like?”
“I know as much about my father as he wanted to know about me. That is to say, hardly anything at all.” Blade grimaced. This was not a conversation for a child.
“My dad locked me in a prison cell and tried to blow up my sister, if that helps,” Lyssa stated with sympathy, patting Blade’s arm.
No, this wasn’t a conversation for a child.
Fortunately, Lyssa was as oddly adjusted as the rest of them.
Rebecka bit her lip. “That’s not funny, Lyssa.”
“It’s a little funny.” Blade snorted when Rebecka splashed him with water from the fountain. “I’m…a bit worried for my father, actually.”
“Why?” Rebecka frowned.
“If there was any truth to what I was shown, he’s fallen out of favor with the king. And…I think it’s because of me. This is why I wanted no part of the family legacy of public governing; it all leads to blurry confusion.”
Rebecka went rigid. “Some of us do not have a choice, Bladen.”
Blade’s eyes widened as he realized his mistake too late. “Rebecka, I know that.”
Lyssa looked between them and grabbed another piece of meat. “C’mon, Fluffy. Give your mama and papa their alone time.”
“We are not his parents!” Rebecka called after the little girl, with a scrunch of her nose Blade found endearing. She rubbed her temples. “Why is it you think your father is in danger?”
“Because the Valiant Guard dragged him off in chains. I figured they weren’t taking him for an afternoon stroll.
” He began tidying up Fluffy’s area, straightening things that need not be straightened.
“He’s not a bad man. He just… He never understood my mind, and he never really tried to.
But now I know he stood up for me to the king.
It’s such a small thing, I know, but I can’t stop thinking about it. ”
It had been plaguing him for days, so much he’d hardly been able to speak with anyone, especially Rebecka. “Is this why you’ve been avoiding me?” she asked.
“I didn’t want to—” Blade winced. “That sounds like the worst excuse. I apologize.”
Fluffy huffed, and Blade spotted him and Lyssa spying behind the half wall; they yelped when they were caught and disappeared once more.
“Is this because I died for five seconds?” Rebecka folded her arms.
Her limp body. Her eyes closed. Leaving him. “It was more than five seconds, I assure you.”
Her brown eyes were warm when she tentatively reached for his hand, and he took hers in his, laying a gentle kiss to the inside of her wrist. “I’m fine. And this is all going to end soon.”
He reached out, feeling too vulnerable, too tenderhearted. Brushing a strand of silky brown hair behind her ear, he followed the path his finger took with his lips. “Don’t do it again, please.”
He looked deep into her eyes, feeling like a bit of her soul had spilled onto his and now they were forever a part of the other.
She smiled, holding his jaw gently. “I won’t.”
“Good. Now, what was your upset over my politician comment?” Blade asked.
“It doesn’t matter.” Rebecka waved a hand.
“It upset you. Of course it matters.”
“It was just a difficult thing to hear when you know that my future will land me as head of the Fortis family. That will require living there and making public appearances and working diplomatically. All things you’d probably hate.”
Blade had to ensure he understood this correctly, but when he did, a smile slowly formed as he asked, “Are you saying you’re upset because you see a future with me?” He moved closer to her, and closer still when she grabbed his collar, bringing him inches from her face.
“Bladen. I’ve told you I love you. We are together. It stands to reason I would be thinking of what we might look forward to. But if you see this as temporary, then I’ll tell you—”
“I do think of you as Fluffy’s mother.”
“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” Rebecka burst out with a hysterical laugh. “Slow down there before you make me your coparent— We just started—”
“I know. I just thought you might like to know where I stand on the subject.” He breathed her in like vital air. “When I think of the future, lovely Rebecka, you’re all I see.”
He smiled, lashes lowering, arms dropping, and she kissed him deeply. “Should we go up to your rooms? While everything’s calm?”
“Rebecka Eriania Fortis,” Blade gasped, feeling heat spike his blood pressure through the roof. “Are you propositioning me?”
She arched a brow. “The offer expires in three, two, one—”
He had her over his shoulder before she could say another word, and he was rewarded with her giggles all the way to his rooms.
Later that morning, as he lay quietly in bed next to Rebecka, he wondered why he was still so bothered by his father’s defense of him. For him to turn on Benedict, it had to have been bad.
Bad enough that Blade knew Lyssa was right.
This wasn’t the end. It was the beginning.