Chapter 26
“And that’s how Jai and I ended up on dish duty for a month.”
Meena giggled into her wine goblet as Everett droned on about some childhood story of him and the king-to-be.
How Meena found anything he said humorous, Rook would never understand. He wanted to find a way to exit the conversation, but Meena was having fun, and Maker knew the girl needed it.
He often felt bad that they had chosen to stay in the castle with him. He had offered them more money than they could ever need to start over somewhere else, yet they had always turned him down.
He wished they didn’t feel indebted to him. The whole point of him taking out Madam Elvira’s men was so they could be free. He had seen two girls, with no parents, struggling to make it in the world, and couldn’t help but intervene.
He had been sent into Wrathbrook to follow a lead on Celandine. It hadn’t been often that his father would permit him to leave the manor, and he had relished in his temporary freedom. After beating the information out of a lowlife hush dealer, he had allowed himself a walk about town to clear his mind, frustrated that the lead had turned out to be one he’d already heard before. Saint Celandine lives. He had scoffed to himself before trudging down the cobbled road, toward the tavern in search of a drink.
Shrill voices from a nearby alley attracted his attention, and he flattened himself to the brick wall and peered around the corner. A much-younger Meena was curled up next to an open cellar door as Evelyn tried her best to shush her. Rook could just barely make out their conversation amongst the other less savory sounds that drifted from the above windows. The alley backed into Madame Elvira’s pleasure house, for those seeking the comfort of a woman’s touch, and Rook cringed as the sounds of unrequited orgasms filled the air.
“I can’t, Evie. Please, I can’t do it anymore.”
“Shush,” Evelyn said, trying to comfort her younger sister. “I know, I know. Only a few more months, okay? Then we will have enough to get out of here.”
The statement caused Meena to sob even harder, and she blew her nose into a stained handkerchief.
“Everything okay here?”
The girls jumped at the sound of Rook’s voice, no doubt in concern he would rat them out to Madam Elvira.
He held up his hands to show he meant them no harm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, sir,” Meena replied, wiping her tears away. “It is us who should apologize. Please, come inside and allow us to entertain you.”
Rook grimaced. “As beautiful as the both of you are, I prefer women who bed with me willingly.”
“Oh,” Meena said, unsure of how to continue the conversation.
“Who are you?” Evelyn asked.
Rook couldn’t help but give her a devilish smile. “Someone who can help.”
He told the girls he would come back in one week’s time, but Meena and Evelyn decided to make a run for it that same night. He was shocked when they showed up on his doorstep, half-frozen from the frigid mountain temperatures.
He surprised the girls by paying their dues to Madam Elvira and offering them temporary work in the manor until they felt safe enough to travel elsewhere.
Rook had not admitted it to himself then, but he enjoyed their company. Evelyn and Meena brought warmth to the cold walls of Thorncrest Manor.
The girls were with him for two weeks when Meena mentioned she felt like they were being watched.
On their next trip into the city to buy goods, Rook decided to ignore his father’s wishes to stay in the manor and instead watched over the girls. Sure enough, he noticed some unsavory characters eyeing them from across the street, trying to act nonchalant. He couldn’t say he was surprised when they started following Evie and Meena past the city limits.
He gave them credit where it was due. They stayed close enough to follow, but far enough back not to be seen. Any movement could be easily mistaken as snow sifting through branches or a stray animal going about its daily business.
Rook used his stealth to get close enough to hear their plans. He would never repeat their words to another soul. The insidious thoughts of these men had come from a place so dark that not even he could fathom. He was not surprised to find out they had been sent by Madam Elvira herself, no doubt in a fit of anger for losing two of her most attractive indentures.
His gaze flicked to the girls in the distance and the manor looming just past the next treeline. He knew it was time to act.
He struck them down as they separated to relieve themselves, and while the girls slept, he delivered their heads to Madam Elvira’s private residence with a singular message.
The next attempt will be your last.
The following morning, he went about business as usual until the girls sat down at the dining table while he thumbed through some shipment receipts. He raised an eyebrow in their direction, beckoning them to speak, as they usually took meals in the servants’ quarters to maintain the appearance to Corvus that he was their master.
“We know what you did,” Evelyn started, resting her forearms on the table and clasping her hands together.
Before Rook could confirm or deny anything, Meena blurted, “We followed you last night.” She then covered her mouth as though she could shove the words back in, but it was too late.
Rook’s jaw ticked, and he took a breath before asking, “What did you see?” His voice was dangerously low.
“We saw the bodies,” Evelyn started.
“And the heads,” Meena finished, looking a few shades paler.
“I see,” Rook replied, fingering his glass. “And you’re still here?”
“Well, I … Well, we …” Evelyn stuttered before clearing her throat. “We figured, if you meant us harm, you would have already done so.”
Rook nodded to confirm her suspicions. He was not yet ready to admit he had grown fond of them.
“Anyway,” Evelyn continued, “thank you.”
“Yes, thank you!” Meena chimed in a bit too excitedly. The color had returned to her cheeks, and she beamed a grateful smile in his direction.
“Don’t let it go to your heads,” Rook said but couldn’t help the smile itching to pull up the corners of his lip. “So,” he went on, “have you decided where you will go?”
“Well,” Evelyn started, “we talked about it last night, and we have decided to stay here … with you.” Then she added, “If you will have us.”
Rook did not outwardly show an emotional response, but if he was being honest with himself, he had wanted them to stay. Telling them that would have been preposterous, of course, so instead, he supplemented with, “As you were, then. Breakfast won’t cook itself.”
“Yay!” Meena cheered, breaking the awkward silence that followed Rook’s less-than-sensitive statement. She then jumped from her seat and ran over to his side of the table, kissing his cheek before skipping back toward the kitchen.
Rook’s face was an immovable mask.
“Sorry,” Evelyn apologized on her sister’s behalf. “I’ll have a talk with her about personal boundaries.”
“You do that,” he responded as she slipped through the door after her sister.
He looked to the girls now, three years later, and couldn’t help but be proud of how far they had all come.
Noticing a break in Everett’s story, Rook took the opportunity to stand. “I am going to head out for the evening.”
“Oh, okay!” Meena said at his abruptness. She started to stand, too. “Did you need me to?—”
“No,” he cut her off. She looked lost at his sharp response, so he continued in a softer tone, “You don’t work for me anymore, Meena. Do not leave on my account.”
“Are you sure?”
“I can walk you back to your tent,” Everett offered, holding out his arm to her.
She looked at him, then to Rook, almost as if asking permission.
Rook gave her the most imperceptible nod, an unspoken confirmation that he approved of Everett’s intentions.
“Sure,” she replied happily and let Everett lead the way.
Rook shadowed them and watched as they approached Evelyn and Meena’s designated tent. The stable boy bent low to kiss Meena’s hand before wishing her goodnight then sauntered between the tents until he was out of Rook’s line of sight.
He bent his head from side to side to loosen the knots of stress that had settled there before making his way to his assigned stretch of canvas.
He entered the tent and fumbled around, reaching for the oil lamp he had seen earlier, cursing as his knee collided with the cot. He sat on the edge of the thin bedroll and peeled off his tunic, giving his shoulders a stretch. He debated removing his trousers but decided against it just in case Adriel had any surprises for them
He inched his body down on the uncomfortable bedding, missing his lush mattress from the manor, and fell into a fitful sleep.