Chapter Eight #2
James continued playing tour guide as he drove, pointing out plant life native to Clair de Lune and various landmarks, but his overview wasn’t enough to distract Scarlett from her friend, who was sitting close enough for her to touch.
Brayden caught her looking at him and leaned over to wrap his arm around her shoulders, beaming down at her like it was solstice morning as he let her go.
In the excitement of seeing him for the first time, she’d somehow forgotten how gross she was.
She resisted the urge to mess with her hair again.
At least her clothes were fresh from that morning.
He leaned in again and pointed out her window, his eyes bright with excitement. “One of my friends lives right there. She’s having a party tonight and would love to meet you.”
Scarlett’s heart thudded as she took in his smell and his heat while simultaneously trying to forget how her hair smelled. “I’d love to, but I need to get Manon to a doctor before I do anything else. There are a few things I need to do, actually.”
His eyebrows rose. “Oh, yeah, of course—you’ve been through so much. A party is probably a stupid idea for tonight.” He searched her face.
“No, it’s not stupid. I really want to go if I can.” Scarlett grabbed his hand and squeezed.
Before long, a massive stone building came into view.
“And there’s home sweet home,” said James.
“Why do you live in a castle?” asked Beni.
“The castle was built when we were still part of the Hieratian Empire, but now it’s where the military is based,” said Brayden. “Since Dad has been head of the army for the past twenty years, it’s where we’ve lived most of my life.”
“It looks huge.” The castle was smaller than Soleil’s parliament, but it looked like it had hundreds of rooms. “Is it just your family that lives there?”
Brayden chuckled. “No. Anyone working for the military or the government can reside there, and given Manon’s work for Dad, it totally makes sense for you to stay with us.
It’s nice. There’s always food when you’re hungry, and because of the military, there’s tons of cool stuff—like the archery field and the shooting range. ”
Manon’s work for Lachlan?
Before Scarlett could ask what Brayden meant, Beni perked up. “Archery?”
With a glance at Scarlett, Brayden leaned toward him. “Yeah. Have you ever tried it?”
“Only in video games,” said her brother.
“We’ll change that while you’re here.” He grabbed Beni by his shoulder and ruffled his hair, making Beni laugh as he tried to bat his hand away.
James drove through open steel gates onto a circular driveway within the castle’s massive courtyard and parked behind several other vehicles.
As Brayden helped Scarlett out of the SUV, Lachlan strode through the enormous wooden doors, his presence more commanding than it had been through the mirror. He approached Manon first and pressed light kisses on both of her cheeks.
“Back where you belong, eh?”
Manon chortled. “It’s nice to be home.”
Lachlan turned to Scarlett and Beni, who stood shoulder to shoulder. Scarlett had met Lachlan countless times, but his in-person presence was making her a touch nervous.
“Welcome to Clair de Lune.” His dark eyes twinkled. He was handsome. He looked like Brayden, if Brayden had graying hair, a square jaw, and bushier eyebrows.
“Thank you for helping us,” said Scarlett.
“Yeah, thanks,” said Beni.
Lachlan squeezed Beni’s shoulder. “You did well, son.”
Beni hadn’t been slouching, exactly, but he stood taller in response to Lachlan’s words.
“And you,” he said, turning a mischievous smile on Scarlett. “You’re even lovelier in real life.”
Scarlett smiled broadly, half-embarrassed and half-soothed, given her current self-consciousness over her unkempt state.
“Dad,” said Brayden reprovingly.
Lachlan ignored him. “You gave us quite a scare, my dear. I’m so glad you’re safe.”
To Scarlett’s surprise, he leaned in and wrapped her in a warm hug. The starchy feel of his uniform and his spicy cologne were new, and his fatherly presence made her heart ache as Lachlan pulled back and smiled at her.
“Come inside.” He led them through the halls of the castle, taking a pace that allowed Scarlett to keep up. “Did you hear from Laylani before you left Soleil? Do you think anyone knows where you’ve gone?”
Scarlett pulled her phone out of her pocket and glanced at it. As expected, it didn’t have service. “My phone stopped working when we went through Mont Noir. Before that, no.”
“Same here,” said Beni.
As they made their way down a hallway, they passed a giant oil painting of a knight on a horse, maybe an ancestor of Lachlan’s.
“Manon, has she contacted you? Your phone is working, correct?” asked Lachlan.
“Why would her phone work if mine doesn’t?” Scarlett stared at her grandmother.
“I can’t talk to Soleil either, Scarlett, but my phone works, yes,” said Manon, looking up at Lachlan from her wheelchair. “I checked it in the car. I haven’t heard from Laylani either.”
James smirked. “We’re going to have to take Scarlett to the Forest Temple.”
Brayden looked amused, like Scarlett was doing something unintentionally funny. “One thing at a time.”
She frowned at James’s know-it-all smirk, but before she could demand to know what they meant, she was diverted again as Lachlan opened a set of double doors to reveal an expansive sitting room. Fine-looking tapestries depicting more medieval scenes covered the walls.
Beni parked Manon’s wheelchair near two long couches.
Scarlett sat closest to her grandmother, relaxing back into the soft velvet couch with a sigh of relief.
Brayden glanced at the empty space next to her just as Beni plopped into the seat.
After a moment’s hesitation, he sat across the antique coffee table from her, next to his brother and his father.
A middle-aged woman appeared, dressed in slacks and a tucked-in button-down shirt. “You must be the visitors General Maddox warned us about. My name’s Flora. I’m part of the castle staff,” she said in a heavy Clair de Lune accent.
Scarlett, Manon, and Beni each introduced themselves to the smiling woman.
“Please let me know if you need anything at all,” said Flora. “For now, can I bring you anything to eat or drink? We make lovely cinnamon hot chocolate here.”
“Yes, please!” said Beni.
Scarlett studied her grandmother, who looked rather peaked even though she was smiling softly. “Do you think we can get Manon some medical attention today?” she asked, directing the question at the Maddoxes.
Lachlan spoke. “Not to worry. I’ve already contacted the doctor. She’ll be here soon—to look after both of you. She’s a fantastic magical healer.”
“That’s great. Thank you.” But even as she thanked Lachlan, Scarlett’s stomach jolted at the idea of someone using magic to heal her.
She was all for healing magic in theory, but to her surprise, she was suddenly nervous.
She could hear Alastair in her head. If he were here, he’d tell her she’d be a fool to let them try it on her.
But then again, can it be any worse than what the non-magical doctors did to me in Soleil? She snorted softly. No, probably not. And it would be amazing not to need her dad’s cane anymore.
Manon’s expression was full of understanding. “We’ll be healed as soon as we see a doctor.”
Scarlett nodded. She trusted her grandmother, and if she met the doctor and didn’t trust her, she could always back out.
“Oh, if you need anything, let one of us know, and we’ll sort it,” said Lachlan.
The way he said it suggested they’d be staying awhile.
“We won’t be here long, right?” she asked Manon.
Her mind swirled with a thousand more questions, but the pressure to get back to where she was desperately needed trumped them all.
Looking toward Lachlan, she continued. “I’m supposed to join Parliament.
” She paused to collect herself as she glanced over at Brayden.
Beni scooted closer to her, brushing his hand against her arm in a soothing gesture, and she took a deep breath.
Lachlan leaned forward, his bushy eyebrows dominating his heavy eyes. “I understand, but we need to make sure you’re healthy and then figure out how to ensure your safety in Soleil before you go back. But let’s save the detailed strategy talk for once you’re healed.”
“Are you planning to join Parliament now? Isn’t the age of inheritance in Soleil twenty-five?” asked James. “That’s our minimum age for Parliament.”
The question threw her for a moment. She’d forgotten James had just joined the Clair de Lune Department of Commerce.
“I applied for an exception the day I was abducted.” The thought made her dizzy.
“The courts probably ruled on my case already. I’ll contact them and make sure.
” Grasping the handle of her cane, she stood—although to go where, exactly, she didn’t know.
“Wait, Scarlett. You won’t find the answer right now.” Manon gestured for her to sit.
Flora arrived with drinks as Scarlett sank back into the velvet couch, and she took a cup of hot tea with a grateful smile, centering herself again with a small sip. The tea was milky but bold, and it tasted better than the tea in Soleil.
“Is there anyone in Soleil whom you’d trust to check your petition with the government?” asked Lachlan. “Unfortunately, we’ll be stuck writing them a letter, but we can get a note out on tomorrow’s train.”
“Can’t she—?” James began, but Lachlan shushed him.
“Lady Elestine Spencer could check for me,” said Scarlett. “Or one of her staff.”
Lachlan’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “The new prime minister?”
“That’s right.” She glanced at Brayden, who was frowning.
“She was my father’s collaborator. They cowrote the legislation that likely got him…
killed.” Her body ached, and a wave of exhaustion overcame her.
“I can’t believe I’m dealing with this right now.
I still can’t believe my dad…” Tears spilled onto her cheeks. She wiped them away, embarrassed.
Beni wrapped his arms around Scarlett, and Scarlett leaned into her brother’s comforting touch, grasping him to her protectively.
Then she pulled herself together and released him. “Elestine will help.”
“Let’s contact her when you’re able,” said Lachlan.
“But Scarlett, we shouldn’t rush home. It’s important you stay here for a while,” Manon said.
When Scarlett looked up, she and Lachlan were having some kind of private conversation with their eyes.
Lachlan made a sympathetic noise. “Why don’t you rest while you wait for the doctor? Worry about Parliament when you’re healed.”
“Too right,” Manon agreed.
Scarlett bristled, wanting to argue. Soleil’s fate was more important than her health or her grief. But then Brayden looked at her imploringly.
“Please, Scar? Take it easy.”
“Yeah. You need rest,” added Beni.
“You’re right.” She had to take care of herself before she could take care of Beni or anyone else. She breathed deep to push her emotions further under the surface.
“Should I take you to your rooms in the north wing?” offered James.
“No—I’ll do it,” said Brayden.
“Go ahead, Beni and Scarlett,” said Manon. “I want to speak to Lachlan briefly.”
“Yes, I’ll wheel your grandmother to her room in a bit,” added Lachlan.
It was still early, but the energy drinks and coffee that had propelled her through the day had worn off, and Scarlett was dead on her feet. Brayden offered her his arm, which she took with grateful relief. Beni and James walked alongside them.
“Beni, you want to get some food and come to archery practice?” asked James.
“Yes!” exclaimed Beni. “What kind of food do you have here?”
“Oh, you know, all the usual kinds.” James ruffled Beni’s hair.
Beni waved goodbye to Scarlett and followed him through a set of double doors.
“Alone at last,” said Brayden as he led Scarlett out of the sitting room.
She huffed out a laugh, stopping at the bottom of a staircase to catch her breath. “Alone at last, and I’m disgusting,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
She gave him a look like, Really? “I’ve been bedridden for weeks, and I don’t think they did a great job of keeping me clean.”
He studied her. “I mean, your hair is usually fluffier, I guess, but you still look beautiful to me.”
“You’re sweet.”
He offered her his arm again, and she took it.
Upstairs, Brayden led her down a carpeted hallway filled with closed doors. Halting in front of one, he pointed to it. “This is you.” He pointed next door. “That’s Manon, and that’s Beni.” He gestured to the room across the way.
“How do you know?” Scarlett asked.
“I helped the housekeeper open up the rooms earlier today. There are hundreds of rooms here, so they’re not always kept ready.”
Scarlett unwound her arm from his and put her hand on the doorknob. “Thank you for doing that. Thanks for everything.”
He brushed his thumb over her cheek, lingering near her, and for a moment she thought he might… But then he took a step back. “Anything for my best friend. I’ll see you later. Rest up, Scar.” He winked at her and walked away before she could reply.
Best friend? Why did the title she’d once held so dear now make her sad?