Chapter 55
Larkspur
When we arrived at Lamoreaux, the house felt too cold and still; no lamps lit any of the rooms.
“Fuck,” I grumbled. She hadn’t come home.
“What’s the matter, love?” Dritan’s arms circled my shoulders as I extended my hands toward the fireplace, lighting the fire in the parlor. His Source power felt so natural to use.
Once illuminated, the room revealed a stack of blankets and pillows on the sofa.
“My aunt is such a fool,” I answered.
He squeezed me tighter. “I’m sure that she’s alright.”
Not the point.
Aunt El always landed on her feet. Just because she walked away did not prove she wasn’t wounded. The jagged little scars added up.
She wouldn’t be happy at the break of dawn when she faced a distraught Emmerick and the consequences of her own mistakes. I grew tired of watching her sabotage matters of her own heart.
“How are you feeling about all of this?” I asked him.
Dritan’s grip didn’t falter. “About being a part of a world-saving prophecy? Oh, grand.”
A weak laugh escaped me. “Seriously,” I said, encouraging him to be honest.
“I feel that if it led me here to this moment with you, then I’d happily play along with the Sources’ plans for me a hundred more times.”
A knock sounded at the Egress door. “It’s just me.” Emmerick’s muffled voice carried into the room.
When I trotted down the hall and opened the door, I found that he’d already changed out of his formal wear. He’d come to see my aunt.
Who was not here.
Ugh. To think they all believed me to be the naive one.
Dritan stepped up behind me, and the King’s attention landed on him over my shoulder, conflicted about what to do or say. His quiet unease left a bitter taste on my tongue.
“Is your aunt back?” Emmerick asked.
I swallowed hard and shook my head. “I thought she was with you,” I lied.
The pit of his spiked despair rocked me on my heels. “Your parents are ready to speak with you in the morning. Go home to Luz. Both of you.”
I huffed a laugh. “I don’t believe that for a moment.”
Emmerick crossed his arms; his expression grew unyielding. “Go home,” he repeated, this time looking past me. “I’ve spoken with them. It’ll be alright.” The way his tone softened for Dritan’s comfort made my heart swell.
“They will just yell and get worked up,” I sighed out.
I knew my parents would be angry at my withheld truths, but I hoped they would accept the North Corridor Prince.
“They won’t,” Emmerick answered plainly. “You dealt them a shock, and they’ll recover. Their love isn’t conditional on you doing everything they wish you to.”
My eyes welled, and I launched myself at him, embracing him. He stiffened at first before I felt a light pat between my shoulders.
“We still plan to go to the cave in Eros tomorrow afternoon?” Dritan asked quietly as I released his father.
Presently, we had one ally and one member of our family supportive—we needed no more, though I longed for the others to warm to our decision.
“Yes, let’s meet at noon in Helos,” Emmerick said. I felt his uncertainty—he didn’t want to put us in danger. “After I speak with your aunt and after you tell your parents the plan. No more secret excursions.”
We said farewell and closed the door behind us, leaving him alone with the quiet reflection that the halls of Lamoreaux offered.