Page 55 of Madness of Her Mages

I shouldn’t have been surprised when we were sent a summons by Malvolia to meet her in the nursery. I feared she’d found a nursemaid for the girls rather than let me interview them, but I suspected she was anxious to get the girls out of the way and use my siren skills to root out more demons.

The messenger, a short human/Fae with a pointy chin dotted with a shadow of a beard, stood on the threshold to my bedchamber, impatiently tapping his foot. I took the girls to a settee by the hearth and helped them with their stockings, deliberately taking longer the louder the messenger tapped. I would not be rushed. Nikkos knelt beside me, helping me with their shoes, making a game out of who could get ready the fastest to get them to comply.

You don’t want to keep your aunt waiting,he said to me through thought.

It bothered me that my mates were always so concerned about angering Malvolia. They weren’t as bad as some of her sycophants, but the fact that they cared so much about her good opinion meant they were still enamored with her. Either that or else they were absolutely terrified. I didn’t know which possibility bothered me more.

Still, I appreciated Nikkos helping me with the girls. I thanked him with a kiss and stood, taking Ember in my arms, deftly balancing her on my hip while Nikkos scooped up Aurora.

I was hoping we’d all go together, but just as we crossed into the sitting room, Drae and Blaze received a summons from Malvolia’s spymaster.

Don’t answer the summons yet,I said to Drae through thought.I don’t want anyone interrogating you without me there.

Drae actually had the nerve to laugh.It’s standard protocol after every mission, Shiri. We’re lucky Nikkos wasn’t summoned, too. Malvolia must’ve told her spymaster to leave one of us with you.

So reluctantly, we parted, Drae and Blaze jumping from the balcony and disappearing somewhere below while Nikkos and I set down the girls and followed the messenger to the nursery, nodding and smiling at servants and courtiers along the way. Nikkos and I linked arms while also holding onto the girls’ hands. To the casual observer, we looked like a normal family, our emotional and mental scars well hidden beneath the facades of our serene smiles.

What do you think she wants?I asked Nikkos through thought as we followed the manservant who’d summoned us.

Perhaps she wants to get to know her nieces better,he answered back.

I scoffed at that. My aunt didn’t strike me as the type to want to spend a girl day with me or any other woman.

We walked down a long hall with plush carpets, floral wallpaper, and decorative sconces along the walls. Every room here, even the halls, was so lavishly decorated, all part of the pomp and circumstance surrounding my aunt’s court. I wondered, though, what stories these walls could tell and what blood stains we’d find if we peeled back their layers.

Maybe she’s found a nursemaid, Nikkos suggested.

My throat tightened at the thought. It had been hard enough leaving them with Mrs. Euphemia. I didn’t think I’d have the stomach to leave them with someone of my aunt’s choosing.That’s what I’m afraid of.

He gave me a curious look.Why?

Because I don’t trust anyone else to take care of them.

He arched a brow.You trust Mrs. Euphemia.

Yes, but she’s different.

You trust my brothers and me.

I gave him a side-eyed glare.You’re my mates.

Shiri, I was raised by nursemaids. I survived,he said casually as if he could compare his experience to this one where we were in a court surrounded by either demons or enemies who wanted to avenge the supposed wrongs done by my sister.

I know, but this is different,I answered.You were safer in Abyssus.

He squeezed my arm.We will not leave them with the nursemaid unless we’re reassured of their safety.

I gave him a thankful look.You know what a trial the girls are. I don’t trust anyone else to be patient with them.That was my biggest fear, that the nursemaid would become impatient and scare the girls into hiding.

You cannot shield them forever. They will need to learn about the harshness of life, Shiri, especially as life is about to get much harsher for all of us.

I know.

The messenger brought us to a room that was easily twice the size of the nursery back at Abyssus. The girls made excited squeals when they noticed the long shelves lined with books and toys. On one end of the room was a pretty canopy bed with a satin quilt of the deepest blue. On the other was a set of balcony doors that were propped open, letting in the fresh ocean air, though I worried the children would fall off if they weren’t supervised. I would have to check the balustrade to make sure it was tall enough. Not that Aurora couldn’t teleport on top of it. My chest tightened at the thought of having to leave the girls here without my mates or me to supervise them.

Ember tugged my hand, pointing to a pretty doll with eyes and hair like hers.

“May I go play?” she whispered.

---