Page 11 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“I assume we are leaving in the morning?” Lavenia raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Yes, before dawn. You, me, Dewalt, and . . . the prince.” I hesitated, not sure what to call him.

Lavenia snorted. “The prince? I don’t see you calling me princess,” she hedged. I rolled my eyes. I did not feel like unpacking this situation ever, let alone now. I didn’t know what to call Rainier and using his royal title felt safest.

“Lavenia, I appreciate the levity, but my daughter has been taken by the Folterrans.” My tone was dry, although a part of me did value Lavenia trying to distract me. I needed it so I wouldn’t fall into hysterics.

“I’m sorry. It’s just so weird seeing you, of all people, being so formal with him.” She eyed me a certain way I chose to ignore. Her gaze softened. “What’s she like?”

The question surprised me. I had no idea how badly I’d wanted to talk about her.

“She’s like Lucia. Strong like her. Remember when Lucia’s eyes would glow when she was mad? Elora’s do too. She looks just like her because of the white hair. She loves to read; fantasy is her favorite. Sarcastic—”

“Wonder where she gets that from,” Lavenia smirked, and I glared. It was strange, returning to this normalcy of friendship with her so quickly. Lavenia had been closer with Lucia, but she was still dear to me.

“Sarcastic and curious. She’s everything I could ever ask for.” I took a deep breath as Lavenia reached over and squeezed my hand.

Suddenly cold, I realized I was still soaking wet from the ride. I’d forgotten my pack with Bree and wasn’t sure if any of my clothes here would still fit. I didn’t want to go down to the stable, so I started digging through the wardrobe, a thought occurring to me as I searched.

“Lavenia?” My old friend glanced over, mouth full of grapes. “What were you laughing at downstairs? What did Dewalt say?” My eyes narrowed as I saw the look on Lavenia’s face. As if she’d been caught red-handed. She hastily shoved another grape in her mouth. I sighed. “Gods, Lavenia. What is it?”

“Dewalt was just being Dewalt.” I was surprised she was able to get the sentence out, considering she probably had about seven grapes in her mouth.

“That doesn’t sound good,” I chuckled.

“It never is with him.” Lavenia continued to evade my question, chewing more thoroughly than I thought was necessary.

“Well?”

She sighed, swallowing the remainder of what was in her mouth. “He said he wasn’t sure if you and Rainier were going to fight or fuck.”

“What?” I whipped my head back to stare at her, eyes wide.

“Well, you both just stood there staring! It looked like you were either going to rip each other’s throats out or clothes off. You can claim to hate him all you want, Emmeline. Doesn’t make it true. We all saw it.” She raised a challenging eyebrow in my direction.

I turned back to the wardrobe, heat on my face. I hadn’t seen the prince in sixteen years. And ourhistory, as he had put it, meant I couldn’t be curious how time had changed him? I found an old nightgown, a light blue paisley print, and slipped behind the dressing divider to shimmy out of my wet clothes. I pulled the old thing over my head and grunted as I struggled to pull it over my hips. It would have to do for the night.

I went back to my bed and climbed in, leaving Lavenia on her side, staring at me. I could sense she wanted to talk about…well, everything. I was not ready for that.

“We all thought you were in Nythyr all these years. You weren’t I take it? Was that you or Lord Kennon’s doing?”

I knew Father would have made excuses for my whereabouts, but I’d never known what he told everyone. “His. I didn’t have anything to do with what he told people.”

“Were you here this entire time? In Vesta?”

“Yes, near Brambleton.”

“Just you and Faxon? And Elora?”

“Yes. When she was born crying with glowing eyes, well, we all knew we had to hide. We left Ravemont soon after.”

Lavenia nodded solemnly. She seemed to understand. I truly hadn’t cared whether I stayed at the estate or left. Faxon had wanted to stay, of course, but I didn’t care. I was still a ghost then. Haunting the halls of the estate, mourning the loss of a part of me. But I knew I had to leave for Elora.

“Do you love Faxon?”

I smiled sadly. How could I love a man I was forced into a marriage with days after I buried my sister? How could I love a man I ran from? That had allowed his father to get away with what he did to me? How could I love a man who resented our life and the way we were forced to live it because of our daughter? I loved the fact he didn’t ask me about Lucia, whether it was for my benefit or his. I loved how he read to Elora when she was small. I loved his love for her. But I didn’t choose him. I hadn’t chosen anyone, save for Elora. And he’d given me her. I realized then that none of my fears about the abduction had been reserved for Faxon, and I felt a tinge of guilt.

“In a way.” Lavenia tilted her head, waiting for me to continue. “He gave me Elora when the night was darkest. I’ll always love him for it.”

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