Page 99 of A Baron of Bonds
I gulped and nodded. Her voice was low and quiet, and I couldn’t read her tone.
“Saelyn, my Little Love, I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“Really? You’re not upset with me?” I rose and rushed to her, throwing my arms around her shoulders, breathing in her scent.
“No, I’m not upset. I know your birthday has always been…a more sorrowful day, and I am sorry for that. But seventeen isa big year, and we should celebrate together. All of us should celebrateyou.”
I looked up into my mother’s eyes as they lightened and wanted to cry. I wanted to snuggle up with her in her giant bed in the room next to mine like I did as a small child. She’d wrap her arms around me and stroke my hair at her chest under the soft blankets, and I knew I was safe and loved.
“I didn’t mean to hide it from you…I just?—”
“You didn’t know if I’d be upset by it.” She pulled me back to her chest, wrapping her arms around me. “I’m so sorry, Saelyn. I did what I could to love you, but I’m afraid it wasn’t good enough.”
I suddenly had the thought we weren’t just talking about my solemn birthdays. “What do you mean, Mama? I know how much you love me.”
“Do you?” She sniffed and wiped a hand across her face. “Do you know just how much you are loved?”
“Yes,” I replied simply.
She laughed, and I didn’t know why, but I followed just the same.
“Well,” she began, sniffing more and pulling me back to see my face, “everything will be better soon, you’ll see. This will be the biggest celebration we’ve ever had. Show me what you’ve done so far in preparation, and I’ll help you with the rest.”
I couldn’t smile wider, rushing to my desk to pull out the checklist, and then show her the paper garland I had painstakingly cut and glued together to hang through the trees with the other banners and lanterns.
As I looked up at my mirror, I saw my reflection, though my eyes looked sad and worn, full of a pain I did not currently feel. Frowning, my reflection followed the movement and a pale woman behind me mouthed my name as I heard it whispered in my room.
I turned quickly, my heart racing, expecting to see her standing there beside my mother where she just had been in the mirror.
“Saelyn? Are you alright?”
I licked my lips and grabbed the top of my dress, my heart still pounding. “Did you see her?”
My mother looked around the room, moving closer. “Who? See who?”
“That pale woman who stood beside you just now. I saw her in my mirror. She whispered my name.”
My mother stilled, her face draining of its typical rosy hue as she looked around the room again, even checking under my bed, frightening me more than she likely intended to do.
After a few moments, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Why don’t you sleep in my room tonight. Like you used to. I’m sure it was nothing, Little Love. Just a trick of the light or maybe you’re tired from running through the fields with Thevin all day.”
I nodded, eager to leave.
I gathered my nightgown and wooden lumen, taking one last look at my room as I followed her out and shut the door, wondering who that woman was and if I’d ever see her again.
Chapter 45
Rev
Karus burstthrough the Fortress doors shouting the name of everyone she’d ever met here in Felgren, and just as I would have done, just as I would always do, they came running.
Moira flew.
Only Pompeii was missing, and I was glad of it if it meant he was getting some rest.
In a burst of joy that was green, she hugged every one of them, introducing each to her brother and his former guard, quickly explaining our plan to train more channelers. She left out exactly why, but no one seemed to care as grins spread across their faces, and they all agreed how happy they were to see her safely back home.
“Oh!” she continued, “And one more thing. Baron Revich and I…we’ve gone through the bonding ceremony. We’re companions.”
