by Cait Ashwood
She smiled back but didn’t look reassured.
Yeah, she always knows when I’m full of shit. May as well get this over with. “I’m going to go find my—Hallie. Think you can handle Lily?”
Audrey glanced around the room skeptically. Her thoughts, as always, were plain on her face. She was afraid of the twins making a mess in someone else’s room. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Ace snorted. “Everything can be washed, Auds.”
She raised an eyebrow at him, but shrugged, taking off her pack and pulling out a blanket to lay on the floor. She carefully extricated Rowan from the sling and set him down. He started fussing almost immediately, but Ace had the remedy on-hand as he laid Lily down next to him. The twins wailed any time they were separated either from each other or their parents. It had been sweet at first but was now just another thing to juggle when handling them.
Audrey stood, staring at them as they grabbed at each other and made their little coos, sounding for all the world like they already had their own language. She had her arms wrapped around her chest, but she also had that determined stiffness to her jaw he was coming to know was nearly deadly. She might not be thrilled, but she was going to be just fine.
“I’m going to lock you in. Don’t open that door for anyone but me.”
She snorted. “As if.”
He shook his head, letting himself out and locking the door with a skeleton key he hadn’t quite been able to part with.
Out in the hall, the smells of home truly hit him. Baking bread, the lemon-scented cleaners his mother insisted be used, the musty smell of old tapestries. He took a deep breath, trying not to let the resentment build before he even met with his mother. He was asking for a favor, and he had to do his best to remember that. The biggest question was, where was she?
He screwed up his face as he tried to remember her ridiculously complicated schedule. She had different tasks to be performed each day at precisely the correct times. Hell, Ace didn’t even know what today was. Screw it; he was going to have to ask around. Either that or just let people see him. Word would get to Hallie quick enough; it always had.
He turned down the hall, heading towards the staircase. He started down, amazed when he hit the landing at the bottom that he still remembered where the one stair was weak. Guess you never forget home, huh? He’d have to remember to warn Audrey about that step, though. His bedroom was in the east wing of the estate, but ‘estate’ was a bit of a grand term. His mother had truly created this place from the ground up. Being on a plateau as it was, the soil stayed cleaner here, as the rain run-off kept things fresh. It hadn’t taken long for her to attract enough people to warrant a Chosen be stationed here permanently, and then the place had taken off. Her philosophy was that no one who worked would go hungry, or want for a safe place to sleep. While she’d built a huge estate, much of it was occupied by everyday people who either worked in the estate or the surrounding city. She was a harsh mistress and a taskmaster, but she was fair. Everyone ate, and no one wanted for basic supplies. It was a bit of a miracle, honestly. Hallie’s Manse was the only town that didn’t have any impoverished people. If you didn’t work, you didn’t get to stay here.
His feet carried him through the side passages and into the main hall where he paused, glancing around. It was clean as always, but something was different. He narrowed his eyes, looking about and comparing everything to his memory of the place.
“I had the drapes dyed.”
The voice behind him was one he’d know anywhere: his mother. He turned, forcing his face into a neutral expression. “Hallie.” She’d hardly changed at all. She might have a bit more gray in her auburn hair, a few more wrinkles around her eyes, but otherwise, she was just as he remembered her.
She smiled at him, extending a hand towards her. “My son.”
He crossed the distance between them, taking her hand and brushing his lips against it as quickly as he dared. He cleared his throat awkwardly as he took a step back, already unnerved.
She studied him for a moment as only a mother can, in that way that makes you brutally aware of every bad thing you’ve done for the last decade or so. Finally, she seemed satisfied. “I always said you’d come back.”
He grimaced; he couldn’t help it. He didn’t want anything to do with the life she’d planned for him. It was the reason he’d left in the first place. “I, uh. Well. I need a favor.”
“Oh? Well, come in the sitting room and tell me all about it.”
He wanted to wipe that smug grin from her face. “I thought we could chat in my old room.” He was going to need Audrey for this, he just knew it. He was already off-balance, and if he and Audrey had gotten good at anything, it was backing each other up.
“Oh? I’ve let Falda use those rooms in your absence.” She smiled warmly. “I thought it fitting, as she’s your fiancé.”
If he’d been drinking anything, he would have choked. The poor girl. But what if she went back to the room while Audrey was there? He shot a glare at his mother and headed back towards the east wing. He could phase, but his mother frowned on that in the house. Or perhaps ‘frowned’ was too mild a term.
Her footsteps behind him were both a relief and felt like a death sentence, simultaneously. She was following him, which was good. She didn’t even nag him the entire way, which was unheard of. The closer they got to his rooms, the more suspicious he got. She was never quiet for this long, or this acquiescent to his wishes. He paused in front of the doors to his chambers, turning his back to them and giving her an appraising look.
She smiled at him softly, her eyes identical to his own as they assessed each other. “What are you hiding in there, hmm?”
Ace clenched his jaw but didn’t rise to the bait. “We’ll talk inside.” He kept his words short and turned on his heel, leaving it up to her whether she’d follow or not.
Audrey looked up, sitting cross-legged on the blanket with the twins. He gave her his best ‘help me’ face, and she rose in one fluid motion, smoothing down her tunic just as Hallie came into the room. She instinctively stepped between the children and the woman she’d heard nothing but negative things about, but her training as a member of the Chosen was helping. She seemed perfectly pleased. And thank Jaiden for that.
Ace turned, looking at his mother. “Hallie, I’d like you to meet Audrey.”
Hallie took a few steps more into the room, trying to see past them. “And she is…who to you, precisely?”
How the hell did he answer that one?
“The mother of his children,” Audrey answered smoothly, her tone holding a hint of a challenge. Ace shook his head, smiling to himself. She’d changed after her capture, toughened up. She didn’t shut down anymore; she rose to whatever threatened her. It was a beautiful change brought out of tragedy, and he was proud as hell of her.
Hallie arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
Audrey smiled graciously, stepping to the side and revealing the twins. Rowan had her blond hair, but Lily kept her daddy’s auburn locks.
Hallie stalked in closer, gazing at the children impassively. “Twins.”
Ace swallowed. This wasn’t going nearly as well as he’d hoped. “Lily is the girl; Rowan is the boy.”
Hallie narrowed her eyes, looking between him and Audrey. “You are wed, I presume?”
Oh, here we go.
But there Audrey went with that kill-them-with-kindness smile again. “It’s not traditional for Seekers to wed the Order, though it has happened on occasion.”
Ace had to consciously clamp his mouth shut. He hadn’t been planning on telling his mother what she was. There were still so many people hunting for her, and yet she just threw that information out there. He hesitantly turned his gaze to Hallie.
She looked stumped, and that was a first for her. “You expect me to believe you’re a member of the Order, which has been gone for what, over sixty years now?”
Audrey ducked her head. “I expect nothing. If you agr
ee to shelter us, you’ll see the truth on your own eventually. If not, then my children will never know the rest of their family.” Audrey shrugged, though she did manage to look sufficiently glum at the latter prospect.
Hallie crossed her arms over her chest, one hip jutted out to the side. “You’re either extraordinarily blunt or an amazing actress.”
Audrey glanced behind her at the twins, her expression shifting. “I need to find a way to keep them safe.” She turned back to Hallie. “You’d go searching for the information until you found out everything anyway, so I see no need to withhold it.”
“May I?” Hallie gestured towards the twins.
Audrey’s eyes flicked to Ace, and he nodded. He saw her swallow, but she nodded. “Of course.” Audrey returned to her previous position, sitting with them as they rolled around on their backs. They preferred to stay in physical contact with each other most of the time, but were happy to stare and coo at the new person with the hair like daddy. Rowan reached out to her, and Hallie let him grab her finger.
“You’ve mentioned keeping them safe several times now. What exactly is the threat?” Hallie’s eyes remained on the twins, but her attention was clearly on the adults.
Ace saw Audrey glance at him and knew he had to take this one.
“That’s where it gets complicated and a bit hard to follow. What I can tell you is that our enemies got to Hound, and they, uh,” he paused, gritting his teeth. “They did manage to capture Audrey and—” the word ‘torture’ just wouldn’t pass through his lips.
Audrey had his back, though. “And the Seekers managed to get me out mainly through luck. The enemy then mounted an attack on the Institute, decimating our numbers. The threat is real, and we have teams attempting to get more information on them as we speak.”
Hallie stared at him long and hard, her expression unreadable. “And you think she’ll be safe here.”
Ace shrugged, exhaling with more force than necessary. “I’m not sure where she’s safe. We’ve been bouncing from safe house to safe house, just trying to keep ahead of them.”
Hallie frowned, her gaze finally showing a hint of sympathy. “That’s no way to raise children.”
Audrey snorted. “Not too fun while pregnant and unable to phase, either.”
The skin around Hallie’s eyes crinkled, but her lips didn’t pull into a smile. “I imagine not.” Hallie sighed, staring at the room around her.
“I imagine you’ll want Falda removed from these rooms?” She had the air of a long-suffering woman being asked to do something nearly impossible.
“I think that’s best, yes.” Ace ignored the questioning glance from Audrey.
“You’re letting us stay?”
Ace could have kicked her. Hasn’t she heard not to look a gift horse in the mouth?
Hallie chuckled. She chuckled. “My dear girl, the attack on the Institute would have weakened this mystery enemy of yours as well. If they come for you again, it’ll be in the night. I hardly stand to lose much from that.”
Audrey frowned, her lips thinning, but she said nothing.
Hallie ignored her, continuing her train of thought. “That being said, you should assume a different name while you are here.”
That only made sense. It was going to be impossible to keep her or the twins entirely hidden from the staff and folks here in the Manse, but Ace hoped he could at least keep her exposure limited to the more trustworthy folks versus the public as a whole.
“Do you have a suggestion?” Audrey was biting her lower lip again. Nervous.
Ace honestly couldn’t think of a single name to suggest.
“Nedia would be appropriate, I believe.” Hallie got her finger out of Rowan’s iron grip and stood, heading towards the door. “I’ll send someone along to collect her things.”
And then she was gone.
Ace collapsed on the bed, spread-eagled and staring at the ceiling. Audrey’s sigh of relief was audible, but she remained on the floor with the twins.
“You handled her perfectly.” He was still in awe, in all honesty. He would never have thought to take that path with her, but not only had it worked, they now didn’t have to lie about anything, at least to Hallie. That was going to make their stay here so much more comfortable.
Audrey shrugged, blushing. “I don’t know. I just figured she’d appreciate not being lied to. Seems the sort to carry one hell of a grudge.”
Ace snorted. “You have no idea.”
Audrey gave him a sly grin. “Oh, I might have a hint here or there.”
Ace propped himself up slightly, raising an eyebrow at her. “What are you saying?”
Audrey grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Like mother, like son.”
This was his payback, damn it. She’d gotten him good.
5
The first week went well enough. Falda’s things were removed the day they arrived, and Ace thanked his questionable luck that he hadn’t run into her yet. Cribs were brought up for the twins, and Audrey had her proper nursery, along with people to help with the laundry. She was finally able to spend more time with the little tykes, and her face practically glowed with happiness. She was also eating better than she had been, and was starting to put some weight back on.
Hallie had given him all of one day to get his family settled before regaling him with lists of endless tasks that needed doing. She seemed convinced that his return was permanent, and hell, for all he knew maybe it was. Running this place had never been on his list of things he wanted to do, but it seemed he didn’t have a choice anymore.
He was finishing up breakfast in the main hall when his mother strode in, as regal as ever. She truly was the queen of all she saw, and everyone in the Manse knew it. Another woman trailed behind Hallie; her shoulders slumped with her gaze on her feet as she walked. She was a thin little wisp of a woman, but her light blond hair was oddly familiar.
Uh oh. The pair were heading straight for him. As pale green eyes the shade of jade finally lifted from the ground to peek at him, he realized just who she was. He hadn’t seen her since she was probably ten, as she was two years his junior and he hadn’t been home since his recruitment into the Seekers. But those eyes were unique, and the woman shyly staring at him could be none other than Falda.
“Good morning, my son.” Hallie beamed at him, proud as a mother hen. “I trust you remember Falda?”
Ace swallowed, his porridge suddenly taking on a much more solid consistency in his throat, giving him a lump to swallow around. He rubbed his hands on his pants, looking up at her. “Uh, yeah. It’s…been a long time, Falda.”
The waif curtsied, dipping her head. “I’m pleased that you remember me, and apologize for my premature relocation to your chambers. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
I somehow doubt that was your idea. Still, Ace dipped his head, forcing himself to smile. “It was a minor inconvenience only, Falda, and no fault of yours.” He flicked his eyes to Hallie, frowning. What was she playing at, here?
Hallie smiled genuinely, her fond gaze on Falda. “I realized that I’d overlooked something in your relocation here, son. As you are not otherwise wed, I assume that you still have every intention of honoring your engagement to Falda. Her family has been counting on this union for many years.”
I should have seen this coming. He scooted back his chair, letting it scrape loudly across the floor. Naturally, Hallie had chosen a public venue for this conversation. Several heads were turned their way, waiting for his reply. “With no offense intended to you, Falda, I must decline. I have two very young children to raise, and responsibilities outside these walls that would interfere with any plans for marriage at this point.”
“Ace, come now. I must insist—”
“No, Mother.” He was pissed, and he was close to losing control. He never had a shorter fuse than he did around her. He gritted his teeth, speaking through a locked jaw. “I have duties. Elsewhere.” He dipped his head at Falda and excused himself from the hall. It
wasn’t the poor girl’s fault. She had no backbone to speak of and was as much his mother’s pawn as Hallie was trying to make him.
“Ace, please, wait. I won’t be any trouble to you, I promise.”
Ace paused, the muscles in his neck tight with strain. He turned, glaring at his mother. He couldn’t even tell her, or the rest of their audience, why he had to decline. A fib it is. “I’m next in line for Commander of the Seekers. A hall full of men is hardly any place to have a wife. Or children, for that matter, which is why I am here.”
Hallie narrowed her eyes.
Falda’s widened; she looked horribly impressed. “Commander of the Seekers? That’s…a prestigious position, to be sure.”
Ace snorted, staring around at the hall. “And one that requires all my time and attention, as I’m sure you will understand.” He switched his gaze to his mother, letting his hatred of her seep onto his face. He felt it twisting his features, but he let it come. “As you’ve been grooming Falda for this position here her entire life, I hardly see it fair to dismiss her on my account. You’ll have to find another man to take my place.”
“I most certainly will not! My flesh and blood will be leading the Manse into the future, and no other.” Hallie stood with her hands on her hips.
Ace clenched his hands into fists, not even sure what to say. Then, like a miracle clad all in white, Audrey appeared. She’d opted for a change of wardrobe after their arrival, now choosing to wear white, flowing gowns of a simplistic design. She had the twins in an extra-wide carrier on her back, now that they were old enough to keep their heads up on their own.
Silence fell over the hall as she strode gracefully into the room. She hadn’t made her appearance public in the week they’d been here, but for whatever reason, she had impeccable timing. She walked straight to him, leaning in and kissing him on the cheek before turning to Falda, a gracious smile on her face, though her eyes held a hint of pity.
“Falda, firstly I apologize for evicting you from rooms you rightly believed would be yours one day.” She dipped into a barely-there curtsy, her mobility limited by the carrier holding the twins. When Audrey rose, she swept the room with her gaze, though what she was looking for, Ace had no idea.