AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t understand! My duty to the Court and Crown—”
“You chose the Court and Crown over your family. I hope that Tanaquar keeps you warm in the winter, that she doesn’t toss you out if you lose your usefulness to her. Because you’ve made it clear you no longer need us.”
“Camille—” My father’s voice cracked. He looked both angry and yet heartbroken.
Picking up my aunt’s letter, I headed for the foyer. “Thank you for this . . . but I’ve got a lot to do before my initiation into Aeval’s Court. I’ve got a dragon I’m thirsting for vengeance against. And I’m a priestess of the Moon Mother . . . and my Lady comes before anyone and anything. She was there for me. You weren’t. Tanaquar wasn’t. Go home, Sephreh. Unless you want to be my father again, on my terms, go home.”
As I left the room, I could hear him whisper behind me. “Camille, my little girl . . .” But he didn’t try to stop me.
I passed Delilah in the hall. “He’s in there. If you have anything to say to him, do so. I’m going to grab a few clothes before we head back out to the barrow. I’m done with him.”
She took one look at my expression and her face fell. “I gotcha. Oh, say, I need my litter box out there.”
“Oh delightful. Just make sure you keep it clean or Smoky’s going to have a fit.” I grinned at her then, grateful for the chance to laugh at something.
What Delilah said to our father, I didn’t know—I didn’t want to know, actually. Instead, I sat on my bed and opened the letter from Aunt Rythwar.
Dear Camille:
Your father finally told me what happened between the two of you—or at least, his version. I can readily believe yours differs. I want you to listen to me, and listen good: When your father brought your mother back from Earthside, it took most of the family years to accept the alliance. But I saw in Maria a beauty, and a kindness that so many of our own people do not have. And for that alone, I loved her.
You and your sisters grew up strong. You had to, in order to withstand the slings and arrows headed your way. And you’ve become admirable women, strong and doing always what you feel is right. Despite your father’s interference. I love your father, he is my brother, but sometimes I want to shake him one. He’s a fool, too beholden to the duty he feels he owes the Crown. It makes him look past the wrongs committed in the name of the Court and Crown, and only the strongest of sins can make him move out of his rut.
I know he has disowned you. This was not easy on him, but he’s a fool for believing that Tanaquar will be any better than Lethesanar was.
What I’m trying to tell you is this: You have me. You can always come to me if you need help, or a place to stay, or a home. You, Delilah, even Menolly—I do not fear her vampyr nature. You are my nieces and I love you all. I miss you and send you my love. Please give Shamas a hug from me, too. I’m the only mother he has now.
Aunt Rythwar
I folded the page and slipped it into my purse, then went about throwing a few more pieces of clothing in a bag. At the last moment, I stopped, opening my jewelry box. There lay all three of my wedding rings. I usually didn’t wear them for fear of losing them, but right now, the only thing I could think of was how much I wanted them on my fingers. I slid them on—two on the left hand, the third on the right.
“Are you ready?” Delilah popped her head in. I nodded, threw my backpack over my shoulder, and followed her down the stairs, wondering if Father was gone but unwilling to ask.
“He left,” she said quietly, reading my thoughts. Or most likely, she just knew me well enough. A glance out the window showed that dusk was almost here. Though I longed for the safety of Smoky’s barrow, I motioned her into the kitchen and put my bag on the table.
“Let’s have a bite to eat before we head back out. We’ll wait for Menolly. Having her with us will make me feel safer, too.”
Iris rushed over to me, threw her arms around me, and hugged me tight. “I’m so grateful you’re safe. I’m so glad you came back to us.”
As we eased into chairs at the table, she put a tray of sandwiches in front of us. “Eat up. I’ll heat up some soup, too—it won’t take but a moment.”
Hungry, and sore as hell—today had taxed my bruises—I bit into a roast beef sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. The bustier was rubbing against my back, and I glanced over my shoulder. “While we’re waiting, can you put something on my back to help me stop hurting? Sharah did earlier, but it’s worn off.”
As I undid the hooks and eyes on the front of the bustier, Delilah moved around behind me to help take it off. I winced as it peeled away from the wounds crossing my back. It helped with my ribs, but the lashes were a pain in the ass to deal with. Delilah let out a choked sound as Iris came back with a bottle of salve, and then I turned to find both of them in tears.
Just then, the secret door behind the bookshelf opened—our biggest running joke now in the household, since most everybody had figured out where the door to Menolly’s lair was—and there stood Menolly. She started to say something, then fell silent. Striding over, she shoved Delilah out of the way and made me stand.
“What he did to you . . .” Her voice was soft, but I’d long learned that a soft-spoken Menolly was a dangerous Menolly. After a moment I sat back down and she knelt beside me, taking my hand. “Did he . . . or do I have to ask?”
“Yes, he did.” I gazed down at her. “You were my strength. You were my inspiration. I remembered what Dredge did to you and kept thinking, If she could resist that . . . I can resist this. If Menolly could withstand the torture she underwent, I can handle a beating or a kicking. Or being raped.”
Menolly let out a snarl as she traced the lashes on my back and the bruises on my ribs. “He’ll die. Hyto will die. None of us will rest until he’s taken down. You helped me with payback to Dredge. I will be at your side until Hyto goes down.”
Delilah knelt at my other side. “That goes for me. Nothing can withstand our bond. Nothing is stronger than our connection.”
Iris watched us closely, then motioned for them to move. “Let me tend to her wounds. Sharah’s good, but I’ve had far more experience.” As she slowly slathered the bruises with the salve, the pain began to subside again. “The collar . . .”
“Won’t come off till he’s dead,” I said flatly. “Now I understand how Vanzir felt—to an extent. His was voluntarily yoked. Mine wasn’t. But the result is the same. Hyto can find me, Hyto can trace me, Hyto lays claim to me until we get this fucking thing off.”
