Page 70 of Eternal Craving

Sunaria stared down at Ricardo. From her expression, she didn’t like the boy, either.

“Can Nanny come?” Ricardo asked.

Sunaria sighed. “Nanny’s too busy writhing in ecstasy.”

I tapped Sunaria’s arm in disapproval, but smiled, aware that Ricardo would soon be back in his mother’s arms and out of mine.

By the way Ricardo clutched my hand, I could tell that Sunaria had scared him.

Hooves clopped along a gravel pathway. We hugged the wall until we reached the front of the manor.

Sunaria peeked around. “Felipe’s getting in.”

The thought of seeing Jacob again consumed my thoughts. We reached the Ocean View Manor by ten in the evening. It was a perfect sanctuary. Sunaria had memorized Miranda’s instructions on how to reach their residence.

We arranged to meet afterward, just before sunrise, as Sunaria being with me would invoke even more questions. Despite having covered Ricardo’s eyes, the events of the night, which included throwing myself out the window with him in my arms, would have to be explained away if he brought it up.

We passed through an avenue of tall cedars that led to the front of the house. Sunaria rose on her toes and planted a kiss on my cheek. She knew what lay ahead for me and, through her gesture, assured her support.

Ricardo remained uncharacteristically quiet, not surprising considering the last two hours we’d spent flying through the air at great speed. I’d held him against me tightly, his face tuckedinto my jacket to protect him from the wind chill, and the remarkable view.

Lingering at the door of the home, I took a moment to gather my racing thoughts.

The moderately sized house possessed a simple charm. Although one was not able to see the ocean from the house, the fresh air and occasional seagull that flew overhead revealed we were close. Inland, the property would be safe from the weather, yet close enough to access the beach if one desired the trek down the winding pathway.

I couldn’t fathom why it had been called The Ocean View Manor if it lacked one. A title to impress those who’d never see it, perhaps.

Ricardo tugged on my trouser leg.

When Alicia opened the door, my heart soared. I willed myself not to burst out with details of all that had happened. Sunaria had known I’d face this very challenge. Alicia’s suffering had been great, and my woes could not be added to them.

Ricardo ran into her arms. Just behind Alicia stood Miranda holding Jacob. His face lit up when he saw me. I entered, wary of revealing anything by my movement, and took Jacob from Miranda, nuzzling into his hair, and smelling his familiar baby scent.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, watching Alicia’s reaction.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her lips trembling. “I heard what they did to him.”

“Salvador was brave until his last…” I couldn’t bear to say it.

I wrapped my free arm around her shoulders as we walked into the drawing room.

Oak logs crackled in the hearth. The aromas of cooking, the perfume of soapy lavender imbued from Miranda’s bedroom and rose petals from Alicia’s, the faint scent of dying lilies, all flooded my senses, mercilessly reminding me that I was nowdifferent. They’d been playing cards, and although I didn’t see the deck on the table in the living room, I heard one of the cards being tossed up, caught by a breeze from an open window, and then flipping over onto the floor.

I closed my mind to Alicia’s and Miranda’s internal dialogue, respecting their privacy, but also not wanting to know what they really thought about me, that they might blame any of this on me.

My own demons raged within my soul. I wasn’t ready to defend the things I had or hadn’t done.

Strangely, I already missed Sunaria, her strength, her domineering presence.

Alicia gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. “It’s over now.”

She looked too relieved for me to tell her that it wasn’t.

I looked around at my surroundings. This aristocratic retreat was not meant for permanent living but merely a summer retreat. Here in the great house, they had no servants, the ultimate sacrifice for living in secret. They’d exchanged safety for luxury.

Two large couches with overstuffed pillows were placed opposite each other. I leaned back onto one of them, and despite the lumpiness, I was grateful for the rest and comforted by the ordinary setting. Jacob was dozing off in my arms.

Alicia leaned towards me. “Annabelle?” she asked.