Page 53 of Ashborne Phoenix

“Leave the things, then leave the room,” he snapped. “The only one watching over Grace now is me.”

“Oh, dear. I know you mean well. But you men just weren’t wired for nurturing.” I felt the flinch in him and sent him a rush of love. But the awful woman didn’t stop. “Besides, she can’t even leave the room with you. They still don’t know you’re here—well done on that, son—but that is in our favor. They’ll only see you as a rival if they become aware of you. Much better if everyone believes she’s with me.”

“I’m a big boy now, Mother. I’ll handle it.”

“I’m certain you will.” She patted his chest, and he twitched, but he didn’t move out of her way. I could only see her eyes past his shoulder, her arm past his, but her tone was that relentlessly cheerful titter she used most of the time. It raised the hair on the back of my neck.

“We’ll leave the things, of course,” she said. “But you and I need to discuss—”

“How the fuck did you find us?” he growled.

His mother folded her hands at her waist, and her tone took on that eerie, almost imperceptible warning. “I told you: You aren’t the only one who’s grown stronger since you’ve been gone, Vane.”

He didn’t move or respond—he’d told me that she was always poking, prodding, looking for weakness. And the best way to keep her wary was simply not to respond.

So there was a long moment where no one spoke, though Jade’s eyes widened from where she stood, off to the left, obviously frightened of the expression on Voski’s face.

“I promise we’ll leave you to your privacy soon, but we have to discuss the plan. Our decoy is now in place, but that means Grace can’t move around the castle unless you and I speak first. We can hardly have her appearing at the dining table in the same moment she’s taking a turn around the garden, ha ha.”

“Mother—”

“I’ve spoken with my agent in the laundry and I will make certain everyone hears the gossip tomorrow when she bleeds. Then we’ll—”

“I told you, we aren’t following your plan, Mother,” Voski said coldly. “Since you keep changing it, I’m certain it won’t vex you to leave this in my hands.”

“I’m not changing anything—”

“You were supposed to let her harm Breckon—remember? Let him take a stab at giving the vow so the power rebounded on him—”

“Do you really believe that I move at any moment without the next ten steps already determined—and another ten for every possible diversion?” Her tone wasn’t angry, but that edge of warning was there again.

“Frankly, I don’t care.”

“Of course you do, otherwise you wouldn’t have snuck her away. But in any case, do you see me here, working around you, Vane? Trying to give you what you want, while also attempting to solve the problem that you created? That is a mother’s love. Grace will learn soon enough. It appears that your assurances of her pregnancy were correct. I doubted you, I don’t mind admitting that—”

“Get. The fuck. Out!”

“Absolutely not.” Her tone finally went cold. As chilling as his. “I will not allow your hotheaded whimsy to upend the very deft trail I have laid when it is for your benefit! By tomorrow the entire castle will know she isn’t pregnant. I will, of course, inform the king the moment I hear so from the maids. And then, when she’s taken to Breckon once more—the smug cunt will hardly be able to contain his excitement at learning he hasn’t been cuckolded—he’ll rush into it without caution. Meaning the power will rebound harder. He will be hurt without our having to test the baby.”

Voski took a beat to respond. “It’s what I aim for… but why do you?” he muttered.

She leaned back enough for me to catch sight of her dramatically widened eyes, as if he’d offended her. “Every step I’ve taken has been for your aims, Vane!”

“Spare me the pretend offense. I’m no longer fifteen and trusting of your motives, Mother. So speak plainly, or leave. Don’t make me force you out.”

She huffed, but dropped her head so I couldn’t see her expression any longer, though I heard her exhale impatiently. “We both know the testing on a pregnancy can be rigorous. Especially to determine parentage. Knowing the baby is yours, I am, of course, eager not to risk the child’s life for the sake of another man’s ego. I wish to help you save the babe and thus step into your crown over the Cruors. I only want to ensure all the pieces are positioned for our most secure exit.”

His fist tightened and I felt the bolt of anger in him.

“I don’t want a crown!” I said, quietly, but earnestly. Voski turned, and his mother stepped to his side. Even Jade looked toward me. I swallowed. “I… I only want to see Vane acknowledged for what he truly is.”

“Isn’t she adorable?” his mother sighed.

Voski snapped his head to glare at her, but her expression became firm.

“Whatever exists between you both now, whatever has passed, nothing will come to fruition by placing yourself at risk. The most important thing is to keep the baby safe. And that means keeping you, Lady Grace, out of the hands of anyone but Vane or myself.”

I felt Voski’s visceral recoil when she included herself in that statement, and I reached for him in the bond—a caution to be careful with his tongue, but also a rush of reassurance. I was here. I was safe. She only needled him.