Page 54 of Ashborne Phoenix

Unaware of our link, when neither of us spoke, his mother looked around the room and tsked. “You only demonstrate your very masculine lack of awareness of a woman’s needs by bringing her here, son. I do understand your desire for privacy, and will attempt to ensure you keep it. But a lady needs clothing, and a maid—not to mention the chance to bathe. Have you even thought—?”

“No one touches Grace but me,” he seethed.

His mother looked up at him, her face shining with pride, and placed her hand on his arm. He jerked away from her touch, but she went on as if he hadn’t. “I do so love hearing your protectiveness over them both. It will strengthen the babe, just as your father’s love did for us.”

Voski’s eyes narrowed and he turned his head to gape at her. I felt the wobble in him. And the revulsion. Something about her aligning her relationship with his father, to ours, made my mate ill.

But then, he smiled.

He was so handsome when he smiled.

“Jade, leave the clothes. I’ll take care of them.”

His mother tsked again, but he took her elbow and turned her around, marching her toward the door. “Weave your web, Lady Spider. Reassure whomever you wish that she isn’t pregnant. Set Breckon up so we can win her freedom. But you do not touch her. Not for a moment.”

“But I’ll have to present her at audience again tomorrow! Breckon and Burk are both impatient to start. As soon as they hear—”

“All the more reason to keep her safely tucked away until it’s time,” he said through his teeth.

His mother rolled her eyes, but waved a hand to concede the point.

I thought Voski had won, but before they reached the door, it opened again. I squeaked and ducked out of sight of that gap in the curtains as two strapping kitchen boys strode in, carrying a large tub between them, placing it before the cold fire as Lady Ashford directed them, while Voski glared at them—and at the handful of kitchen girls who followed, each carrying a steaming bucket in each hand.

The thought of a bath was heavenly. But if all of these staff knew where we were…

“Mother, what the fuck are you thinking? You don’t want me to show myself, you don’t want them to know of Grace’s whereabouts, and you tell eight staff?”

She shot him a look, then placed a hand on the arm of one passing girl, the metal pails swinging at her sides. The girl turned, her lower jaw slack.

Lady Ashford snapped her fingers in front of the girl’s face.

She didn’t even blink.

My stomach felt sick. “None of them will even remember they drew a bath today,” Lady Ashford said starkly, sending the girl on her way again. “Only Jade knows her whereabouts. And that’s so that she might be of service if she’s needed. She’s very loyal to Grace. She won’t speak up.”

‘What has she done to them?’ I sent to Voski, clutching the blankets to my chest.

‘She’s bespelled them. They are… vacant right now. They won’t remember any of this. Probably not most of the morning, even before she came for them,’ he sent without tone. But I felt the shudder of revulsion that he stifled.

Of course this meant he had to endure her presence until the staff finished the job—only she could free them from whatever chains she’d placed on their minds. But once the final bucket was poured and the last girl ushered out, the Lady Ashford clasped her hands and smiled.

“Let the girls bathe Grace and—”

“Out,” Voski growled, looming over her and pointing for the door. “Take Jade with you. I’ll care for Grace. I’ll bring her to the binding ceremony tomorrow. Until then, you leave us entirely alone.”

Lady Ashford sighed as if he’d burdened her a great deal, but she nodded and started for the door, beckoning Jade to follow her.

And when they were finally gone, Voski locked the door with the key, then cast around the room for an upright chair to pin under the handle.

It wasn’t until he was certain that was secure that he turned to look at me through that little gap in the curtains.

‘She’ll be listening, or watching—if that’s how she found us,’ he sent. ‘Would you like a bath? We might as well take advantage since it’s been poured. Let her think we’re staying here.’

My brows rose. ‘We aren’t?’

‘Absolutely not. The moment I figure out how she discovered us, I’m removing us from here and finding us another room without the same vulnerability. Don’t worry, Grace. She is a formidable adversary, but I will win this. You’re safe in my hands.’

‘I know.’ I smiled for the first time since that knock had come.