Mine to Fear (Mine #3)(8)

“How about I make you a treat?” I say.

“You just got here. You don't need to cook anything,” Serena says as she leads us through the house.

“Hasn't it been too long since you had cinnamon cookies?”

She laughs. “You know my weakness, but if you want time to settle in first, it's fine.”

“I can settle later. Food is much more important.” Always more important than dealing with necessary chores.

She leads us to the kitchen, which is smaller than Zade's or even the house that's now her father's again, but it’s workable. I don't hesitate to get cooking, looking through cupboards and pulling things out.

“How are your mother and the girls?”

“Who's this you brought with you?” Serena asks, ignoring my question.

It must be really bad for them. Maybe I don't want to know how bad until there's something I can do about it. Still, I will try to find out when she seems more open to talking.

Tawny is graciously waiting next to a wall, looking so regal I expect any moment to have one of them shout that I've brought royalty with me because I'm a dunce. And an even bigger dunce for not giving introductions right away. Even if I'm not going to reveal exactly who her parents are, she deserves my respect both because of who she is to my country and as my friend.

“Sorry, the excitement of the moment caught up with me. This is Tawny, a very good friend of mine.”

“I'm happy to have met you, Tawny,” Serena says. “Even if the circumstances are not what I'd have them be.”

“Thank you.”

“Come sit by me while Waverly makes us something mouthwatering.” When Serena sits down at the counter to watch me, the time and strain is immediately evident by the lines of worry etched in her face. Tawny eases into the chair next to her, back rigid. I suppose even court doesn't prepare one for sitting next to your ex-fiancée’s new fiancée.

“How are the girls, really?” I ask Serena about her sisters.

Her shoulders seem to cave into the rest of her. “I've only managed to sneak in to see them once. The girls aren't handling things well. Most of them seem to be shutting down. Bethany's doing what she can for them, but I'm afraid of the strain it's causing her. Especially as she tries to take care of Mother.”

“Will the baby be born soon?”

“Within the next month or two. She seems to be taking this pregnancy harder than the others. Don't tell her I said this, but I think she's getting too old for this. I wish there was a way to rescue all of them before then. It's going to be very unpleasant when she has another girl.”

Unpleasant to say the least. Who knows how Stephen will take his wrath out on his wife and daughters? I wish I could march over there right now and slam a hex into him so hard he wouldn't wake for a year. Never mind that I lack the power to actually do so.

Serena opens her mouth but closes it again before saying, “Zade said you weren't coming. I didn't tell him about the letter you sent claiming the opposite.”

“Don't know if he'll like the fact you're keeping secrets from him.”

“You can't keep a secret from someone who isn't around to speak with.”

Lands, Zade, how are you treating your intended this time? Sometimes my brother needs a hit over the head with a frying pan to knock some sense into him. “Well, what he doesn't know will keep things going smoothly enough.”

“That will change as soon as he knows you're here and can get away from his duties,” Serena continues. “He's not going to be happy.”

“So all his letters told me.” Over and over again. “You didn't really think I'd stay away, did you?”

“No, but part of me hoped you would.”

A slice of pain cuts through me. “You don't want me here?”

“I only said a part. It's just that as much as we love your company, I fear for your safety.”

“As Zade fears for yours.”

“Yes, but there was a reason Zade sent you away. Things are changing. Things I can help with, and I need to do what I can for my sisters and Mother. But if I had left with you, or if I went now, who would take my place? Who will do what they can to protect my sisters? Who will show Chardonian women what sort of life they can have? What sort of power they can have? What sort of freedom they can have from being owned?”

“That’s exactly why we're here as well.”

“But it doesn't have to be your fight. You’re not a Chardonian.”

I stand taller. “Just by being a person in this world, it's my fight.”

Serena gives the faintest of smiles before turning to Tawny. “What do you think? Did you come for the same reason? Did she warn you how dangerous things are?”

The mention of danger makes me wonder if she knows about Cynthia's situation, but I don't want to place more worries on her if she hasn't heard Cynthia has dealt with it as needed, and the Sanos contacts have been notified. There's nothing Serena could do about it but worry more.

Tawny says, “I was warned, but I need to be here. I'm sick of leading an idle life that is useless to anyone.”

“You've found a precarious way to try, but if Waverly brought you I won't turn you away. Do you know magic?”