To me, the difference is clear and profound: Ava loves me and could never really hurt me, and my stepmother would love nothing more than to see me dead.
So yes, I do feel the need to supervise her recovery process a little longer, despite her manipulative attempts for freedom. The whole ordeal has been exhausting, not to mention an emotional lapse into the insecurity I felt growing up with Kathryn as my stepmother. It also feels like a distraction from what I should be focusing on: who was behind her kidnapping? And who is still out there waiting for the right moment to kill me?
There are probably too many enemies to count, but one was brave enough to kidnap my mother and my sister…neither in Farrow at the time, although that does little to ease my concerns over security since both Ava and our mother snuck back into the house without detection.
I’m walking along the path to the door, bracing myself for whatever mood Kathryn will be in, when my phone rings.
It’s a number I don’t recognize and I’m tempted to ignore it, but with my sister having been kidnapped before, I’m on the paranoid side and rarely avoid calls. Not many get past my team anyway, so if my phone rings, it’s usually important.
There’s always a small amount of fear that Ava will be taken again and that would put me in the ground. If anything happened to either of my sisters, I may as well take my sword to my gut and be done with it.
Enough morbidity, answer the damn phone.
“Jadon Safrin speaking.”
“As in King Jadon?” An amused raspy feminine voice that sounds like feathers mixed with claws catches me by surprise.
“Who’s asking?”
“This is Delilah Farthing.”
“Delilah,” my voice lilts at the end, “I was beginning to think you were merely a signature at the end of your family’s endless emails getting out of meetings.”
“Touché. I assure you, I’m more than a signature.”
She sounds playful and I have to say, it surprises me. Her family has been an endless headache to my peace of mind.
“To what do I owe this surprise?”
“I think it’s time we meet…somewhere neutral. Perhaps Ivalis or Grawlan?”
“What makes this time different? Forgive my bluntness, but I don’t have time for another no-show.” Every nerve in my body is on alert as I wait to hear her response. What are the Farthings up to now?
“My father is in remission, so I am freer than I’ve been in some time. However, I’d like to keep our meeting between us, if that’s okay with you. Tensions are still…shall we say, to the ceiling? I don’t know about you, but I love my kingdom and want to keep it in one piece. Something tells me you feel the same about yours.”
“Is this a trick, Delilah? Because it seems to me, nothing would explode negotiations between our kingdoms more than your father finding out about us meeting behind his back.”
“I’ll put it this way: you don’t want my father or my cousin, Caulder, knowing about our meeting. What I have to say is between you and me. Can you be discreet?”
I squeeze my forehead with my thumb and forefinger and look up at the blue sky. This could be a death trap I’m walking into, but it’s a risk I’ll have to take.
“Full of intrigue, Princess Delilah. Yes, I can be discreet. Question is, can you?”
“Ivalis, the day after tomorrow, noon, at the Cave of Stars. I’ll be alone. Don’t make me regret this…oh, and King?”
“Yes?”
“Watch your back.”
Shit. What kind of game is this?
“Always do,” I respond, my tone chilly. “I’ll see you in Ivalis.”
I walk into my stepmother’s room already in a suspicious mood after that troubling conversation with Delilah. I’m distracted but on guard and when she glares at me as I enter, I try to tamp down the resentment that has steadily grown toward Kathryn. I’ve tried to be kind to her, tried to understand why she hated me when I became old enough to know how my father’s infidelity must have hurt what seemed to be a flawless relationship…I’ve even tried to not care. But it all comes down to the simple fact that I have longed for a mother since the day my own died, and Kathryn will never want to fill that role.
Today when her upper lip sneers as I sit down across from her, starting our chess game where we last left off, I brace my heart for the rejection. You’d think I’d be a stone-cold wall of defense by now, but that doesn’t seem to be my way.
“Hello, Kathryn. You’re looking especially lovely today.”
“I look dreadful and you know it. Now is not the time for false praise.”
“I assure you, when it comes to your beauty, there is no such thing as false praise. Your attitude, however, is another thing altogether.” I attempt a light tone, but when I make a move she doesn’t like on the chessboard, she growls and I groan. It’s hard work, being around her. Most days I wonder why I try.
“Let me out of here and I will be sweet as pie,” she says, her lips curling into more of a grin than a sneer. It still rings fake.
“Still feel like killing me?” I cross my arms as I wait for her move. One of the guards in the room clears his throat and sounds like he’s trying to cover a laugh. I shoot him a look. “Glad I can be your comic relief,” I say dryly.
He bows his head, pinching his lips together. “The days are long, King Jadon.” His voice is apologetic, but I hear his desperation.
Her doctors think the effects of the hallucinogens are clearing up, but the hypnosis she went through is another matter. Her hatred of me makes it harder to determine. My guards are ready for more exciting work spent somewhere other than these four walls watching the Queen Mother every day, but I don’t know what to tell them.
I stand abruptly, shoving the chair back and then righting it when it almost falls backward. “I’ll be seeing you, Kathryn.”
“Jadon?” She stands too and one of the guards moves closer to her, so she can’t make a move toward me without running into him.
“Yes?”
“Let me out of here and I will feel less like killing you.”
I smile and her eyes flash. “As always, it’s been an experience. Good day, everyone.”
I step out of the cottage and it’s like a thousand pounds immediately lift.
Duty #4,528 of a king’s day completed.
I’m almost to the door of the castle, my guards a nice distance away. They knew by my mood when I left Kathryn to let me have extra space. A pitiful whine stops me in my tracks and I turn around, looking everywhere for the source. I don’t see anything right away but move toward the sound. Under a tree sits a beautiful white dog, its large paw caught in a trap.
I get closer and she whimpers. “What have you gotten yourself into?” I ask, bending down. I carefully work on the trap, taking care to not hurt her in the process. When it finally releases, she licks my hand and face. “Oh my. Okay, that’s enough. You’re welcome.” I laugh. Her paw is a bloody mess and I slowly pick her up. “You’re quite heavy,” I groan and it looks like she’s smiling when she licks my face again.
I step out of the clearing and walk toward the house.