“Can’t you give them the same needle?” she questioned with wide eyes. “Can’t you make more?” She asked.
Joshua came towards the bed, sitting down with me. “Adelaide, sweetie.” He pulled her into his arms for a hug. “We’re only keeping your abilities a secret because we love you.”
Adelaide glanced from Joshua to me. “Do I always have to keep it a secret? Can’t I tell anyone?”
I couldn’t imagine a room safe enough to practice in secret, but it would do Adelaide good to train appropriately. It might not even be such a bad idea for Henry to fully understand his abilities. Someone like us in such a powerful role worried me. If the power were to be abused, all hell would break loose. I had to trust we’d done the right thing in saving Henry, that he wouldn’t betray us.
“No,” Joshua whispered, leaning in kissing her forehead, “I know you want to and you’re going to make friends, but you can’t share what you can do with any of them. You can talk about it with Olivia and me, though. Or anyone from Shadow.” He smiled. “I know right now you’re not happy with us, but you will understand when you get a little older.”
Adelaide made a face and I glanced at Joshua. “I bet breakfast is almost ready. How about we go downstairs and have something to eat?” I suggested. I stood up waiting for Adelaide to follow. “Do you want some time alone?” I asked her. She shook her head no, grabbed my hand and walked with me to the door. Joshua followed behind us as we headed down the hall and back towards the dining room. I was glad we had that all settled.
CHAPTER 11
Finishing breakfast, Henry pulled me aside after the table was cleared. “I wanted a moment, if you don’t mind.” Joshua took Adelaide outside into the city square for a walk together.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. Was it the fact I’d told him he was special from the Mindonsiphan? It had been a lot for me to deal with, but I’d had Joshua at the time, someone to confide in who had been my lifelong best friend.
“Gavin and I spoke earlier this morning and he’d like to return to Torv soon. It sounds like Elsa and Aidan will be joining them.” I listened to Henry, unsure where he was going with it. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to return home, too.”
“Torv wasn’t my home.” He hadn’t known the full extent of what had transpired over the last several months. I let out a heavy breath. “Are you going with them?” He’d want a seat at the table. Henry ruled Spade: there was no way he’d ignore the chance to be a part of the new system.
“I’ll be sending some of my most trusted advisors,” Henry answered. “But I think it would be best to stay here. At least for the time being.” He studied me as we walked down the corridor and I glanced at him, curious what it was he was thinking. “Do you trust them?”
“Torv?” I asked. “Or the new government?” I wasn’t sure which he was referring to.
Henry frowned thinking the question over. “Both?” He’d been kept in the dark during the uprising and revolution. Now he was walking in and didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t blame him if he was nervous.
“Our city, Shadow, had some doubts about Torv, but the government of Cabal has fallen and a new government by the people is being formed. It’d be nice if Spade got a say in its system. Joshua or myself could accompany one of your advisors. We were a part of the council for a short time,” I offered.
Henry stopped walking and paused to stare at me. “Why aren’t you anymore?”
“By choice.” I explained, “And by consequence. Joshua and I led the uprising. We took out the governors of each city and destroyed their science and medical centers for reproduction. We led the people in a revolt and finally led them towards peace. We couldn’t stay in Genesis. I’d used my abilities to protect Joshua and people heard things, rumors,” I admitted. “Shadow was the only place to call home, but I didn’t want to be entwined in politics forever. We were offered a temporary place until the laws were formed and the structure was solidified.”
“I see,” Henry answered. “Do you think they’ll welcome our town if they’ve already developed a system?” I could see the concern he held with sending his men to a foreign land.
“You have to try,” I reasoned reaching out for his arm. “Without hope, what do you have?”
Henry studied me for another moment. “And what of Isaura?” he asked curiously.
I shifted uncomfortably on my feet. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “She’s out there waiting to strike.” I rubbed my forehead in frustration, feeling a slight headache coming on at the thought of her. “It’s my fault she even has any power.” If I hadn’t used my abilities to escape the outlaws, they’d have never known what we could do.
Henry reached out, resting a comforting hand on my arm. “You can’t blame yourself. You can only control your own actions,” he told me. “That reminds me. I wanted to talk to you about the little girl you brought with you.”
“Adelaide?” I asked.
“Yes, that’s her. Adelaide. I was thinking of a maid who might make a good mother to her. She needs a family to look after her and I know she loves having her own suite in the tower, but I worry about her being on her own.” Henry smiled. “She’s too young to live on her own forever.”
“She’s been through a lot already.” I pulled back slightly from his grasp. “Is it Tria?”
Henry smiled shaking his head. “Tria is a sweet girl, but too young to look after Adelaide. I was thinking of someone a little older who could handle her, perhaps Ainsley.”
I tried not to laugh. Adelaide was a handful and I wasn’t sure how any parent would deal with her, especially if Adelaide couldn’t keep the Mindonsiphan a secret. “You’re not concerned about her special abilities?” I asked.
Henry paused thinking it over. “An even better reason to let Ainsley look after her,” he reasoned. “She of all people can handle it without freaking out.”
“Are you sure?” My mother made me vow never to return to Genesis, when she’d seen what I’d done.
“I can introduce you,” he offered. “We’ll have lunch together this afternoon before I send my advisors to Torv.”
“That sounds nice.” I smiled, knowing I’d like to say goodbye to my friends along with Gavin before they left. He hadn’t been the perfect father, but when I’d needed him, he’d been there to help me find Joshua.
Lunch was delicious. Ainsley joined us along with the others. She was younger than my mother, but older than me. Her hair was short and golden, framed just below her shoulders, with tiny ears and a small nose. She couldn’t have been an inch taller than me. She had eyes the color of coffee and her skin a rich cream. Ainsley got along well with Adelaide although no one had told she might become her caretaker. Wrinkles formed at the corners of her lips as she grinned affectionately at Adelaide. I wanted to tell Adelaide but only when I was sure they were both ready.
Joshua sat beside me as Tria and two others cleared the table and helped her. I hadn’t asked their names as they were busy and I didn’t want to interrupt. “Can I talk to you?” I heard Joshua’s soft whisper beside me.
“Sure.” I shifted in my seat, hoping he wasn’t against Ainsley looking after Adelaide. It would be good for her to have a home again. Living in a suite and with us wasn’t in her best interest. I understood that now, more than I had when I’d first met her.
“I’m going to Torv tomorrow with Gavin and a few others,” Joshua confessed. He was trying to gauge my reaction.
“Good,” I answered. “I spoke with Henry earlier today and thought one of us should go and make sure they accept Spade into the new council.” Joshua gave me a strange look. I wasn’t sure quite why or what he was thinking. “What?” I asked rather blatantly.