“I want to find out if anyone else from Shadow is alive. Maybe they stayed in Torv.” It was a long shot. “I also want to see what they know about Isaura. It’s possible she’s not working alone.”
I reached for his hand. “Be careful, okay?” I had no idea what she’d be capable of from the Mindonsiphan and it terrified me. We’d faced a lot together already but Isaura was something entirely new.
“Of course.” Joshua gave my hand a squeeze. “I also want to see how they react when I tell them Shadow was destroyed.”
I frowned. “You think they already know?” I didn’t understand how they could. News didn’t travel particularly fast and I doubted Isaura had visited Torv. I shuddered at the thought.
“Possibly. It’s why I want to see how surprised they are with the news. I also spoke with Henry.” Joshua gave me a pointed look I couldn’t quite read.
“Okay. About what?” I asked.
Joshua leaned in, dropping a soft kiss to my cheek. “I know I don’t have anything to worry about.” My jaw dropped. What had he said to Henry? Joshua trusted me, didn’t he? “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“You’d better.” I leaned in, capturing his lips with a kiss. Inwardly I debated on whether I should join him to Torv. I wanted to go, to travel and be with him, but I also knew someone needed to stay in Spade and make sure everything was as it seemed. Besides, Isaura would be looking for us–especially me–and I didn’t want to chance her finding me on the open road.
CHAPTER 12
We said our goodbyes and I felt my heart constrict as Joshua, Gavin, Elsa, Aidan and a few others I was unfamiliar with, headed out in a van towards Torv.
Ainsley stood beside Adelaide, keeping an eye on her as she waved goodbye to them. Once the gates closed, Ainsley bent down to Adelaide’s level. “Would you like to come home with me this afternoon?” she asked the young girl. I appreciated that Ainsley tried to make it seem like something special and not forced. Adelaide was a tough girl and had been through a lot already. She was the last person who would be told what to do, even if she was a child.
Adelaide pondered over it for a moment. “Do you have cookies there?”
I tried to hide the laugh bubbling within me as Ainsley answered her. “We can make some together. Just you and me.”
“I’d like that.” Adelaide turned towards me. “Is it okay if I go with her, Olivia?”
“Of course.” I gave Adelaide a hug. “Have fun.” I waved as Ainsley took her hand and they together walked through the city square. At least someone had found a new home in Spade.
“I’m going for a walk,” Cate announced. “I’ll see you two tonight at dinner.” I didn’t know what type of walk entailed her being gone all day, but I didn’t argue. She had a mind of her own and I suspected she wanted time alone as she adjusted to this new life in Spade.
Already I missed Adelaide, Joshua, and Gavin. I glanced beside me letting out a sigh, realizing Rane had stayed behind. I hadn’t spoken to her much. It wasn’t that I hadn’t been glad she’d come and helped us find Joshua, but I’d been busy and hadn’t seen her around.
“You stayed.” I glanced at Rane as she anxiously picked at her nails.
“I guess I did,” she mused. It was unlikely they’d travel back to Torv anytime soon. Certainly not before Joshua and the advisors returned.
I was puzzled to see that she’d decided to stay. Her home was gone, much like mine had been destroyed. Torv had been a second, or more specifically, third home for her. It was no wonder she was trying to find her way again. “How are you liking it here?” I didn’t know what to say to her. Every conversation always felt awkward between us, at least to me. Probably because she’d once liked Joshua and now he was mine.
Rane sighed, glancing towards the closed gate that rose as high as the stone around the cities. “Everyone’s been nice.” Her answer sounded rehearsed.
“And Henry?” I asked, glancing at her. He hadn’t said goodbye to his advisors when they’d left and I didn’t question why. I assumed if he did rule this city he was often busy with important matters.
Rane shrugged, giving the faintest smile. “He’s cute. He’s not my type, though.”
“And what’s that?” I raised an eye. “Not powerful, wealthy and good looking?” I felt that accurately described Henry.
Rane glanced at me and I felt my stomach somersault. “He’s not Joshua.” There it was, the one thing I had hoped we’d gotten past.
“No, he’s not.” I breathed.
“I know Joshua’s spoken for,” Rane quickly explained. “You two are happily married and I would never come between that. I just,” she paused. “You seem so happy together and I’ve never felt that about anyone before. He’s such a nice guy.” Rane continued, “When I first met him, he treated me like a friend and I hardly knew him. Most people in Haven weren’t like that.”
“That’s just how he is,” I offered. “He’ll be back and he’s still a friend.” I wasn’t keeping him from befriending her.
“I know and Henry is cute.” She laughed and her cheeks reddened as she spoke. “But he doesn’t even notice I exist.” Rane sighed. “All he ever looks at is you, Olivia. Every guy I know loves you. You walk in a room and their heads all turn. It’s not fair,” she whined.
“What?” I laughed at her words. I wasn’t beautiful. I was pretty, but I was still ordinary. People noticed me because of who I was and what I was capable of, naturally conceiving a child. They were curious, that was why they looked. “Rane, you’re gorgeous.” I confessed, “I saw you with Joshua and I was jealous.” I hadn’t wanted to ever tell her about that moment.
Rane stared at me with a curious expression. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” I grabbed her arm. “Now come on. Let’s find the Grand Duke of Spade,” I laughed leading her inside the tower as we searched for Henry.
“Henry?” I peered around the corner finding him inside a room studying maps. “Do you need any help?” I offered, inviting Rane and myself into the room without so much as a knock.
Henry glanced up from what he was doing. He rolled the maps, shaking his head. “No, I just finished.”
Rane glanced from Henry to me looking utterly uncomfortable. If she did like Henry, she wasn’t going out of her way to show it.
“Your advisors and the others have left for Spade,” I told him. He walked towards his cabinet, placing the maps inside a drawer. What they were maps of, Cabal? The old rebel cities? I would want to look later and find out if he refused to show me.
“I’m aware. Rane would you mind giving us a few minutes?” he asked.
“She can stay.” I wanted Henry to know I trusted Rane and that he could too. Maybe he hadn’t opened his eyes to what was in front of him. At the very least she could be a companion, a friend. I didn’t doubt Henry needed one, we all did.
Henry gave me a pointed look. “If you insist.” He took a seat at the giant oak desk, relaxing into his chair. “Mindonsiphan.” It was one word. A warning that if I wanted to discuss it alone it was my job to send Rane out.
“She already knows about it.” She’d witnessed what I’d done to those men who had attacked us on our way to Haven. Although she might not have been privy to Henry’s injection of the drug, I didn’t see any harm in her finding out. “What do you want to talk about?” I asked and grabbed a seat on the opposite wall along the sofa. The furniture looked old and smelled that way too. Something from another time and generation but had been restored. Most of Spade felt that way.
Henry sighed. “Isaura for one. We know she’s out there and is probably searching for you.”