Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (23 page)

If she wants to come home, she will.

Of all my dreams, I never thought being a real lady would ever come true. I never believed my parents would wish me away, yet they had. Was I just another mouth to feed? Did they expect to gain wealth out of this? Or did they simply not care?

A storm raged outside, attacking the windows viciously. Thunder cracked in the night sky, and I hugged my pillow tighter.

They didn’t even want to come. Mother, who always spoke of Daath with a smile on her face, had no desire to see it. I knew this time of season Poppa was busy, but still, they could have made the journey.

Tears slipped from eyes, and I sobbed into the bed.

Did this mean I had to marry Lucino? If they had wanted me home, Mother would have said it.

I couldn’t escape the sorrow flooding my heart. Thoughts of my family, thoughts of Avikar and Derrick, and question after question.

Could I leave? See my family, speak with them in person. This couldn’t be what they wanted—to never see their little girl again. This had to be a mistake, but what choice did I have? And would it be so terrible to marry Lucino?

And what did I have waiting at home for me, besides my family?

The candlelight flickered with the storm. Shadows bounced off the walls, and I pulled the blanket around me.

I had never been this conflicted.

I had never been this alone.

Lucino promised to take me home after the ball, or the wedding, if I accepted his proposal. He hadn’t asked me again, and I wondered if he assumed I had agreed.

Or maybe he was staying true to his word.

Either way, I only had days to decide. I prayed I would choose wisely.

All three of them stared at me wide eyed. I threw off my cape.

“What?” I said.

Anna handed her daughter off to Jericho and scampered after me. “Oh, dear, you’re drenched. Let me get you some dry clothes,” she said, bustling upstairs.

“Guess it didn’t go well,” Derrick said.

I grabbed a nearby towel and patted my head. Anna came back down and handed me a shirt and trousers.

“Where’s Raven?” she asked.

“Sitting in a tree,” I stated, coldly.

“Jericho, it’s too dangerous for her to be out in this weather,” Anna said, her face creased with worry.

Jericho stood. His daughter cooed in his arms and he stroked her mop of blonde hair. “If anyone can take care of themselves,” he said. “It’s Raven. She’ll be fine. Avikar, go change and meet us by the fire. Anna, warm some milk for us.”

I stepped into the small washroom. The tiny room had a bench, a seat with a chamber pot and a table with a bowl of water. I stripped off the wet clothes and tossed them on the bench, shaking my head the whole time. Wondering how a girl could aggravate me so much.

Jericho had a fire roaring when I came in. His daughter slept in his arms and the sight reminded me of the decision I’d made. When I wanted to kill him, I didn’t wonder if he had any family. I just wanted him dead. Now, I knew I’d made the right choice.

Anna walked in with a tray of steaming mugs. I took one and held the hot mug in my cold hands, warming them. I sipped the milk, and sighed. It soothed my dry throat.

“What did you say to make her so mad?” Derrick asked. His big arms stretched out behind his head. I guessed he was finally getting used to Jericho not being the bad guy.

“She wanted to know the truth about how we met Jericho and I kind of lied.”

Derrick smirked. “I can only imagine what you said.”

“I didn’t think we’d be recruiting her.”

Jericho held his hand up as if he wasn’t to blame. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t tell you to get cozy with my cousin and get her liking you.”

“Me?” I pointed to my chest, and Jericho nodded. I thought about it. We were both flirting, and I definitely liked her, but … “I told her I was sorry, and she was still mad. She even threw a branch at my head!” Derrick and Jericho chuckled which irritated me even more. “Women. Doesn’t she understand the danger we’re all in?”

Jericho sighed. “Unfortunately, when it comes to a woman’s heart, nothing is more important, especially Raven’s.”

“What does that mean?”

Jericho stayed silent, and I pushed the subject. “Tell me. What happened to make her so darn sensitive?”

“He’ll just annoy you until you tell him,” Derrick said.

“It’s not my story to tell, but I will say she had her heart broken, and she’s never been the same since.”

Who could do that to her? She’s nothing but sweet.

Derrick asked Jericho question after question about Lucino. I should have been paying attention, but Raven kept entering my mind. Her broken voice, and the hurt in it when she called me a liar. To her, I was another trickster. Someone who couldn’t be trusted. I didn’t want to be known as the guy no one could count on, but no matter what I did that’s who I was, and it made me sick. I had to change.

The clay broke in my hand and I threw it at the wall. Great, now I’m out. Derrick had fallen asleep a while ago, and I’d been sitting here scribbling away my frustration, hoping I’d get tired. It didn’t work.

The rain beat against the window. I searched outside for any sign of her, but the storm made it impossible to see. My stomach churned with worry; if anything happened to her it’d be my fault.

Not wanting to wake Derrick, I tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. Loud thunder shook the whole house. When I reached downstairs, I grabbed a cape and slowly creaked the door open. I walked only a few steps when I spotted a shadow in the rain. My heart fell into my gut. Raven.

I sprinted to her. Her arms huddled her body, and she was drenched.

“Raven, are you okay?” I draped the cape around her shivering shoulders.

“Fine,” she stammered.

I put my arm around her and rushed her into the house. I led her to the fireplace. “Here sit down. I’m going to find you dry clothes and start a fire.”

Raven pulled the cape tighter. “I … don’t … need … your help.”

I ignored her and went upstairs. There were only three rooms, and I was sure Jericho’s was the furthest from the stairs.
Here we go
. I opened the door across from our room and walked into a small room. Raven had a bed, with a little nightstand and a rack with clothes hanging on it. You never would’ve known I was in a girl’s room. Not one dress or girly decoration. I grabbed an outfit and hurried back downstairs.

“Here, put these on,” I said, handing her the pile

She gawked at the clothes. “How
dare
… you … go through my things!”

“I have two sisters. Stop being stubborn and change before you get sick.”

Her hair plastered to her face and her normally bronze skin had gone pale. “I can’t … change with you here.”

I turned my back to her and put two logs in the fire. “I won’t look. I promise.” I grabbed the fire making tin and took out the steel striker, flint and amadou tinder. I placed the dried fungus on top of the flint and struck it.

She didn’t reply, but I could hear her changing. I rapidly struck the flint, focused on creating a spark and not turning around. The fire lit, and I fanned the flame until the fire swarmed over the logs.

“I’m done.”

I turned around and stood. Her body still shivered, and she hugged herself. I grabbed a blanket, lying across the sofa, and draped it around her.

“Thank … you.”

“Come here.” I guided her to the couch and sat next to her. Slowly, I pulled her into my chest and wrapped my arms around her.

“What are you doing?” she fussed.

“I’m going to make sure you’re warm, and then I’ll leave you alone.” Her dark eyes questioned me. “Be calm,” I said softly.

She pouted, but gave in. I rubbed her arms and we sat in silence. The fire cracked and popped and the flames jumped with each sound. She leaned against my chest, letting me fully embrace her. Her breathing returned to a normal pace.

For what seemed like hours, I held her in my arms. The fire had died to barely a flicker. She’d fallen asleep, and I was content to hold her until morning, but I told her I’d leave and I needed her to trust me.

Sliding out from underneath her, I moved the blanket to create a pillow, and then tucked the rest around her. Her damp hair hung around her face. I bent down and swept it back behind her ear.

You are so beautiful.
I grazed her cheek with my finger.
I wish you could understand how sorry I am. I never meant to hurt you.
 

I kissed the top of her forehead and left.