Sharon Ashwood - Unchained

Reynard listened for a moment, trying to hear what the girl would hear. The argument sounded different from a distance, without the gestures and faces to accompany words: the old woman’s low, husky voice; Ashe’s was lighter, clear, and aching with tension.

His ears told him things he hadn’t seen. Anguish.

He could tell Ashe was tearing herself to pieces, all her certainty a bluff for a terrible fear that she would fail her child. But all Eden would understand was that her mother was terrified, and a frightened mother made for a frightened daughter. Reynard was no expert with children, but he had seen soldiers’ families dragged along as camp followers during war. He recognized that panicked look. In those cases, he’d always had something practical to offer—food, water, protection. Now he was at a loss.

He sat down beside Eden. She let go of the book, and it slid to the floor. He read the title: Prince Caspian. Nothing he recognized.

“Easier when you’re a lone wolf,” the grandmother said from the next room.

“Lots,” Ashe replied, her voice quiet, but not quiet enough.

Eden gave Reynard a look filled with confusion. “Why does Mom want to be alone all the time?”

Bloody hell, she thinks Ashe doesn’t want her here. Yet, just the way Ashe looked at the child made that idea impossible. Ashe wanted her daughter above everything else.

Mother and daughter were on a collision course of misunderstanding. Just like he and his brother had been. Families hadn’t changed much over the years.

Reynard swore to himself for a moment. Seduction—he understood how to play those games. He knew how to fight, gamble, and make the witty chatter expected of a gentleman at dinner. Providing emotional comfort was something quite different, and nothing he had ever been good at. He had been raised to show no weakness, and the Castle crushed sympathy before it began. But the sinking feeling in his gut wouldn’t let him back away. He still didn’t know what to say to a child, so he went with the truth.

“You realize that your mother fights monsters from time to time,” he said, hoping he wasn’t insulting the girl’s intelligence.

“Yeah,” Eden said bleakly. “She’s done that for a while now.”

“That is why we were late. We had a problem to take care of.”

She looked down, thick, dark lashes hiding her eyes. She didn’t have the doll-like prettiness of some young girls, but she would grow into a striking woman.

“I heard you guys talking. There are bad vampires around.” Her fingers plucked nervously at the fringe of a throw cushion. “She should let me go back to Saint Flo’s so I wouldn’t be in her way. I should just go.”

She’s far too young to have to worry about demons and slayers. Reynard wished he were Mac, who would know how to give support with a touch and the right word. He took the girl’s hand in his. It was small and warm. She looked up at him, her eyes surprised and wary. He let her go, hoping she understood that he meant only kindness. “Your mother needs you here. She wishes the vampires would stay away, that’s all.”

“Then why is she afraid?”

Damnation. “If she’s a little bit afraid, then she won’t make mistakes. That’s part of why she’s good at what she does.”

“How dangerous is it? Tell me the truth,” Eden asked. Her eyes were starred with tears she seemed too stubborn to shed, but her mouth was firm and steady.

She’s already lost her father. He swallowed hard, feeling the complexity of the child’s world unrolling around him like a giant map. Every horizon held storms and dragons.

“I won’t tell you it’s not dangerous, because that would not be true,” he said, inwardly wincing at his honesty. “But I’m going to be with her. That tips things in our favor.”

Eden’s scrutiny made him think of Anubis weighing the souls of the dead. He was being judged down to his brand-new bootlaces. “So you’ve got her back, then?”

Fortunately, that was one of Mac’s expressions. He understood what she was asking of him. “Yes. Absolutely.” Even if Ashe doesn’t accept that yet.

Eden put her hand over his. “Good.”

Her hand was half the size of his, the nails chewed and stained with blue ink. Beneath it, his own looked large and rough from long years of handling the tools of war.

Reynard realized he’d made a huge promise. He’d damned well better live long enough to keep it. His jaw set. His stomach felt as if he were betting his inheritance on a last hand of cards. He’d never been a praying man, but this seemed like a good occasion for it.

Just then, Ashe strode into the room, wearing the look of a woman at the edge of her reserves. “Time to go, kiddo.”

She looked at the two of them, her bright green gaze darting from one face to the other, finally settling on Eden’s. Reynard saw the look of dawning horror on Ashe’s face.

“It was quite easy to hear your conversation from here,” he said, a reproachful edge creeping into his voice. He couldn’t help it, but then regretted the look of shame in her eyes.

Ashe blinked rapidly. “Eden, don’t be scared by what we were talking about. . . .”

Eden jumped off the couch. “I’m glad Captain Reynard’s helping you.”

Ashe shot him a glare that withered as fast as it bloomed. She hugged the girl to her, hiding her face in the brown curls. “We’re discussing that.”

Reynard frowned. No one was going to berate Ashe for her mistakes harder than Ashe herself. The problem was that punishing herself wasn’t the answer.

He rose, following Ashe as she herded Eden toward the door, gathering up the girl’s backpack and coat as she went. The grandmother waited to see them off, leaning on her canes.

“Be sensible,” she said.

“I’ll do what I think is right,” Ashe grumbled, but she sounded weary.

Reynard gave the old lady a respectful bow. “And I will work your granddaughter around to my way of thinking.”

Grandma Carver smiled sweetly. “And I’ll knock your heads together if you screw it up. And, Ashe,” she said, handing her a paper bag, “these charms will keep out nightmares, whether they’re your own or sent by someone else. Sleep well.”

“Thanks, G-ma.” Ashe hugged and kissed her grandmother.

They left. Outside the air was cold and clean. It had rained while they were indoors. Reynard filled his lungs, gulping down the tang of the spring night. He’d forgotten that sharp, sweet scent until that chase in the gardens. He couldn’t get enough of it.

“Don’t hyperventilate,” said Ashe, unlocking her vehicle so Eden could climb inside. “Do you have someplace to stay? I’ve got a couch.”

“I’ve made arrangements,” Reynard said, wishing he could accept her offer. He didn’t want to leave her side, but that would lead to the inevitable question of beds and pleasure and the decision of behaving like a gentleman or a desperate man with the life span of a flea. One was dull and the other lacked dignity. “What time shall we meet to go see Lore?”

“I’ll call him tomorrow morning. Eden goes to the rec center for piano and swimming. I’m going to drop her off and catch a quick workout. Meet me at nine thirty at Morgan’s Gym. The people we need will be up by then. We’ll make plans from there.” Ashe shut the passenger door with a sigh. “Of course, you don’t know where the gym is.”

“I will find you,” he said. “That’s not a problem.”

“Be careful saying stuff like that. That sounds a bit stalkerish.”

Reynard chuckled softly. “Your world is confusing.” He looked up. “Even the constellations are hard to make out.”

“Light pollution.”

“Unfortunate.” There were no stars in the Castle. That blankness had cut his spirit down like scythed wheat. Without even the sky above, he’d truly been shut off from everything he’d known. That loss still chilled him.