Missy Jane - Born of Stone

“Nel. You’ve returned.”

Though she smiled at him, she didn’t jump to her feet and run into his arms like she had the first few times he’d returned to her. With a frown, she realized she hadn’t had the urge to do that in a few days.

“Yes. I didn’t mean to be away so long,” he said.

He was only a few steps away from her but it was the greatest distance they’d had between them since his escape. She sighed and knew this was the beginning of the end. It was almost a relief. Upon her arrival, she had been worried about how she would keep his attention. Now that she knew she had failed, she could move on. But where would she go?

“So…you had a successful journey then?”

He never told her much about where he was going or why, and she never pried. Her curiosity was great but she had hoped he’d learn to trust her with such information.

He shrugged and slowly moved to join her on the side of the fountain. She straightened when he sat beside her so they didn’t accidentally touch.

“Yes it was,” he said. “I returned to Keva with two of my brothers and one of the Twenty. We stood before the Council of Firsts and they relayed the charges against the House of Iva.”

Phaidra stilled, unsure if she wanted to hear any more but needing to know. “Oh?”

“Yes. Iva and Kalypso were both found guilty of treason and conspiracy against the Kingdom of Halstrid. There were also other charges. The House is being dispersed. Your housemates are being taken into other households.”

“Oh.”

She turned away from him while pain lanced through her. As a girl she had thought Kalypso and Iva cared for her in some small way. She knew now that wasn’t true but it hurt to realize she had no one.

“Phaidra?”

He gently laid his hand against the back of her head, stroking her hair as if he was afraid to hurt her.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to bring news that disturbs you. I was hoping it would bring some relief.”

She looked at her feet and gave a slow nod even though she was in more turmoil than ever before. If there was no House of Iva, she had no home to return to. With the others blending into other households, she might be able to as well. However, she knew no other Firsts or Seconds that might take pity on her and take her in. She would have to petition the Council for placement and that was a humiliating ordeal. It rarely happened but the orphan was always looked upon like an unwanted thing. Though she felt that was an accurate assessment for her, she didn’t want to face the humiliation of the Council.

“At least they are facing justice for their treatment of you,” she said.

She truly meant that and had nothing else to say. They sat in silence for long minutes before he finally huffed out a breath and stood. She turned away again, not wanting to watch him leave. In her heart, she knew it would be for the last time and she simply couldn’t watch another person walk away from her like she meant nothing.

Nel paced away from Phaidra and ran his hands through his hair. The woman was driving him mad. He’d spent the past three days in Keva ensuring there were no ties to pull her back there. He checked every accounting of her birth and up until the day he met her. He spoke to every member of the House of Iva who would see him. He even asked the Council themselves if he could keep her with him. As far as he was concerned, he had full permission to make her his just like Orestes had with his woman. The only problem now was convincing Phaidra to stay by his side. He’d noticed her unhappiness but had no idea what to do about it, and now it was slowly pulling her away from him.

The week before he had visited with the Twenty and asked for anything they’d learned about Astrid’s pregnancy. If he was able to impregnate Phaidra, she would surely stay with him. He ached to hold his own babe in his arms and couldn’t help the spurt of envy he felt every time he looked at Ourania. But would a child make Phaidra happy? For now it didn’t matter because the Twenty were still confused about Ourania. They had no clue how the miracle child had been conceived and gestated so quickly.

Nel spun in his heel to return to Phaidra, noting the way her shoulders were hunched and her hands were balled into fists. She was obviously upset but he wasn’t sure what about. Was she angry about the House of Iva being dispersed? If so, was her anger directed at him? Finally, he could take it no longer and went down on his knees before her.

“Phaidra? My pretty one, please tell me what concerns you. I’m sorry about your House. If I had known you wished it, I would have begged for leniency.”

When she lifted her head true surprise showed on her face. The moisture in her eyes worried him but he tried to ignore it and ran his hands up her thighs to her waist.

“I would never have asked you to do that,” she said. “Iva and Kalypso deserve their punishment.”

His brow wrinkled as he tried to think of what else could be bothering her. “Then what is it? Why are you so sad? Did something happen in my absence?”

She started to shake her head but then simply shrugged and looked at her hands. “I just don’t know what I’m doing here, Nel. I know you wished me in your bed when we first arrived, but now that you’re done with me, I don’t know what to do.”

Shock held his tongue for nearly a minute before he growled low in his throat. The sound had her head jerking up and her eyes widening.

“Done with you? Is that what you think?”

He pulled her into his arms even while he took gargoyle form. Then he shot into the sky. It was early evening and the sky was clear. He held her close and flew away from the castle and into the village. She had thrown her arms around his neck as soon as her feet left the ground but she kept her face turned away from him. He had no idea what thoughts went through her head.

It took no time to reach his destination. The yard before the small church was empty but he knew the priest was inside. He set Phaidra on her feet and turned her by the shoulders to precede him into the building. She went without a word of protest and he hoped that was a good sign. He was almost too angry to speak. He was angry at Phaidra for not trusting him, angry at her former Housemates for making her feel so worthless and most of all angry at himself for not showing her what she meant to him. Tonight that would change.

He took his human form for their walk down the short aisle between the crude wooden pews. The priest was on his knees before the altar, speaking prayers in a lowered voice. As if he sensed their presence, he finished quickly and stood to face them. His brows went up at the sight but he simply nodded.

“Master Nel, good evening.”

“Good evening, Father. I have a favor to ask if you’re not too busy at the moment.”

The old priest waved one hand to swat away Nel’s concern. “Not at all. Certainly not for you. How can I be of service?”

Nel stepped up beside Phaidra, who looked confused. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and closed the distance to the altar. If this didn’t work he had no idea what would.

“Are you familiar with the Kevan handfasting ceremony?”

Phaidra startled against him and he felt her stare but she didn’t try to pull away. The priest smiled and gave a slow nod.

“Aye, that I am. As the only spiritual leader for many leagues I’m well versed in most wedding ceremonies from the various cultures of Lenara. Do you have a ribbon?”

“Yes.”

Nel glanced at Phaidra before dropping his arm from her shoulders and opening his coat to remove the scarf he’d been given in Keva. Phaidra gasped when he unfurled the colorful silk that had once belonged to her mother.

“Where…who…” she whispered.