Chapter 70

Atwood

With every minute spent after Ruby marked me, I can feel my mind clearing up and my symptoms fading. My body still feels painful and weak, but mentally I feel even more clear than before my condition got bad.

I just wish that my mother would believe that.

When the sun rises, I feel incredibly energetic after spending two days resting in a hospital bed. Ruby is still sleeping on my chest, and though it pains me to leave her, I have things that I need to tend to in my kingdom. The attack from the Bears no doubt did a number on my castle, and I will need to address the deaths of some of the party guests and take care of their families.

I gently slide out from under Ruby and leave her sleeping in the hospital bed while I dress. She’s still soundly asleep, even snoring softly, as I kiss her on the top of her head and exit the infirmary.

There is no doubt in my mind that my servants have worked hard to clean up the castle after the attack, because the once-bloodied corridors are now spotless. All of the rubble has been cleared, although there will need to be repairs made on the walls, banisters, and floor tiles from the fighting. I’ll need to hire some builders.

“Oh! Good morning, my lord,” one of the servant girls says with a curtsy when she sees me standing there. “I’m glad to see that you’re well.”

I nod solemnly as I look around, then start to ascend the stairs to my study.

“Polly, would you mind fetching some breakfast for me and bringing it to my study? I’d get it myself, but I’ve got a lot to do,” I say. The servant girl nods and curtsies again before scurrying away toward the kitchen.

When I enter my study, hoping for a bit of solitude so that I can work, I’m disappointed to find that none other than my mother and Paine have already taken up residence.

“Atwood!” my mother says when I enter. “You should be resting!”

Paine is sitting at my desk. The both of them almost look guilty, as though they were planning something.

“Ruby marked me,” I say nonchalantly, striding up to my desk and gesturing for Paine to get the hell out of my chair. “I’m all better now.”

Paine reluctantly stands from my desk. My mother huffs as I sit down in my seat.

“Well, your recovery couldn’t possibly be so quick,” she says annoyedly. “Surely you’re not feeling well enough to work.”

“I actually feel extremely energetic,” I respond. Just then, Polly enters with a tray of eggs, bacon, and toast along with a steaming cup of coffee. I smile at her and motion for her to enter. She places the tray down, blushing a bit as I thank her with a smile, then leaves.

“You know,” I say, taking a sip of my coffee and a bite of my bacon “I think I partially have you to thank for the way I feel right now.”

“Is that so?” my mother says with a slight smile. “A mother’s presence always has healing properties.”

I chew slowly and swallow. “No, actually,” I say, taking another gulp of coffee and leaning back in my chair. My mother raises her eyebrows.

“I think it’s actually something quite different,” I say, then look at Paine. “Paine, maybe you know what I’m talking about.

Paine simply looks at me stupidly with wide, unblinking eyes.

“Oh, but surely one of you might have some idea?” I ask with a chuckle. “Maybe we should call Edith in and ask her.”

My mother’s face turns red. I can tell that she knows what I’m about to say next.

“I have no idea what you could be talking about,” my mother says, a little too quickly. “And besides, poor Edith is in the infirmary.”

“Oh, that’s a shame,” I say. “I’m sure she was too exhausted from scheming with you to get me to have sex with her that she couldn’t defend herself properly from the attack.”

My mother gasps theatrically. “W-Why, I’d never!” she says as her face turns an even deeper shade of beet red.

“Oh, but you would!” I say, standing from my desk and walking over to her. “I thought that glass of champagne tasted a little funny, mother.”

My mother trembles as I tower over her. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Paine slowly sit back down at my desk and sneak a piece of bacon for himself.

“Just tell me, mother,” I say with a sigh, walking away from her and running a finger through my hair. I reach out and slap Paine’s hand as he tries to reach for my toast, causing him to yelp pathetically. “Why would you do something like that?” I ask my mother, turning back to face her.

My mother is silent for a few moments. She seems to be choosing her words very carefully.

“I only want what’s best for you,” she says finally. “That girl… Ruby… She’s nothing but a hillbilly! I won’t have you sully our bloodline with a… a…”

“Go on!” I boom, causing both my mother and Paine to jump. “Say it!”

“A dirty hybrid!” my mother shouts back.

The silence in the room is palpable.There are a million things I want to scream. I want to punch the wall, overturn my desk, throw my breakfast plate at Paine’s stupid, fat face. But I control myself, somehow.

“You can’t control fate, mother,” I say quietly, clenching my fists at my side. “And so what if I marry a hybrid? I’d rather that than live a loveless life like you and father.”

“Your father was a stupid, stupid man,” my mother snarls. “He had everything. But all he cared about was love, and when he brought that whore into our home-”

“Lillian was more of a mother than you could ever be,” I answer quietly.

My mother falls silent again. For a moment she stands there, looking small and pathetic, before picking up her skirts with a hmph and storming out of the room.

Paine is still sitting at my desk. When I turn toward him, he just looks up at me with his stupid saucer eyes.

“What did I tell you about sitting at my desk?” I ask, striding around the desk. Before I can grab him by his shirt collar and unceremoniously throw him out of the room, he stands and bolts -- as fast as a man who is that round can possibly bolt, anyhow -- from the room.

Finally, I think to myself, sitting back down at my desk. Some peace and quiet.

Paine getting his greasy fingers all over my breakfast has ruined my appetite, so I just take my coffee and push the tray out of my way so I can get to work.

I’m not sure how much time passes, but eventually the room grows dark as the sun goes down.

There is a knock on my door. I look up from my paperwork and call for the visitor to enter.

It’s Ruby. She’s holding the book I gave her before her birthday.

“I know you’re working, but…” She looks down at her feet timidly, clutching the book in front of her. “Is it alright if I read in here while you work?”

I can’t help but smile.

“Of course,” I answer.

A small smile flashes across Ruby’s full lips and she crosses over to an armchair next to the fire, where she curls up almost like a cat and opens her book. It’s comically large in her small hands, but as the firelight dances across her features, I can’t help but admire her beauty.

I want so badly to have her tonight. She’s of age now, and we’ve marked each other, but I want to do this right. I want to give her time to become comfortable with me.

I’m going to marry her first.