Forged in Fire (Forgotten Series, #2)

Chapter Twenty-Three

A Week Later

I looked around the garden that sat nestled in a small alcove outside of the house that I had never noticed before. It was lush with flowers and stone walkways and I sighed in contentment. It was Lily's garden. May had explained to me that shortly after the accident Luka had it built for her as a place to relax and it had turned into her sanctuary.

"Such pretty hair." Lily's voice was soft as she ran her hand through Ainsley's red curls. She had taken to playing with the hair despite not remembering who Ainsley was. She loved her flaming red curls and picked through them, braiding chunks of it as she chattered on about nothing, the conversations repeating over and over again. "Reminds me of fire. Phoenixes to be specific. All those reds, oranges and scarlets." Her gaze was soft as she unravelled the braid she had made in the riotous curls. I shifted on the bench and her gaze was drawn to me. "Oh, dear. I didn't see you there. Who are you?" Her grey eyes that reminded me so much of her son were kind and gentle, if a bit confused. It was her standard expression, innocent confusion or puzzlement.

"I'm Luka's mate." I smiled at her and her hands fluttered around her face in excitement. Joy radiated off of her and it made a warmth spread through my chest. I always got a feeling of intense contentment and happiness when I told her that. Seeing her elation at the news was more than heartwarming.

"Oh! You are very pretty. He is very lucky!" Her hands fluttered around her face before reaching out to me and I took it with a smile. Her hand was delicate just like she looked and I felt a pang in my stomach at the thought of Luka watching his mother wasting away in front of him. He was very attentive to her, I knew he visited her every day and would occasionally pick her flowers or bring her little things just to make her smile. "I hope you two are happy." She squeezed my hand and I nodded.

"Very happy." It was a partial truth. Being with Luka did make me happy. It might not have been very happy but I also knew I would get there. In the past week we had talked more than we had in the past month. I learned that he had know Ezekiel for nearly twelve years and Michael for ten. He wasn't able to tell me how they had met, just that on one of his trips of going dark he had returned to himself and they were simply there.

"Oh he deserves that. Sometimes he looks so lonely. That's why he runs away from home." Lily nodded sagely and I squeezed her hand before she removed it from my grasp to touch Ainsley's hair. "Such pretty hair." Her voice was a coo as she started to play with it, the conversation she had with me more than likely fading away. I didn't mind. I got to put a smile on her face every single time she returned her attention to me. In the short week I had spent in her company, I felt a deep affection for the female who had birthed my mate. There was a sweet softness to her that reminded me of her son and it was hard not to see him in everything she did.

I found I was learning more about Luka in her presence than I did without it. I could watch her without comment and draw the connections of her behaviour to that of her son's. Like how she and him both ran their hands through their hair when nervous or stressed or they were humble to a fault and denied praise. I felt safer watching her than I did watching Luka. It was easier for me and the fact she kept telling me happy little stories about him growing up helped even more.

"Reminds me of fire. Phoenixes to be specific. All those reds, oranges and scarlets." Her thin fingers twisted the strands into a braid and I watched her before looking past the garden. The forest was almost beckoning and I glanced at Lily again.

"When was the last time you were allowed to be out in the forest?" The question escaped before I could stop it and Lily focused on unravelling the braid.

"This morning I think. I don't remember." Her face twisted in confusion before she looked at me with a surprised look. "Oh! You aren't May, who are you?" She gave me a soft smile that I returned.