Fate and Destiny (The Fated Series, #2)

Chapter 47 - Lance - Puzzle Pieces

"So you've been watching us this entire time?" Henry asks the Ginerva, who are all standing around the room with crossed arms as if they have valid reasons to be angry.

They stayed the night at Gretel's per her request and no argument from me, but they came here an hour ago, and I wasn't feeling more generous than to let them further into the house and feed them breakfast. Cook made another feast anyway.

"We were making sure you guys didn't get killed," the blonde one, Serephina, answers gently. She's been the nicest, Rohana the most infuriating, and the rest of them always open to conversation but never one to push to start one.

"And yet you didn't bother to tell us to go in a different direction?"

"We couldn't, and you know that," Rohana responds, stabbing a sausage with her fork. They explained their story last night, or at least as much as they could without an argument nearly breaking out. And yes, I mean an argument with me.

I still love my mother, even if she did make them blood swear - still don't know what that means - that they wouldn't speak to our family until Fey turned eighteen. It hurt like hell to realize that her birthday was yesterday. She scorned me so much for spending my birthday eating a crappy cake on a rooftop, but at least she remembered it. I, however, hadn't been so loyal, and it's probably why I'm still in a bad mood.

"So when do we start coming up with ideas on how to get my sister back?" I ask, taking note of the harsh tone I didn't entirely mean to use. We need them on our side – not that I truly think that they'll turn on us – and poking them isn't going to make this relationship run as smoothly as it needs to.

I take a breath and level my head, evening out my anger enough to not sound so bitchy. "Knowing Will, he'll move quickly to kill her or do whatever they want to her now that they know we're here and that we're not giving up on saving her."

"She's nowhere near dying," Willa assures. "If anything, I'd say she's finally waking up."

Willa, I haven't minded as much. She doesn't look much older than the others, but there's just something ethereal about her. It's the way she talks about my mother that makes me trust her so much, and she seems to have a grip on Rohana who claims to be the technical leader of the group. Not sure how she got the position when she's the one that seems to be the lighter for any and all fires that don't belong to Darius.

"That's not what it feels like," Darius whispers. He's been a mute ever since he realized we didn't get Fauna. He's taken it the worst out of all of us, and though I'd like to think I'm just as bad, I'd rather focus on what we're doing next. By the way Willa looks at Darius, I'd say we're getting closer to planning – which is all I want to do.

Rohana nods to her sisters, who aren't really her sisters at all but sure do act like it. "Men really are clueless, aren't they? Meet us on the roof." They disappear – mist – before I can object and ask why. Willa's the only one who stays behind, but she doesn't look like she's going to be answering our questions anytime soon. It seems we don't really have a choice.

I put down my plate, and walk for the staircase. The Jade's Keep is wide awake, assassins walking everywhere, most of them talking, laughing, and eating before they train or take their shifts on watch. They all put their right fists over their hearts as we pass for me, and bow their heads to Darius.

It was only a matter of time before they figured out that it was him beneath the hood, but for outsiders, it simply looks like the Jades are showing their respect for me. No one but those of us who were on the roof of the clocktower three days ago knows that Darius is now King, and that's going to stay with us until we get Fernweh back. Of course, seeing as Tanith can read minds, she likely already knows, which means they all know.