You Are Mine (23 page)

“
Enjoying the garden this
morning?” His causal question eases my worries over Katherine and
the dresses.

“
Yes, it'll be a fine
addition to our party.” My eyes drift back to him and I hurry to
look away. “Aren't you cold?”

He laughs. “I'm hot. That's why I'm
not wearing my jacket. I live in the mountains back home and it's
always much colder than this.”

“
Oh.” I wonder what
mountains are like.

“
I can run back to my room
and get my jacket, if it'd make you more comfortable. I was working
in my study. Didn't think to see you this morning, but something
came for you.”

I think about his offer. I'm not sure
more comfortable is the right description. It would be easier to
look at him without feeling...different. “What came for
me?”

“
Well, it came for me, but
it's really for you.” He holds out a letter, his face impassive.
“It's from your Father.”

From the lack of emotion on his face,
I can't tell if it will hold good or bad news. My hand quivers as I
take the note. “Have you read it yet?”

“
It was addressed to me,
so yes I did.”

“
Is it about
Bethany?”

“
Yes.”

It takes me a couple of tries before
I'm able to open it.

Envadi Zade,

I received your request
for Bethany's aid in addition to Cynthia's for planning your
upcoming ball. It is a very hard request to comply with since the
two older girls are already with you. But upon consideration, I
realized you can't possibly manage without more help.

I must inform you that at
times Bethany can be willful. You have my permission to punish her
at will. She should need it often as Serena does. Expect her this
afternoon.

If you have any further
need, let me know and I will assist in any way that I
can.

Councilman
Stephen

Before rolling the paper up, I brush
my fingers across the words. I hand it back and sit on a nearby
bench.

“
I thought you would be
more excited to hear,” Chancellor Zade says. “Are you
unhappy?”

When I stay silent, he sits next to
me. I glance at the letter he still holds.

“
It's not that. I'm
pleased she's coming.” But hearing about liberal punishments is too
much. Chancellor Zade hasn't done much to me yet, but he could.
Father obviously thinks he should. Now the Chancellor holds that
power over my sister, as well.

“
Are you upset over my
power to punish her?”

I clench my fingers together and say
nothing.

“
If it is, I can assure
you she'll come to no harm, just as I haven't punished
you.”

I should stay silent. Bethany would be
shaking her head at me right now if she was here. “Yet, you have
punished me once. I'm sure you have plans for more.”

“
You must be confusing me
with someone else. I've never lifted hand nor hex to
you.”

“
You didn't have to.
Punishment was delivered all the same.”

He squeezes the bridge of his nose.
“Sorry if I've offended you in some way. If you don't mind me
asking, how did I do it?”

“
How can you forget
something so cruel?”

He jumps from the bench. His words
harsh. “Forgive me if I remember doing nothing cruel. Please feel
free to remind me.”

“
Your false
congratulations over my new baby sister. Taunting me with the note
of her birth and insisting I share it with Cynthia. I would have
preferred the customary beating for another sister instead of your
false words.”

He spins to face me, dropping his
hands to the side. After a moment, he says, “You thought that was
cruel?”

“
Of course.” But even as I
say the words, I can't help but doubt them. He looks so shocked,
his face drawn, brows raised, he's earnest.

He kneels on the ground before me so
we're about eye level and takes my hands. “Serena, I beg for your
forgiveness. I had no idea of you being hurt by my comments. In
Envado, a birth is always treasured and my mother taught me to
treat those surrounded by a birth with respect.”

I stare at him, unable to comprehend
his words. Could it really be? Did he truly not mean to hurt me?
Does he really not mean to ever punish me or my sisters? His eyes
search mine. I can't help but want to believe him. A small flame of
hope lights within me.

“
How do I know your words
are true and not meant to set me up so the punishment is worse when
delivered?”

He hangs his head. His words are
barely audible. “What have they done to you?”

After a moment, he lifts his head and
gives my hands a squeeze. “I doubt anything I say or do will make a
difference on how you feel, but I'll give you what I can. You have
my word that I will not intentionally harm you or your sisters. If
I do, tell me and I'll fix it.”

His hands are so firm, but giving,
wrapped around mine. I don't know if I should believe him. I nod to
let him think he's getting his way. At the very least it will give
me time to think on it.

With a sigh, he withdraws his hands
and retakes his seat next to me. “Is that why the note bothered
you?”

“
Yes and no.”

“
Tell me what else
bothered you.”

I hesitate then say, “The note was
just a reminder of where I used to be and where my sisters still
are. Without me there, I don't know what's happening to
them.”

“
Do you want to talk about
it?”

“
No.” I slump back. He
sits without saying a word. “Is it like this in Envado?”

“
I hope that my actions
have been a good example of what things are like there. Here
though, everything isn't just different. It's wrong.”

“
Wrong how?”

He looks as if he's going to say
something, but shakes his head. After a moment, he says, “It
doesn't matter. I have a council meeting I should prepare for, and
you probably have some arrangements to make for your sister's
arrival.”

“
I suppose I
have.”

But neither of us move. Cynthia
readied a room across from hers, in hopes that Bethany would come.
There's not much else to do until she gets here. I wonder what
Chancellor Zade must do in preparation for a council meeting. I
watch him from beneath lowered lashes. He slouches against the
bench, eyes unfocused. Whatever he does must require a lot of
thought. What is he thinking about?

I watch him for a minute before
building enough courage to ask, “Is it hard getting ready for a
council meeting?

His eyes come into focus. “You really
want to know?”

I lick my lips. He said he wouldn't
punish me. Gave his word. Did he mean it? I steel myself in case he
didn't. “I do.”

“
Why?”

Why? It's something I've never thought
of before, but all my life Father has attended council meetings.
Warlocks discuss them all the time, even ones not on the council,
though in general terms. Only tiny bits of clues slip out as to
what goes on. I want to know more about those little hints. Know
why I'm forced to marry when Father says I must. Know why my
sisters and I must be punished.

I straighten my skirt. “It seems to me
there's a lot more going on than I always thought, and it'd be nice
to know. Perhaps attend a council meeting.” I slap a hand over my
mouth. After backing as far away from him as I can, I watch for
signs of delivering pain. I've never been so outspoken
before.

“
Are those your thoughts
or did your Father put you up to this?”

Not moving my hand from my mouth, I
shake my head.

His voice grows quieter. “No to which
one, Serena? You have to tell me.”

I put my hand on my skirt and clench
it. I don't dare take my eyes from him. “Not my Father.”

“
I need to be sure. Would
you be willing to let me cast a truth spell on you?”

I bite my lower lip. He's asking and
not just doing, that has to be better, right? Still, I don't want a
spell cast on me.

“
I won't do it without
your permission, so if you want continue this discussion we can
after you answer a few questions under the spell. Any time you want
to stop, we will, nothing further. You don't want to do it, fine,
but I can't tell you more until I know for sure.”

If I don't continue it now, I'll never
do it. How much do I trust him? Not at all. Or perhaps some. He's
more trustworthy than Father. And I do want to know more about the
council. The tarnished. The multi-wives law. The sacrifices. Why do
they do those? The fate of me and my sisters. Is having the chance
to know a little more about them worth allowing a spell?

“
If I let you cast the
spell on me, will you answer my questions?”

“
I'll answer what I can.
There are some things I can't say. Like the engagement
ceremony.”

I nod. That I understand. “Cast it.
Before I change my mind.”

“
Let's do it then.” He
lifts his hands and I can't hide a flinch. “It won't
hurt.”

A white light shines from his hands
and encompasses me. I feel only the air around me though, nothing
more.

“
Have you ever had a truth
spell cast on you before?”

“
No. Father never did.” He
mistakenly assumed I'd never dare lie to him.

“
Tell a lie then, any lie,
so you know what it will be like.”

Lie on purpose, what does one say to
that? I go with something easy. “I've only brothers.”

The light surrounding me pulses and
becomes dark.

“
To get it back you need
only tell a truth. Remember, if at any time you'd like to stop,
just let me know and we will.”

“
All right.”

The light goes back to white.
Chancellor Zade moves closer to me on the bench. “Are you asking
questions about the council on behalf of your Father?”

“
No.”

“
Why are you asking about
it?”

“
I'm curious about what's
happening. I want to know more.” The light remains
white.

“
Are you in any way trying
to get me off of the council?”

“
No.”

“
Are you associated with
anyone trying to end my life?”

I tilt my head to the side. Though I
know of the intruder searching for him, I wasn't expecting the
question. “I'm not.”

He nods like he anticipated my answer,
but a few of the lines ease from his face. “What do you know of my
family?”

“
Your family? Why is that
relevant?”

“
You can answer the
question and we'll talk about the council, or we can be
done.”

I didn't know his family was such a
taboo subject. “I know very little about your family and just what
you've told me. You respect your mother.”

He gives a small smile. “What are your
intentions toward me?”

My intentions toward him? “I have
none.”

The light turns ashy. He lifts his
brows. I look at the fountain. Why doesn't the spell like that
answer? Why don't I? “I don't know what my intentions are.” The
light pales a bit, though still off. “You're different than other
warlocks, but I don't know if I can trust it. If you're true to
your word, I wish you nothing ill.”

The light flashes back to white. “And
if I don't stay true to my word?” He holds up a hand. “Never mind,
don't answer that. I'll stay true to my word. I didn't cast this
spell to invade your privacy.”

He waves his hand and the spell lifts
from me. “Your Father wants me out of the council and I have to
protect myself against that. Thank you for being willing. What do
you want to know?”

It almost seems silly now, wondering
about the council. But one thing did make me wonder. “Why did you
ask me if I was associated with those trying to end your
life?”

“
There have been more
death threats against me than the attempt you know about. A few,
not enough to get concerned over, but I want to make sure before I
tell you too much.”

“
A few?” As in more than
one? My mouth goes dry.

“
Nothing to get concerned
over.”

It sounds like something worrisome.
“Do you know where the threats are coming from?”

He shakes his head. “A few guesses,
but no evidence of anything. In fact, I would feel better if you
learned to use a gun.”

“
A gun? Me? I'm not sure
I'm supposed to touch one.” No one in Chardonia uses one, man or
woman.

“
I checked the laws,
there's nothing that says you can't. The idea might sound foreign,
but it'd help me out if you had some sort of protection if they
come to the house again. It's warded, but sometimes that's not
enough.”

This is something he seriously thinks
I should do. Remembering how scared I was when I heard him coming,
thinking he was an intruder and not knowing what to do, helps me
understand where he's coming from. But one of those guns in my
hands? “I don't know.”