Volumes of the Vemreaux Complete Collection: A Dystopian Adventure Trilogy, page 105
“Liam.”
“Say it, or you don’t get my birthday.”
Blue huffed. “Fine. In this one instance, you were right.”
“And?”
“And I was wrong.”
Liam leaned closer to her. “What? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
“You were right, and I was wrong.”
“Loud and proud, baby!” he demanded.
Blue laughed as she rolled her eyes. She raised her voice, declaring to the living room, “You were right, and I was wrong!”
Liam reached forward and hugged her, both of them dissolving into fits of giggles. “There. Now, doesn’t that feel better?”
“No.”
“Funny. I feel amazing. Now say, ‘All hail Prince Liam!’”
“Oh, shut it.” Blue grinned as she shoved him playfully.
Baird looked to Killian. “I’m not doing that to keep my present.”
“Fine by me.” Killian spoke, but his eyes never left the gift Blue gave him. “I don’t know anyone who can remember their first birthday. Best do it up proper.” Killian held up the drawing and turned to Blue. “How did you do this?”
“With a pencil and colors I bought from the grocery store.”
“No, I mean, you never met them. How did you get them both so spot on?”
“I was at the funeral and saw a few pictures there. Alec showed me some pictures on his phone. Then your stories about how they were with you. I just guessed at the rest.”
Killian cleared his throat. “It’s lovely. I love it. You’re lovely,” he admitted quietly. “Doing something like this is…you’re lovely.”
Blue ducked into the collar of her shirt to hide from the sincerity of the compliment.
Suzette dabbed away the last of her tears, but her voice was thick with sentiment. “I already gave you my gift at the coronation.” The princess leaned down to kiss her sister’s hair.
“And it was unbelievable,” Blue thanked her.
Killian spoke up from his spot at the far end of the couch, his eyes still on the portrait. “My gift for you isn’t ready yet, Blue. You were in your room all day, and I didn’t want to bother you.”
“You never bother me,” Blue offered meekly. “But thank you for whatever it is.”
“I can tell you. It’s just not done yet. I’m taking the big mirrors off the wall of your bathroom. Replacing them with a small one off to the side. That way, you can look at your face if you want, but you don’t have to. And you don’t have to have a panic attack every time you use your bathroom.”
Blue exhaled a gust of air she did not realize she had been holding in. “You…what? You’re taking them down?”
Killian looked up from the picture down to her bewildered expression. “Did you not want that? I can think of something else if you’d rather keep the mirrors.”
“No! It’s perfect. I never even thought to ask for it. Thank you, Killian. Thank you so much.” Gratitude exuded from her, seeping from her pores and shooting out of her eyes in his direction. She was amazed how well they had come to understand each other in the short time since they met. He cared for her in a different way than Baird did, or even Sam. He did not focus on training her or readying her for some big event, nor did he need her to be anything for him, other than what she already was. She took a deep breath and spoke aloud the biggest gift she could think to give. “I love you, Killian.”
He met her unspeakable relief with an understanding smile. “I love you, too, angel.”
“No more mirrors?” She touched her cheeks, relieved she would no longer have to catch glances of them in the glass. Her hair could stay auburn, not coated in red goo. She breathed, trying not to choke on her appreciation. “Thank you. Thank you,” she whispered.
Killian nodded. “I can take them out in the morning and put in your new mirror.” He cleared his throat. “Your turn, Baird.”
Baird tore his eyes from the picture of Grettel and glanced down at the back of his sister’s head. “You already got your gift from me. It was my idea to have your first name legally changed.”
Blue turned and smiled up at her brother. “That’s so great, Baird. That was you?” She watched her brother nod, and then turn his attention back to the portrait. Killian and Liam traded pictures while Blue fiddled with her box, trying to transform it into a useable weapon.
“She’s adorable,” Suzette cooed, snuggling into Baird’s side. “Grettel, right? She looks so happy here.”
Baird nodded, his arm unconsciously finding its way around Suzette’s shoulders. “Yeah. She always got giddy when they had macaroni and cheese in The Way. Lit up like your Christmas tree over there. Tiny thing, but she could put away a disgusting amount of that pasta.” Baird’s face clouded over with concern. “But I’m not there anymore to give her my share. She’ll only get what’s on her plate, and that won’t make her happy. It’s not enough.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and closed his eyes.
Suzette stroked the rough stubble on his cheek and pressed her forehead to his. “What else did Grettel like?”
Baird forgot the room he was in and breathed in Suzette’s scent. He gripped her wrist to maintain some control over the touch that threatened to undo him.
Suzette responded by tenderly tracing his cheekbone with her thumb. “Tell me, Baird.”
“Grettel went crazy for the jugglers at the Peace Day parade. Even risked being near the Vemreaux to see them up close.”
“Is that so?” Suzette dragged her fingernail across Baird’s jaw, ignoring his faint A-blood scent.
“Yeah. She, um, I took her to see the jugglers, and they were flipping flaming batons around. One of the clowns caught the baton in his teeth, and she screamed.” Baird chuckled, and then held his breath as Suzette brushed the tip of her nose against his. “Suzette, I…”
“Yes, Baird?”
“It…you…I…” Baird’s brain left him when Suzette traced a line down his parted lips.
“What is it you want, Baird?”
Before he could grab hold of reason, Baird closed the two centimeters of space between them and caressed a kiss from her pink lips.
Suzette held his jaw, but her mouth did not rush. She teased him slowly, sensually and sweetly as she rewarded him with kiss after excruciatingly measured kiss, enjoying the feel of the immovable man melting under her spell.
Before Baird was ready, Suzette pulled away, brushing her nose against his once more. “You opened up to me.” She traced his upper lip with the very tip of her tongue, evoking a soft moan from the man. “If you want more, you’ll have to work for it. That’s all you’ll get for now.”
Abruptly, Suzette pulled away and patted his cheek. The princess turned and settled into Baird’s side, claiming her new spot with confidence. That is, until she took in the flabbergasted faces of her family. She waved off their gawking expressions, reached down and ran her fingers through Blue’s hair. “Who’s next?”
Baird snapped out of his haze, shaking his head as he tried to force some sense back into it. “What just…I, um…”
Frederick stood, his eyes wide. “I still have to give Blue my gift, but I’m thirsty. Simply must have some tea. Liam, bring that concoction you made your sister to the kitchen. Killian? Blue? Help me make the tea.” When they did not move right away, Frederick’s tone sharpened. “Now.”
Everyone scurried into the kitchen to give Baird a moment to regroup.
16
Frederick’s Fears
When Baird and Suzette joined everyone in the kitchen a few minutes later, they made a show of being very into the tea. Suzette hugged her brother, who looked at her like she was an alien. “Thanks for the tea, Liam. Really. It’s so good.”
It smelled like death and tasted like the plague, but the distraction was much appreciated. Baird took a sip, hiding his grimace. “So good.”
Frederick’s hand was heavy on Baird’s shoulder, and the Wayward could not tell if it was supposed to be reassuring or threatening. The emperor smiled as he led them all back into the living room with their mostly untouched beverages.
Liam and Suzette entertained them all with stories about their childhood Christmases, drawing in laughter and sentiment from the contented listeners. Killian read from his Bible a story about the birth of a baby prince, born among the animals. Angels announced him and sang his praises, and hope was brought to the world. When Killian finished, everyone enjoyed the peace for a few minutes, letting the beauty of the moment and the morning settle in around them.
Frederick snapped out of his reverie. “A song,” Frederick explained, handing Blue a small stack of sheet music with hundreds of handwritten notes scrawled on the bars. “I wrote you a song as your present. The second part of my gift is piano lessons.” His voice was gravelly. “Once a week. I know you can copy songs you see played, but an accomplished musician should be able to read music.”
Blue’s eyes flew over the pages, cataloging every detail of the foreign code. “You wrote me a song? No one’s ever written me a song before.” She gingerly touched the edges of the pages, making certain she did not wrinkle or smudge them. “Isn’t this against the law? New music?”
Frederick cleared his throat and sat straighter in his armchair. “The law states that no new music can be played outside one’s home. I’m afraid you’ll have to keep your gift in the mansion, my dear.”
Blue smiled down at the present. “You sort of almost broke the law for me.”
Frederick chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m sure it won’t be the last time.”
“You love me,” Blue stated. She looked up at the emperor and cocked her head to the side, wondering why on earth someone so wonderful would waste his warmth on her.
Frederick leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees to look her directly in the eye. “Indeed, I do, figlia.” His loving gaze held back none of his affection, pouring it out on her lavishly to bathe her in his utter acceptance of everything she was, and was not.
“Thank you, Dad.”
That clinched it. Frederick’s handkerchief came out to stem the emotion, but it did little good. He motioned for Blue to come sit with him in his overstuffed chair. When she tucked into his side, his arms held her tight as he silently wept. He cried for his son whom he thought he might never again lay eyes on. He cried for his daughter, who, after all the love he poured into her, finally learned how to demand value of herself. Frederick cried for Liam, who laughed during the day, but drank himself sick at night. He cried at the loss of his wife, the betrayal of his brother, and the deaths of the guards he had grown up with and often regarded as family. But when Blue claimed him, verbally stamping the label of paternity on him, he wept quiet tears of love for the girl who could never be invisible in his eyes, no matter how many pictures she tried to paint herself out of.
Blue shook in Frederick’s arms, and they clung to each other for a moment, finding sanity in the comfort only they could offer one another.
“I do love you,” Frederick whispered, kissing Blue’s cheek. “So much. So much.”
Suzette kissed the top of her father’s head, and his sons gripped onto his shoulders and arms. Baird remained on the couch, as always, keeping a safe distance from the emotion, lest it become infectious. When Frederick looked up from his handkerchief, Baird nodded solemnly, conveying his appreciation and offering up a small amount of solidarity. The emperor returned the nod, drying his eyes and pressing a kiss to the hands of each of his children.
“The king,” Frederick began, attempting to collect himself. He refused to let go of his new daughter. “The king is coming for a visit tomorrow to discuss a few things about Baird’s prison reform policy. In the evening, I’ll give my address to the people, reading the results of the impeachment poles. I received a five percent impeachment vote, which as you know, is not nearly enough to remove our family from office. However, it is more than the almost four percent I received last year.” He watched the muscles in Killian’s neck tighten. “So I will be addressing any new concerns written in the ballots and announcing the new policy. Depending on how it is received, things may get worse before they get better, so no one leaves this house without a guard.”
Everyone seemed to accept this, so Frederick continued. “It’s been over thirty days since Brody, Isaac and Jacque were brought back. The lawyers will be by tomorrow morning to read their wills. Busy day. Some of you were mentioned in them, so I’d like you to be here in the morning when they get here. That should be the last part of this whole horrible process, and then we can set about the impossible task of making peace with it all.”
Frederick took a breath, gathering his thoughts before pushing forward. “The men who attacked me at the coronation are not from Europe, so I don’t have the authority to hold them here. However, Emperor Anders has granted me permission to see them before they’re shipped over for execution in a few days.”
“Take me with you.” Blue spoke up from her place in her father’s arms. “I can get answers out of them. I can tell if people are lying.”
“I appreciate that, figlia, but Baird will be coming with me, since they attacked him, as well.”
Blue wanted to argue, but Baird was the next best thing.
The family talked politics and policy a little while longer before Liam lightened the mood by insisting on seconds of the dessert. He came out with a plate of cake and ham, which he insisted went perfectly together, and ate each bite of ham with a little frosting on top. His argument to Baird that holidays had no rules on food or exercise only held up because Baird was still so taken with the image of Grettel, and so confused by Suzette.
Suzette hugged and thanked everyone before retiring to her room, her business documents clutched to her chest. “Baird, are you busy?”
Baird shook his head instead of verbally responding. He could not imagine anything intelligent coming out of his mouth when she beckoned him looking as beautiful as she did.
Suzette ran her index finger along the inside of his wrist. “Could you walk me through all this?”
Baird glanced around to be sure he was not needed, then stood, following her up the stairs to her room, like a puppy scampering off after its master.
Killian excused himself, and then Liam exited, leaving Blue and Frederick in the living room amidst the wrapping paper. When Frederick relinquished his favorite chair for the night, Blue grabbed onto his hand before he could escape back to the sick room. “Please take enough guards.”
“Of course, my dear. I am always ever cautious.”
“Can you get your hands on their bank information?”
Frederick scratched his jaw. “It’s possible. I’ll have to ask Emperor Anders, of course, but he’s been agreeable through the whole process thus far.”
“Good. That information could tell you if they planned it, or if they’re acting for someone else. I want this to be over for you, but only if it really is. If more are coming after you, I need to know about it.”
Frederick remained quiet for a few moments before speaking. “So, if I’m to understand you correctly, you want me to stay safe.”
Blue blinked up at him. “Of course. I’d do anything to keep someone from hurting you. You’re mine.”
The emperor smiled, and almost lost his train of thought at her sweet declaration. “So, if I were to wander around without my guards tomorrow, or go by myself to visit the men who tried to kill me, how would that make you feel?”
Blue’s face screwed up at the absurd question. “You would never do that to your people. You wouldn’t do that to us.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t. But if I did, you might feel that I did not care what happened to me. And since so many people depend on me, you might make the leap that if I don’t care what happens to me, I don’t care what happens to them, either.”
Blue nodded, unsure of this line of thought. “I guess so. Yeah.”
“And what if, after all you went through on the island to bring Killian back, he took up his old ways at the clubs? What if you saved him, brought him back to life, and then had to watch while he threw that life away? Ruined Sam a little more? How would that make you feel?”
“Um, really mad?” Blue questioned, though she knew much worse feelings would drive her at that point.
“So, I’m sure you can see, then, why our Sammy is so upset right now.”
“Huh?” She cocked her head to the side.
Frederick smiled to himself, thinking she looked very much like Charmond when confused. “Sam has given up a lot for you. More than you realize. His wanton behavior, sure, but you’ve inspired him to give up on this feud with my son, as well. Not an easy thing to do, that. Is there anything Sam would not give you?”
“No. Sam loves me.”
“Is there nothing he would not do to make you happy?”
“He’d do anything for me.”
“How do you think Sammy feels when, after all he’s given up and changed to be with you, you repay him by hiding under your bed or running away from him? How wounded do you guess he is when you let your fear of the outside world keep you locked in this house?” His voice lowered. “After all Sam went through to get himself ready for the island just so he could make sure you were safe, after digging a bullet out of your shoulder, after watching his friend die and you almost die, how scared do you think it makes him to think of you walking back into that mess?” Frederick stared his new daughter down. “How little would Killian have to care for you to go back to the island?”
“K-Killian would never go back there.”
“But if he did, would you not be afraid you might lose him? Would you plead with him to stay? How much more is Sam feeling right now? He loves you, ragazza amata. Take it from me, letting someone love you requires just as much sacrifice as initiating the act itself. You have to think of how your actions affect them.”
Blue shook her head. “But I’m not Killian. At the end of the day, no matter how much I don’t want to be, I’m still the stupid Light, and I’m supposed to end the tyranny. I’m trying to keep more Vemreaux from disappearing. I’m not trying to hurt Sam. This is actually important!”
