‘Yeah.Maybe we can’t see them.’
Lachlan picks her up, kisses her cheek and nuzzles her nose.‘Babygirl, you’re so smart.I think you’re right.I think,’ he says, walking along the grotesquely dull corridor, reaching out to touch the walls, ‘that under thesesnore snorecolours, there’s a big, beautiful rainbow.’
‘With sparkles?’
‘And glitter.’
‘And all my drawings!’
‘Every single one.’
Her new coping mechanism breaks his heart.
‘I love you, Daddy,’ she whispers.
Lachlan doesn’t even lower his voice.‘I love you too, princess.’
?
‘You’ve got nowhere to sleep.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘I care, and so will he when you get circles under your eyes.’
‘I’ll sleep on the floor.’
Lachlan sighs and looks around Jules’ bedroom, which resembles the aftermath of a children’s theme park explosion.Individually, the decorative touches are bright and cheerful.Crammed together in one room, even Lachlan finds the place overstimulating.
‘She’s doing better now.’
‘When he leaves, we can put it all back.’
‘It’s probably better she get used to it.’
‘No, we can make it nice again!’
‘Jules.’
‘She wasn’t scared anymore!’
‘I know, but it did what it needed to.’
‘Kids need colour.They need bright cheery things!’
‘Andyouneed to sleep.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘You’re manic.’
Thus far, Penhalyx has focused mostly on correcting the East Wing, and now his attention has started spreading elsewhere, forcing Fenwick to roll back security measures that once gave the children, and everyone else living in the Estate, a little more freedom.He hasn’t started in on Jules yet.
‘I’mfine.’
‘I know you’re scared—’
‘I’m not scared!’he spits out, eyes wet.‘I feelsickbecause she was happy and he’s taken it all away.She’s so little, so fucking sweet, and now… it’s my fault.All of this is my fault and I can’t bear it!’
