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“Whatever you want. I’m at your service. You tell me, and I’ll do it.” Her voice dropped, seductive and teasing as her hands roamed over my chest.
“Well, then, get on your knees, my dark queen. Show me how much you want me.”
With Raven by my side, we would be untouchable. The next time I encountered the Guard, no one was leaving alive.
Chapter 41
Beth
Two years later
Rocking back and forth in the chair I kept on the front porch, I took a sip of my steaming coffee. The sun had just started to rise, basking the land in an orange glow, the orb growing bright as it climbed higher in the sky.
Letting out a sigh, I took a moment to appreciate the peacefulness of the moment and the journey it took to get there. I had lived over a thousand lives during my days on Earth, walked down paths I never expected and wound up places never meant for me.
Time and memory are fickle creatures, easily distorted and manipulated. Safety, trust, love…Those were eternal. My mind and body may fade away, but those feelings, and the people who brought them out in me will stay with me forever.
My son, my Eliot. For so long, guilt weighed on me. All the ways in which I had failed him. If I had been stronger, braver, smarter…all the what ifs amounted to one thing: I should have gotten us away sooner. Should have gotten us out of that mess before it touched Eliot at all. Before it scarred him inside and out.
It was my biggest regret, and something I had to live with every day. But then, at that moment, it was not the primary emotion pushing down on me. Instead, as I looked around the property, all I felt was pride and admiration.
Charlie had found the property, saw the potential in it before any of us did. With everyone’s help, the main house was completely renovated to suit Eliot and Lilah. The sun-drenched studio added to the back of the house was just perfect, and Lilah had been working on some magnificent projects there.
Then there was my house—the small cottage that sat at the edge of their property. It was far enough away from the main house to give us all privacy, but close enough we could walk over at any time. Wary at first, I didn’t want to become a burden on Eliot and Lilah right as they were starting their lives together.
“Beth, in all due respect, please shut up.” Lilah scolded me, and I was taken aback, unused to hear her talking sternly…Well, at all.
“Pardon me?” I asked, and Eliot looked between us, wide-eyed.
“You’re not a burden on me or on Eliot. You’re family. But, that aside, you’re also my best friend! The idea that I would be asking this out of pity or forced responsibility is insulting. You’re lucky I love you, so I’ll forgive you this time because I know this is a big decision. Let me be very clear, though. We want you near us. Plus, we’re at each other’s houses all the time, anyway. How is this any different? At least if we share land, you can teach me how to garden.” Lilah was fired up, her blue eyes sparking with emotion. Tears filled my eyes without my control.
“My brave girl. How can I argue with that?” I replied, proud of her for speaking her mind without fear. For healing in ways I had never even tried to.
“I don’t really understand what just happened here, but I’m gonna assume we’re all good and on the same page now? Ma, you’ll work with the contractor to update the cottage so you’re comfortable?” Eliot contributed, looking between us warily.
“Yes. That sounds lovely.”
And it had all worked out far better than I could have imagined. There was a part of me that felt like it was another level of autonomy I was losing. One step closer to an old age home with twenty-four hour surveillance and endless restrictions. Instead, it was a new lease on life. With my dementia, there were good days and bad days, but I took them all in stride, grateful each morning to have another day ahead of me, and for all the days behind me.
Watching Eliot and Lilah together made me believe in love again. It sounded silly, juvenile, for someone at my stage in life, but it was true. In my eyes, they were meant for each other. Soulmates, even. They brought out the best in each other, growing as individuals and as a couple.
How Lilah’s family could willingly miss those moments was beyond me. It was entirely their loss, but at the end of the day, it was probably for the best. After the success of Lilah’s interview, the family’s company took hit after hit. The company went bankrupt, and her mother and sister had run off to opposite ends of the country.
“Serves them right. They better not try to come here,” Charlie muttered. She had been working with Keys and Eliot to keep tabs on Lilah’s family. When it came to breaking down all that legal mumbo jumbo, she was perfect.
“Why would they try to come here?” Lilah asked, her brows furrowed as Eliot pulled her close.
“Beg you guys for money, now that they know Scythe’s not some homeless criminal like they assumed.” It hurt my heart, that it would be their motivation, rather than trying to make amends to the child they harmed so deeply.
“Lilah.” I covered her hand with mine, uncaring of the people around us.
“They don’t deserve you. They never did. You are my daughter now. Legally, but more importantly, because I claim you as mine. And my darling girl, you have a beautiful life ahead of you.”
“And my sister,” Charlie declared sternly, and I couldn’t help but laugh. She was a bossy little thing, and I was so proud of her.
Charlotte had become such a powerful young woman, graduating from law school with honors. Her graduation party was that day, and we were hosting. It was lovely to be part of the planning with Cece, Seph, Lilah, and Fee. The boys didn’t hesitate to help either, so we had plenty of manpower for some of our more extravagant ideas.
Did we necessarily need a throne for Charlie’s seat at the table? Did the intricate wood frame standing over five feet and weighing over 100 lbs seem a bit much? It didn’t matter. Once we had the tables set up behind the garden, the large chair at the head of the table with the plush pink velvet cushions looked amazing, and it was perfect for the club princess.
