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I take the seat opposite Castor, who’s still considerably underdressed for the cold in a loose cotton shirt. Lux, on the other hand, is dressed in a warm tunic and the velvet cloak I made him. It makes all the butterflies swarm in my belly as he sits close beside me.
“Try to rest if you can.” He pulls me against him. “With the snow now so thick, this ride will take much longer than your journey here. We’ll have to stop at an inn tonight.”
“I don’t care how long it takes as long as I get to see my sisters soon,” I reply.
“You will.” His tone shifts, and I don’t like it one bit.
“Why did you say it like that?”
He exhales as Castor laughs quietly. Before I can demand to know what’s going on, I see Meera, now wearing a thick cloak, passing the window to take her seat at the front of the carriage.
Lux catches me as it lurches into motion. “I want to be honest with you from now on, Eden. No more lies or secrets.”
I can’t trust that at all. “Tell me we’re at least still going to see my family.”
“Of course we are,” Lux says. “Like I said, I will not hide anything from you anymore. Which is why I’m going to be clear about the purpose of our visit.”
My eyes narrow. “The purpose is for me to see my sisters.”
“For you, yes, of course.” He kisses my hand, speaking in a low tone. “But I have my own reasons for wanting to confront your father.”
“This is about your mother, isn’t it?” I speak softly, remembering his letters.
“Yes.” His voice deepens. “If it weren’t for your father, she would still be alive today. I’ll never forgive him for that.”
I’m about to ask him how he can be so certain this was all Father’s fault when I stop myself. That won’t help the way he feels. Instead, I soften my tone even more. “Tell me about her.”
He meets my gaze. “You want to know about my mother?”
“Why wouldn’t I? She was important to you.” If Lux opens up to me about this, maybe he’ll be more likely to trust me enough to speak the truth from now on. That, and I’m also genuinely curious.
“She was… kind,” Lux starts. “She always found time for me, Castor too.” He glances at his brother, who’s watching him wistfully. “She didn’t care that he was born from Father’s mistress, she treated us both equally. She was a mother to both of us.”
“And she made good cakes,” Castor adds with a grin. “Spent more time in the kitchen with the cooks than with Father. He even offered to build her a private kitchen upstairs, but she liked it too much down there.”
“Yes,” Lux laughs. “She said the good company of the kitchen staff was part of the fun, and they loved her too. When she died they…” His smile fades. “Well, they were as devastated as the rest of us.”
Sadness washes over me, but I try to keep my tone light. “She sounds wonderful. How did she meet your father?”
“Which one?” Castor laughs as Lux shoots him a glare.
“Both.” I shrug.
Lux swallows. “I don’t know much about my biological father, other than that he worked in the kitchens. Rumours say that my mother had affairs with multiple men and that it would be impossible to know who the man responsible is. Though it’s also possible she was protecting him. Father isn’t exactly a forgiving man.”
Like father, like stepson, I suppose.
“But I also don’t care who my biological father is,” he goes on. “Castor’s father raised me as his own. He’s the only father I need in my life.”
“He made you the heir.”
“Yes.” Lux nods. “He said he decided it would be me the day I drowned Castor’s biological mother.”
My eyes widen. “You killed her?”
“She deserved it,” Castor cuts in. “Trust us, princess.” The pain in his gaze suggests there’s a lot more to this story, but Lux speaks again before I can ask him to elaborate.
“My mother met Father at a ball, just like we did.” Lux’s grin returns. “Father said he fell in love with her the moment he saw her. She… took a little more convincing,” he chuckles.
