Falling For Them Volume 2: Reverse Harem Collection

by Nikki Bolvair

  Worry was evident in Adrian’s wide eyes. “We’ll listen, Mama. We won’t even interrupt or be impertinent like the old woman next door says.”

  Our neighbor always told them how impertinent they were. Eric didn’t know what impertinent meant, but he didn’t think it was bad because she always made sure to bake them extra sweets, and let them pet her puppies. She couldn’t be a bad person.

  A small smile stole over Mama’s lips, but it slowly slipped away as she went into another coughing fit. Eric offered her the glass again, doing the only thing he knew of to ease her discomfort. “Thank you, boys.” Taking a cautiously deep breath, she started, “Long ago, when your Mama was a little girl around your own ages.” She inhaled sharply, stopping her tale with another rattling wheeze. They waited, worried.

  “My father wasn’t a good man. He often told me I would end up in the netherworld for killing my own Mama. He enjoyed using cruel words.” She sniffled, which triggered another coughing fit. Eric grabbed the whole bucket of water, dragging it to where she sat and scooped out another cupful for her.

  James scooted closer to her, holding her hand in his while trying to comfort her. Her frail fingers trembled, but she managed to give him a tiny smile once she caught her breath. “I prayed daily for a savior. I wished—” She stopped abruptly, coughing into her handkerchief. “I understood no answer would come. At least, I believed it until your Father arrived.”

  Papa? Not sure if he approved of the direction of this story, he moved closer to her, walking on his knees across the bed. He lifted the glass up to her lips, for her to take another sip.

  “Your fathers eyes the exact shade of blue as the twins’, with hair as dark as Eric. He saved me.” She blinked rapidly, rubbing at her eyes to mask the tears beginning to pool when she let herself drift back to him. “He helped me escape your grandfather, taking me to a place both magical and safe. Warm all year, but it never got to be too hot.”

  Wheezing, she paused, and Adrian spoke up, “Where did he go, Mama? And why don’t we live in this place?”

  Wanting to blurt out that their father left them because he didn’t want them, Eric bit his tongue. He didn’t want them anymore. Speaking up would upset Mama.

  Mama halted Adrian’s questions with a lightly placed palm on his small knee. “His Father forbid him from having children and banned him from leaving his world, but he did, for me. By the time his father found out about us and, our gifts, the three of you, were already born.” Pausing, her gaze ran over each of their faces.

  Silent, it was clear James and Adrian didn’t know what to make of this tale. Their eyes were huge, taking over their tiny faces. “We left because the twins and I were born?” Eric scrunched his nose up, squeezing his eyes shut. He remembered hearing it that night, hearing Mama talk to an empty room, but her confirmation made his eyes prickle, and his throat burn. He wouldn’t cry, though. Not in front of Mama. Not when she needed him to be strong.

  “No. No, love.” She drew in a labored breath. “Children were forbidden to me and Oregaine, but all three of you are wanted and adored. It crushed your father not to be here as you grew up.”

  Sweat dripped down her forehead, and Eric wet a cloth, gently running it along her cheeks to cool her. Wanted, but forbidden? What did she mean? He cocked his head slightly, questioning.

  Understanding his look, she answered, “Yes. We hoped our family wouldn’t be found until after you boys grew up. Unfortunately, things didn’t happen that way.” She took a shallow breath before continuing on. “It’s not that children are forbidden amongst gods—”

  In his shock, Eric interrupted, “What do you mean…?” His mind seemed to be working overtime as he continued, “Are you trying to say that we are half god?”

  Mama ran her thin fingers through his hair. “Yes, half god and half mortal.”

  Panic welled up in his throat as he realized Mama would not tell them this unless she was close to the end. People sometimes became delusional right before death claimed them and sometimes they told truths. Fiercely, he grabbed Mama, hugging her as she gently patted his back. “You boys will be fine, Eric. I know your father will continue to watch after you once I’m gone.”

  “Mama, he’s been gone for seven years! He’s not coming back, and he won’t be here to watch over us!” His voice rose as desperation clawed at him. If he could get her to believe Papa wouldn’t come back, she might be alright.

  “Sweet, let me finish my tale. There isn’t much time left, and I must finish. You must know your origins.” Her hand shook as she lifted his chin, forcing him to make eye contact with her. Her gaze seemed lucid, which made the delusions harder to bear.

  “Yes, Mama,” he whispered, sitting up.

  “Only one god was actually forbidden from having children, Oregaine, the god of prophecy. He watches over the future. The other gods, and his father, thought his children might create havoc in all the worlds by manipulating peoples’ lives, rather than simply watching over them.” She glanced at them.

  She drew in another breath, having gotten more labored the longer she spoke. Perhaps the fever had already driven her mad. They couldn’t be the sons of a god, the story preposterous.

  She sent him a peaceful smile as if finished. The world righted by telling her fanciful story. He missed the mother she used to be; the one who sang them lullabies and told stories to put them to sleep every night.

  Tugging the twins out of Mama’s bed, then shooing them to theirs, Eric gently helped Mama fluff her pillow, allowing her to lie more comfortably. “Good night, Mama.” Eric kissed her cheek, pulling the warmer blankets up over her.

  “Good night, my sweet boy.” She lightly brushed his hair with her fingers.

  Eric stayed up most of the night, keeping an eye on the twins to make sure they slept and watched over Mama, who seemed to get worse as the night wore on. At one point, she started speaking fitfully to Oregaine. Eric wasn’t sure she knew where she was, but she didn’t seem to be awake. By the time midnight came, Mama had fallen into a sleep she couldn’t be woken from, even when Eric shook her. As he watched, her breathing slowed until finally, she passed away.

  Crying quietly, Eric watched over the twins as they slept. Their curly hair peeked above the comforter. In the morning, he would need to take the day off from his apprenticeship to attend to Mama. The longer he dwelled on it, the more he realized he should bury her now, in the dark of night. The twins wouldn’t get to say their final goodbyes in the time honored tradition, but Mama would want it this way. No one would know Eric would be the one providing for his family from now on. He didn’t want those in charge of their village to find out Mama had passed. They would try to separate him and his brothers and take their home. He earned enough as an apprentice to cover most of the cost for food and taxes, he’d been doing it for the last few months anyway. If anyone asked, he could claim Mama needed to travel to her old home to take care of something.

  Standing with one last glance at his little brothers, he bundled up as well as he could, wrapping his thin cloak around his shoulders. It didn’t take long to locate a shovel in the small shed behind their house, and decide on an out of the way spot for the grave. Their house stood on the outskirts of town, and the trees from the edge of the forest cast shadows over him as they danced eerily in the winter breeze. The ground was partially frozen, and he contained enough fire magic to heat the dirt. Once he thawed the thin layer of ice covering it, he started to dig.

  Mama always said they should hide what magic they did possess. It didn’t make sense since his magic was almost non-existent, and it only started manifesting itself in the last few months, but he would obey her. Now that she was gone, he would make sure they all continued to follow her rules. She wouldn’t be there to save them if they ran into trouble because they didn’t heed her words.

  Numbness overwhelmed him the longer he dug. He couldn’t believe she was gone. They’d never listen to one of her dumb bedtime stories or dance frivolously to her hor
rendous singing. No more kissing her goodnight or tight hugs. He sniffled. In the morning he would need to be a grown up, but in the cold hours leading to dawn, he could be Eric, the boy whose mother died.

  Wrapping her body in blankets, he took pains not to wake the twins when he took her out of the house, then used an old wheelbarrow to get her to the grave. It took the remainder of the night to finish burying Mama. Dropping to his knees at her grave, his voice broke as he spoke. “Mama, I am so sorry. Rest well.” Lying down, he rolled onto his side, and placed his palm flat against the warmed earth. He stayed there beside his mother one last time as he sobbed his goodbye to her. “I love you.”

  He wouldn’t be able to put any sort of headstone where he buried her, but he could find something to mark her grave with. He would do it tomorrow. Now, he needed sleep in order to figure out how he would care for the twins on his own.

  Chapter Two

  A New Life

  Kicking out, Rhea squealed as the large hand wrapped around her shoulder. “No! I won’t go with you! Leave me alone!”

  “Girl, you’re coming with me!” Pulling her in, a long arm wrapped around her middle, keeping her from making contact with his shins again. From the new angle, she recognized him as one of the city guards who regularly walked the streets in search of runaways. She couldn’t believe she’d been caught.

  “I won’t go back! You can’t make me.” She squirmed, trying to get free. His grip on her tightened painfully, as he yanked the bag off her shoulder. Trying to draw another breath in, she wheezed.

  Glaring at anything daring to glance her way as the man carted her back to Mistress Pem, she plotted yet another escape. She hated the orphanage. The tall, white structure sat in the middle of a bustling city. The wharf was located nearby, and she’d tried to escape that way the last time. The time before that, she’d headed for the outskirts of the city, only to get caught by the gatekeeper. This time, she’d been prepared to climb to the roof on the inn to get over the city walls, but she’d been caught before she could start climbing.

  The orphanage loomed right around the corner, and it didn’t take long for the guard to reach the front door. After knocking loudly, its hinges squeaked while opening. Mistress Pem, an older woman with a heavy hand and cruel intentions, blinked up at the guard in surprised concern, while Rhea shuddered at the false look. This punishment would probably be worse than the last one.

  “Ma’am, it seems one of your charges escaped.” He held Rhea aloft, handing her over to the woman like a prize.

  Mistress Pem batted her heavily painted eyes at the guard, doing her best to appear worried about Rhea’s well-being, before grabbing her face to squeeze it painfully in the pretense of relief at the young girl’s return. “Oh, you poor dear!”

  Glaring at her, Rhea squirmed to be released. Next time, she would need a better plan. Living on the streets was preferable over living with this woman.

  The guard dropped her, and she fell to her hands and knees before racing into the building. Her palms stung where scraped.

  A stranger waited in the entryway, and she barely spared him a glance as she ran past.

  Most men came here to have relations with Mistress Pem, although how anyone could find the old hag attractive confounded her. If this man was here for Mistress Pem, the interruption would make her extra angry with Rhea. Cringing, Rhea tried not to imagine the rope Mistress Pem would tie her up with.

  Turning to head for the stairs, Mistress Pem growled out, “Stop, Rhea. I loathe to admit this gentleman is here for you.”

  Pausing, Rhea pivoted toward the man. “What for?” She couldn’t help the suspicious tone from creeping into her voice.

  “I need you to perform a task for me.” He steepled his fingers together, clearly waiting for Rhea’s response.

  “What? No way!” She knew what went on between a man and a woman, and she was not doing that! By their laws, her age made engaging in adult acts illegal, which he should know.

  He sighed. “Obviously, you presume this task to be different than it really is. I promise not to lay a hand on you. You will be given food and shelter and earnings.” He paused, staring at her. When she stepped closer in curiosity, he added, “My employer needs someone to keep an eye on his children for him and he’s chosen you.”

  She blinked. “I’m only seven. I don’t want to take care of his bastards.”

  He opened his mouth to reply when Mistress Pem cut in, “Oh, no you don’t, girl. You will be leaving with him.” Rhea guessed Mistress Pem realized she didn’t want to go with him so she planned on forcing Rhea to leave.

  The man studied Rhea for a moment before turning his gaze to Mistress Pem. “Child, please get your things. We shall take our leave of this wretched place immediately, and I’ll explain more on the way. You’ll be perfect for this job.”

  An offer of freedom from this place might be worth taking care of kids. Decided, Rhea nodded in agreement. She could listen to the details. If she didn’t want to stay with him after, she needed to find a way to escape.

  She already carried her bag of belongings over her shoulder. “I don’t have anything to grab.”

  “Let’s go, then.” He brushed past Mistress Pem, leading her out the door and all the way to the forest surrounding Haverly in silence. A small cottage stood alone beside a gravel road about a mile outside of the city. He entered the building, holding the door open for her. The building matched the size of a small hut and appeared completely empty inside.

  “What are we doing here?” Rhea blinked, glancing around the room as she questioned him. A wood stove sat in the middle of the room, but she imagined it wouldn’t if not for the bolts pinning it to the floor.

  Voice filled with humor, he led her to a door in the back of the house. “Our destination is through here. This cabin is a decoy to keep my employer’s business private from those who might follow.”

  As soon as the door opened, wind tugged at her hair, whipping her dress and tangling it around her legs, preventing any attempt at escape. He didn’t speak as he took her to the center of a bright light. The possibility she might be wrong about escaping later shook her to the core.

  She closed her eyes and held her breath, expecting pain, but instead it was nausea and light flooding her senses. Falling to her knees, she gagged and heaved. Her hands and legs shook.

  “Open your eyes, Rhea.” He laid a gentle hand on her back, giving her the courage to crack them open.

  “Where are we?” Instead of standing in the hut with bare, wooden walls, a huge room with stark white walls surrounded them. Aside from the portal and a large, bearded man holding a ruby studded staff, the room was empty. The floor and ceiling matched the walls.

  “Be patient a little longer, Rhea. Our destination is close.” As they passed the guy with the staff, her escort handed him something. “You and Oregaine are even, Barock.”

  Heading outside, she shivered as a slight breeze hit her bare arms, and the gray sky made the atmosphere gloomy. Wrapping her arms around herself, she followed him through the empty, pale stone streets. Small houses lined the streets, but the further they walked, the bigger the houses seemed to get. They walked in silence until they came to a large, brick house, surrounded by a colorful garden. “What is this place?”

  Ignoring her question, he led her inside to a table with a pair of wooden chairs. Another man stood at the bottom of a set of stairs, thoroughly engrossed in the book he held. Shoulder length dark hair didn’t obscure his profile, showing his straight nose and full lips. Even from this angle, he was the most beautiful man she’d ever laid eyes on.

  Her escort spoke, drawing the gentleman’s attention. “Oregaine?”

  “Ah, thank you, Migarde.” Turning toward Rhea, with a dismissive gesture to her escort, he spoke again. “Please sit down, and I will explain.” His piercing blue eyes pinned her in place for a moment.

  Shaking off his stare, she pulled herself onto a chair, a bit too tall for her. Maybe now she would l
earn what he wanted with her. “Okay, I’m waiting.”

  “Alright.” With a smile, he sat down across from her. “Your feistiness will serve me well. My name is Oregaine.”

  When he paused after revealing his name, she frowned. Didn’t that name belong to one of the great gods? “Isn’t it sacrilegious to name a child after a god?”

  He chuckled. “That’s a pretty big word for a small child.” He shrugged a shoulder. “And I suppose it might be.” Obviously not concerned, he continued, “Now, then, on to my dilemma. Due to my unfortunate circumstances, I have been forbidden from being in my children’s lives, unless they seek me out. My wife, their mother, recently passed away, and I need someone to keep an eye on the children.” Taking a deep breath, he fidgeted with his fingers. He didn’t seem as calm about his wife’s death as his words made him seem. “To this end, I will need to ask you to use your abilities. They will aid you in this task. In return, while you are under my roof, you will never go hungry. I will give you a space to call your own, an education, and anything else you might need to aid you in this endeavor.”

  After a moment of going over the offer, she couldn’t help but ask, “What do you mean by keeping an eye on them?”

  “You will be taught, by me, in the usage of mirror magic and granted a portal mirror to watch over them from a distance. In the future, you will be allowed to have more intimate contact with my sons, whereas I cannot. Once your training is complete, if you wish to walk away, you may do so. Although, I hope you’ll want to stay and help me.” Oregaine’s blue eyes turned serious as he spoke.

  “At any time, if I don’t want to continue, I will be allowed to leave,” she negotiated.

  “Yes, that will work.” Negotiating with a seven-year-old wisp of a girl amused him more than he expected. “We will begin training in the morning. Let me get supper started, and then I will show you to your room.”