by Rin Grey
If the Dome wanted her back, then that indicated they wanted her just as badly, didn’t it?
“We can protect her if necessary, can’t we?”
There was silence, and for a moment Jocelyn thought he wasn’t going to reply. Maybe she’d pushed him too far.
“We can, if she wishes it,” he said finally. It was as close as she was going to get to approval of her actions, and Jocelyn let out a sigh of relief.
She gave Elizabeth a tight smile. “Someone more than powerful enough to take on your prince, if necessary.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened slightly, but then she nodded slowly.
Jocelyn held her breath. Would it be enough?
Did she even really care?
“I wonder if you’re right. That would certainly be interesting to see. It doesn’t matter though, he’s not compelling me to leave. I’m going of my own choice.”
Jocelyn ground her teeth. She’d defied him and given secrets away, and Elizabeth had no intention of staying anyway.
Why did he want her to stay when he knew what she was like? Was there something she was missing?
Jocelyn gave it one last attempt.
“You’ll return to him despite the fact that you admit to suspecting he used you to get to us?” she demanded.
Elizabeth grimaced. “I doubt you can raise any questions that I have not already asked myself, Jocelyn. The fact remains though. I am going.”
“Let her go,” the voice warned again. “You tried your best, but it was never going to work.”
This time she heeded it. She gave up. It wasn’t worth it anyway. There had to be another Salinga somewhere who would be ten times as reliable as Elizabeth. If only Jocelyn could find her.
“You’ve put me in a very difficult position, Elizabeth. No matriarch has ever rescinded a declared heir, and this will make it my second time.”
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said, and her regret sounded genuine.
Not that regret helped Jocelyn any. “Not that I am left with anyone to take your place.”
Elizabeth was silent. It was clear she was out of ideas too.
“It will resolve itself. Trust, Jocelyn,” the voice insisted.
Jocelyn sighed. “But that is my problem. It seems you have enough of your own to deal with right now. Have you told Gemma and Mitchell yet?”
Gemma wouldn’t be pleased. Despite her past with Elizabeth, Jocelyn knew she’d come to enjoy her presence.
It was Elizabeth’s turn to sigh. “I haven’t, no.”
“Then don’t let me keep you.”
Elizabeth nodded and rose. “Thank you, Jocelyn,” she said quietly.
Jocelyn’s head jerked up and she stared at Elizabeth, trying to work out if she was being sarcastic, but her face was open and genuine.
“For what?” Jocelyn asked in surprise.
“For believing me,” Elizabeth said quietly.
For the first time, Jocelyn wondered if she’d misjudged her aunt. The woman never seemed to care about anything at all, much less what anyone thought. Why did she care if Jocelyn believed her?
“You might have had your differences with our family in the past, Elizabeth, but you’re still family,” Jocelyn said gruffly, trying to ignore the voice that told her she probably wouldn’t have believed Elizabeth, had she not had inside information.
Elizabeth inclined her head respectfully and took her leave.
Jocelyn stared at the papers on her desk she had signed only minutes ago. It seemed so long. Everything had changed in that short conversation.
“Did you know she was involved with him?” she asked the voice.
She was unsurprised when there was no answer. She hadn’t expected one.
Chapter 12 - Endings
It was still early afternoon when Elizabeth arrived home, but there was no point staying at the Salinga estate after she’d told Jocelyn. No more reason to avoid the conversations she knew she had to have here. Telling Jocelyn had been easy in comparison.
Gemma came out into the hallway when she heard the door open, wiping her hands on a tea towel, and looked at Elizabeth in surprise. “You’re home early. Is everything all right?” she asked.
Elizabeth hesitated, but she needed to tell Digger first. He deserved that much. “Do you know where Digger is?”
Her non-answer caused Gemma to frown, but she said, “He’s upstairs I think? He’s been quite dismal this morning. Is he all right?” The look she gave Elizabeth was accusing, as though she was sure it was all her fault.
Which it was.
“Probably not,” Elizabeth said with a wince. She’d been gone a long time, Digger was probably expecting the worst, which wasn’t far from the truth.
When Gemma looked as if she were about to ask something more, Elizabeth added, “I’ll explain later. I need to talk to Digger first.”
Gemma’s concern didn’t dissipate, but after a searching look at Elizabeth, she nodded and headed back into the kitchen, where Elizabeth could hear her asking Mitch to pour her some more hot water.
Reluctantly, Elizabeth headed upstairs to find Digger.
She found him lying on their bed, staring at the ceiling. He glanced over when she came into the room. “What’s the verdict?” he asked tiredly. He didn’t look like he expected good news.
Elizabeth sat down on the side of the bed, wondering how to break it to him. Telling Sean had been hard, telling Digger was ten times harder.
“It’s his, isn’t it?” Digger guessed, before she had a chance to say anything. “That’s why you were gone so long.”
Elizabeth sighed softly, her heart aching. “I’m sorry, Digger.”
“You’re certain?” Digger asked, though he didn’t sound at all hopeful, more weary.
Elizabeth nodded. “Positive.” There was no point hiding it, but she wished there was something she could say to ease the hurt she could see on his face.
Digger stared back at the ceiling again.
Elizabeth reached out a hand towards him, then let it fall before it reached him. There was nothing she could say, nothing she could do that could mute the pain he was feeling.
Up until this moment, she hadn’t realised that this would mean she’d lose him.
Through all the hoping that the baby was Sean’s, she hadn’t stopped to consider that if it was, she’d be returning to the Dome alone. She hadn’t stopped to consider how much she was going to miss Digger.
Tears pricked the back of her eyelids.
As though he realised, he turned towards her. He sat up on one elbow and wiped away a tear at the corner of her eye. “Don’t cry, Liz. We always knew this wasn’t forever.”
He should be shouting at her, berating her for the fact that she’d ruined everything, but even now he was thinking of her. She didn’t deserve him. She never had. Her tears flowed freely, and she managed to gulp, “I never realised that meant it had to end.”
He laughed, but he was crying too.
She bent down to kiss him, not sure if the salty tears she was tasting were her own, or his. His arms went around her, and they both fell back onto the bed.
Elizabeth knew she should pull back, knew that going there this one last time would probably hurt both of them more than help, but somehow she couldn’t.
Their coupling was brief and intense, riding on a wave of pain and sadness.
As they lay silently in each other’s arms, they were interrupted by a hesitant knock at the door.
“Elizabeth? Is everything all right?” Gemma called through the door.
Elizabeth heaved a sigh. Just one more person to tell, then she’d be done. “I’ll be down in a minute.” At least this one should be slightly easier. Maybe.
Their brief moment of understanding broken, she sat up. The pain on Digger’s face was too intense to bear, so she stood and began to dress.
“Have you told her yet?” Digger asked.
“No. I wanted you to know first.”
“Do you want me to come?”
Digger asked reluctantly.
Elizabeth shook her head. This wasn’t his responsibility, it was hers. “There’s no need. I can manage.”
Digger just nodded and returned to staring at the ceiling.
Elizabeth hesitated, wishing there was something she could say to ease his pain. As usual, she’d ruined everything, and there was nothing she could do to make it any better. Her best option was just to leave, before she made it worse.
Despite how much it hurt, she walked out the door without looking back.
*****
Gemma was in the lounge room knitting, and Mitch was reading by the fire. Elizabeth grimaced. She’d been hoping Mitch wouldn’t be present, at least not for this initial explanation. But there was no avoiding it.
Gemma looked up as she came into the room and put her knitting down. “I’m sorry if I interrupted anything. I was just worried about you.”
Elizabeth shook her head and sat down in the chair opposite her. “It’s all right, it was probably a welcome interruption.” Things were going to get awkward any minute anyway. Better that she left before they did. She hardened her heart against the guilt and sadness. She couldn’t deal with them right now.
Gemma hesitated, then said, “I’m not meaning to pry, Mamma, but I’m worried about you and Digger. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Elizabeth smiled wryly. Gemma was so unlike her, always wanting to help. But in this case, there wasn’t much she could do. “Probably not. I’ve already messed everything up beyond repair I think.”
Gemma’s concern deepened. “What happened?”
“I’m pregnant,” Elizabeth said bluntly.
“Pregnant?” Gemma stared at her in patent surprise. “I didn’t know… I mean… that you could…” She broke off, flustered.
“Oh yes, I’m still fully functional,” Elizabeth said in amusement. “Although right now that fact has put me in a very awkward position.”
“Digger isn’t happy?” Gemma asked, her surprise obvious.
Elizabeth winced. Now came the hard part. “I’m sure he would be happy, if the baby were his.”
“Oh.” Gemma’s face reddened. “I just assumed…” She trailed off.
Mitch had given up pretending to read his book and was listening with blatant interest. “Whose is it?” he asked.
“Mitch!” Gemma scolded. “That’s none of your business.” But her eyes showed curiosity too.
For a brief moment, Elizabeth considered giving an evasive answer and not admitting the truth. But she’d already told Jocelyn, and they deserved to know. She sighed. “It’s all right, Gemma. It’s a fair enough question. And since the answer means I have to leave, then you both deserve to know.”
“You’re leaving?” Gemma asked in dismay.
“You can’t go, Elizabeth,” Mitch echoed. “Who’s going to teach me magic?”
Both of them were more worried by her leaving than who the baby’s father was. That realisation brought tears to her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn’t deserve to worry about her own pain. She needed to reassure theirs.
“You’ll do just fine,” she assured Mitch. “You’re very competent.”
“Why do you have to leave?” Gemma asked sadly. “We were just getting used to having you around.”
Elizabeth took a deep breath, and admitted, “The baby’s father is in the Dome, and he wants her born there.”
“So he’s a mage,” Gemma said, as though that explained everything. As though it was all the fault of magic.
But she couldn’t blame this one on magic. It was all nature’s fault. And perhaps Elizabeth’s, a little. She nodded slowly.
“The king?” Mitch guessed.
“Goodness no,” Elizabeth exclaimed in amusement. “I’ve only met him once, and I doubt he even remembers who I was.”
Perhaps that was a small, white lie, but it could be the truth. Maybe.
Neither of them pried, but their curiosity was obvious.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and told them. “It’s Prince Veryn.”
“Prince Veryn?” Gemma repeated, screwing up her face in disbelief. “But he’s so… so…” She broke off, at a loss for words.
But Mitch nodded, unsurprised. “I should have guessed. His magic reminds me of yours.”
Gemma stared at him, surprised. “What do you mean?”
“They do things the same way,” Mitch explained. “Like, every mage makes a shield differently, but theirs is almost the same.”
Elizabeth was impressed at his perception, given how few mages he’d seen working. “He’s right,” she agreed, “Prince Veryn is the one who taught me how to use my magic.”
“So he’s the one,” Gemma explained.
“The one what?” Elizabeth asked, confused.
“The one who taught you, and probably the one who kicked you out of the Dome, right?” Gemma guessed.
As if she needed to be reminded. Elizabeth sighed. “He is, yes.”
“And you’re back with him? Obviously,” Gemma answered herself. “But why, if he kicked you out of the Dome?” It was obvious she didn’t think much of Sean. After her one experience with him, Elizabeth didn’t blame her.
Nor could she make excuses for his behaviour, except for one. “That incident was mostly my fault,” Elizabeth confessed. “But I think we’ve come to an understanding about it now, and we can move on. I intend to try, at least, for the baby’s sake.”
“Which means you are going back to the Dome and I’ll never see you again,” Gemma said softly, tears in her eyes.
“Oh, Gemma,” Elizabeth took a step forwards and pulled Gemma into a hug. “I’m so sorry.”
She wanted to assure Gemma that she would be back, often, to visit her, but she wasn’t even sure of that. She was painfully aware that just as Sean had given her the stone, he could as easily take it away once she returned.
Gemma sniffled for a few moments, then pulled herself together. She gave Elizabeth a hug and then pulled back. “When are you leaving?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth admitted. On one hand, she wanted to cherish this last week she could spend with Gemma and Mitch. On the other, she felt so bad about what she was doing to all of them, she just wanted to get it all over and done with and leave now.
“Not tonight though?” Gemma asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. “Not tonight,” she agreed.
“Right, then I’d better plan us the best goodbye dinner I can.” Gemma stood up and bustled into the kitchen, and got to work on the one thing she felt she could do to improve the situation—cooking.
Elizabeth smiled wanly, and she and Mitch followed.
“Will Digger be joining us, or…?” Gemma trailed off.
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said. “He’s pretty cut up.”
“I’d imagine,” Gemma sniffed. “I can’t believe you did this to him, Mamma.”
“Neither can I,” Elizabeth said sorrowfully.
The kitchen was silent, save for the sound of Gemma forcefully slicing the potatoes.
Then Gemma looked up. “What about you being the heir?” she asked.
Elizabeth sighed. “Obviously I can’t be now. I don’t know what Jocelyn is going to do.”
“She’s not going to try to make Mitch the heir again, is she?” Gemma asked, worried.
“I don’t think so,” Elizabeth reassured her. “She didn’t mention it at all.”
“But I don’t mind,” Mitch broke in. “In fact, I think I might like it.”
Both women turned and stared at him.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course you’re not going to be the heir again,” Gemma insisted. “You don’t owe the Salingas anything.”
“I know,” Mitch agreed, “but it makes sense. I mean, what else am I going to do? I’m a mage now. I can’t just go back to school, then work in some shop somewhere. I want to make something of my life.”
Gemma frowned. “There are plenty of o
ther things you can do,” she insisted, but it was a weak attempt.
Elizabeth had to admit, what Mitch was saying made sense. “It is pretty fascinating work,” she admitted. “Much as I wasn’t keen in the beginning, you could learn a lot at the Salingas.”
“I’ll go see Jocelyn in the morning,” Mitch said, as though that settled it. Suddenly he sounded far older than he had when she’d arrived, and Elizabeth knew that he’d be fine in her absence.
Gemma must have heard the same thing in his voice, because she didn’t even argue.
Chapter 13 – One Last Adventure
“Gemma, do you know what happened to my socks?”
Elizabeth froze, her breakfast halfway to her mouth, when she heard Digger’s voice behind her. After their brief moment of connection, he’d been avoiding her, sleeping on the couch and leaving the room whenever she entered it. She didn’t blame him. That was all entirely on her, but she did wish it hadn’t had to end that way.
And she selfishly wanted a chance to at least say goodbye to him. To maybe part on better terms. That was the main reason she was hanging around, although it was beginning to seem pointless if he kept avoiding her.
Maybe it would be easier if she just left. Then everyone could get on with their lives.
Gemma smiled at Digger. He wasn’t avoiding her. “I washed them, they’re out on the line. They should be dry by now.”
Elizabeth listened to their conversation, not wanting to spook Digger by joining in.
But when he said, “Right. I’m just trying to get everything together, I want to get an early start,” she realised that if she didn’t do something, he’d be gone before she knew it.
And for some reason, even though she knew that she should just let it go, she couldn’t.
“Where are you going?” she asked, twisting in the seat to look at him.
She expected him to say that it was none of her business. And she would have deserved it.
