Page 93 of Forsaken Secrets

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Kaiya

Ihurried downstairs and through the halls, taking mental note of the work that needed to be done around the house. Sylvie had been carrying most of the weight lately, but I could pitch in more now that things were clearing up with the Ellingsworths.

If I could just make a little more money, I might even be able to get enough supplies to make Aunt Grace less worried.

Perhaps I should ask Eli about it this afternoon? Gods, no. I couldn't see him until I got my emotions all sorted out.

"Kaiya Maderoth." Aunt Grace's voice made me jump. I spun to see her tapping her foot in the doorway of her office. Her silver brow arched imperiously, and her red lips were pursed. "Where have you been these past few days?"

My cheeks heated, and I dipped into a curtsy. "I'm so sorry, Aunt. I was actually on my way to speak with you."

"Well, then. Shall we go to the sitting room and take tea? It feels like it's been forever since we've done that." She motioned towards the sitting room, then started walking, not waiting for my answer.

My stomach growled, and I looked longingly towards the dining room. Perhaps I had time to grab a small plate …

I slipped inside and grabbed a little plate from the sideboard, drooling as I piled it high with eggs and mash — the mashed orange tuber was one of my favorites. None of it was fancy, but it kept me full!

Eating as I walked, I slipped into the sitting room and sat atop one of the spindly wooden chairs across from Aunt Grace. She quirked a brow at my plate of food, then smiled. "Hungry this morning?"

I swallowed my bite, then sat the food down. "I'm sorry. I just — "

"Was up all night thinking?"

Damn. She knew me too well. "Yes. It works up quite an appetite."

Her lips twitched. "Look, I know that you've been working on something to save us, but I want to remind you it's not all on you. I've spoken with the Harlsteds, and they said they'll take us in while we get back on our feet. Their nephew won't be here much longer, so they'll have room for us. I hate to lose our home, but sometimes you just have to accept when you've been beat … and Lady Ellingsworth won this time."

I grimaced and swallowed my last bite of eggs.

"Aunt. I — I don't think we're going to lose the house."

Her jaw dropped. "What do you mean? Of course we are. I tried to get enough jobs, even going so far as to send advertisements to all the surrounding towns, but there was just no way."

I shook my head. "No. I don't think you understand. That's why I've been gone. I made … some friends."

Her foot tapped rapidly, and I grimaced. Perhaps I should have told her sooner … things just went so quickly!

"Well, they helped me look through the ruins and we met this lady from the Capital and saved these vrytra and …" Gods, I was making a mess of this. I took a deep breath and focused on her face. Her grey eyes were narrowed, but she mostly just looked confused. "I turned in the Ellingsworths to the Seekers."

"You what?!" she said, voice a sharp whisper.

"I, uh … well, I had evidence, and they agreed to protect us and — "

"How could you do such a thing?" she interrupted. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I grimaced and stood, pacing to the window and looking out. "I know, I know. But this time, there was proof. You see — "

"Kaiya. There will never be enough proof. They have everyone in their pocket."

I nodded. "I went straight to the Overseeker, and you know how he feels about Lord Ellingsworth."

Her jaw dropped, and she relaxed back into her chair. "The Overseeker. You went to the Seeker Institute?"

I nodded. "He seemed to take me seriously, at least. He just wanted some time to do his own research."

"How could you take these risks, Kaiya? If they'd caught you …"

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