Page 38 of Consort of the Crime Queen

Aurora

I know it's unlikely, but I want to try to convince Hadria to visit Mrs. Graves today. She's refused every time I bring it up, always saying she's too busy. But I can tell a part of her wants to go back, even if her stubborn pride won't allow it.

Today—the early afternoon—I find Hadria in her study, pouring over a bunch of scribbled notes with a fierce scowl on her face and a tired look in her eyes. She's trying to adapt her sleep schedule, and I appreciate it, but I think she needs more rest than she's getting. She doesn't even glance up as I enter the room.

"Hadria," I say softly.

Her stormy eyes flick to me briefly before returning to the documents strewn across her desk. "Is something wrong?" she asks distractedly. "I'm trying to figure out how to get to Nero. He's always so goddamn protected…" She trails off, caught up in strategizing again.

I take a deep breath. "Why don't you come with me to see Mrs. Graves this afternoon? I'm sure she'd love to see you."

Hadria's jaw tightens, the only outward sign that my words have affected her. "I don't have time for social calls."

"It doesn't have to take long. Even just an hour or two. I bet it would mean the world to her."

"My answer is no." Hadria's voice leaves no room for argument, and the scowl she gives me backs it up.

I sigh softly, knowing further debate is pointless when she's in this mood. "Fine. Have it your own way. I'll be going with Lyssa as my guard, then."

Hadria frowns harder, and I can tell she's trying to find a reason to deny me, but I put my hands on my hips. "Don't even try," I tell her. "I'm going. And that's that."

Hadria simply inclines her head in acknowledgment, but as I turn to leave I glimpse a shadow in her stormy eyes, a flicker of longing quickly smothered by her iron will.

But it's enough to reaffirm my belief that a part of her wants to reconnect with the woman who was once the only maternal figure in her life. If only I could find a way to persuade her.

Perhaps when Nero has been taken care of, she'll have more time to heal that fractured relationship.

Later that afternoon, I'm sitting in Mrs. Graves' cozy living room, gentle sunlight streaming in through lace curtains. The aroma of freshly baked cookies fills the air. Lyssa lounges casually in an armchair, snagging cookies whenever Mrs. Graves' back is turned and shooting me conspiratorial winks.

"It's so lovely to have you both visit," Mrs. Graves bustles in carrying a fresh tray of tea and cookies, which she offers to Lyssa first with a knowing smile. "Make sure you eat up now. You're both far too skinny."

Lyssa rolls her eyes and snags another cookie.

I sip the fragrant tea, letting its warmth seep into my bones. "I wish Hadria could have come, too," I say tentatively. "It's been too long since she's seen you. I know she'd love to be here if she could."

Lyssa snorts, undercutting my words.

But Mrs. Graves just sighs. "To tell you the truth, Aurora, I'm not sure I'm ready to see her again yet. I am delighted that you are safe and well. But Hadria behaved abominably to let you fall back into…well," she concludes briskly. "In any case, that girl has always been stubborn, even as a teen. She hasn't changed one bit."

Lyssa speaks through a mouthful of cookie. "You got that right."

"Manners, Lyssa," Mrs. Graves says. "And my issues with her recently do not cancel out Hadria's many fine qualities, too. I'll never forget what she did for me—and you, too, Lyssa. You both have my eternal gratitude. And I'm not the only one in this neighborhood who thinks of the two of you fondly."

I lean forward, eager to soak up these glimpses into Hadria's past. Lyssa launches into a story about the time Hadria picked a fight with a guy twice her size when he tried to play heavy with some of the local shopkeepers, demanding "protection" money. Her eyes dance with amusement as she describes Hadria getting her nose bloodied but refusing to back down until she beat him down. "And then she marched him around all those shops and made him apologize like a little kid. Funniest damn thing I've even seen."

Mrs. Graves laughs and shakes her head. "She certainly was a scrappy little hellion. But with a good heart, when she let it show." Her expression turns wistful. "Perhaps she's simply forgotten that part of herself exists."

Lyssa grows uncharacteristically somber. "Maybe so. But you know as well as I do, Mrs. G, the life she chose isn't for the weak." She looks my way and adds, "Even the best intentions usually only lead to pain in our world."

I know she's warning me, but I refuse to hear it. "Mrs. Graves," I say, "these cookies are amazing."

"Thank you, dear. Lyssa and Hadria always liked them, too. And Sarah, of course. My daughter," she adds, with a smile that has a hint of pain to it.

Lyssa shifts uncomfortably.

"You must miss her," I say gently to Mrs. Graves.

"Indeed I do," she says, and that smile gets even more pained. "But thanks to Lyssa and Hadria, I have a measure of peace, knowing that justice was done in her murder."

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