Page 104 of Worthy Promises
“Understood, Your Highness,” Worth said, not missing the warning tone in King Egmont’s voice. It was clear the man was protective of Ismay, which made sense if the pair had shared ten years together.
“Please come inside, Ismay is eager to meet her son,” King Egmont responded, leading the way into the stately home of deep red brick. They were led to a parlor to the left of the front door. A stunning dark-haired woman in a rich purple gown that matched her scaly eyes rose to her heeled feet. It was surreal to be staring at someone who so closely resembled Noirin’s beauty, and somehow she was a violet dragon like Worth’s cousin.
“Worthington,” she said, her painted lips curving into a smile. Everything about her was perfect. Her cosmetics enhanced her striking features, and her straight locks were expertly cut to brush her bare shoulders.
King Egmont glanced at Damian. “Your Grace, could I give you and your mate a tour of the grounds while mother and son have some time alone?”
“I think that’s an excellent idea, Your Highness,” Worth answered, knowing Damian wouldn’t dare leave him alone ifWorth wasn’t at ease with the idea. “Brogan, I thought Gavrael and Gedeon could stay with Oliver and me.”
Brogan’s mouth tightened, and he didn’t look overly pleased, but he nodded. “Call if you need anything.”
Worth patted Brogan’s shoulder. “We’ll be fine.”
“Right this way, Your Graces,” King Egmont said. The group of men strode through the house, and Worth refocused on the woman standing in front of an elegant white fireplace.
“You must be Oliver,” Ismay remarked, smiling at the man Worth adored. “I read about your matebond online. Please come in and have a seat. Can I offer you anything to drink? Or perhaps something to eat?”
“No, thank you, but we appreciate the offer,” Worth replied. Brogan had made Worth promise not to consume a damn thing at an unknown court. It was probably beyond the realm of possibility that anyone would be poisoned, but Worth wasn’t there to eat anyway. All he wanted was information.
After introducing the two Skeleton Lords there to protect him and Oliver, Worth took a seat on a tufted back sofa in a pretty cream that matched the Colonial style of the house. He relaxed once Oliver’s thigh brushed his. Taking Oliver’s hands in his own, he waited for Ismay to get settled on a matching couch across from them and met her purple gaze while the two sentinels chose chairs near the floor-length windows on the west side of the space.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me,” Worth said.
“It was a surprise to hear from you, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to sit in the same room with my son,” Ismay replied. “I hope you don’t mind that I’ve dropped formality. If I’ve offended you, please let me know.”
“There’s no need to bother with royal address,” Worth told her, surprised by her enthusiasm. “King Mardas mentioned you were his partner of a decade.”
“Yes, Egmont is so good to me,” Ismay responded. “I mean, look at this gorgeous house.”
“It is impressive,” Oliver said.
Ismay’s eyes narrowed. “Yet I sense you aren’t here today to discuss interior design. What I can do for you, Worthington?”
“I have some questions, but I understand if you prefer not to answer them,” Worth said.
“Hmm,” Ismay said, crossing her legs. “Allow me to guess. You want to discuss the past. You’ve lived your entire life without a mother, and you’d like to know why. Is that it?”
Somehow more comfortable with the shrewd stranger than themotherhappy to see him, Worth toyed with Oliver’s fingers. “Duke Drogo explained the circumstances of my birth some years back. I don’t have any questions about that. Yes, I grew up without a mother. In many ways, I didn’t have a father either. What I had was a King who wanted to mold a Prince. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m not a child anymore, and my past is irrelevant.”
“Duke Drogo,” Ismay repeated with a disdainful laugh. “I recall him vividly. The man hated me. No surprise there. He was the epitome of righteousness and nobility. I was the girl selling myself to Boian. Is that what you learned?”
Suddenly uncomfortable with the idea of telling Ismay to her face that he knew she’d sold her womb to Boian, Worth rolled his shoulders, and Oliver squeezed his palm to calm him.
“It went something like that,” Worth said. “Your choices are your own and make no difference to me any longer. I’m not here to judge you for your decisions or the outcome.”
“But you’ve made up your mind about me. It’s impossible not to know a bit about your life. You live with my first child. Aleksander. Did you know I turned fourteen the day he was born? The pain. I’ll never forget it. Everything is so pliant in the body at that age. When you get older, things tear, and the babyslides out. Not for a mother as young as me. I tried to get him out of me, and I screamed. Oh, how I screamed. It pissed Onora off. Less than an hour after I started pushing, she slapped me hard enough to bruise. I wore her handprint for a week. I was a woman, she told me. It was my duty to birth children. Onora had her lovely little Noirin and had birthed her with no issues. Not that I was ever allowed near her precious child. Of course Onora had no difficulties; Onora thought herself perfect. She was far from it.”
Drogo had mentioned that he’d believed Ismay was a teenager of fifteen or sixteen, but Worth was astonished at the truth. He’d known his father was a monster, but toseducea child of thirteen…that was a revolting shock.
“You and Onora weren’t close, I take it?” Oliver asked quietly. Worth was grateful that his mate had found his tongue since he was still grappling with his thoughts.
“Our lives were much different. I was a late surprise to my parents, and they doted on me. Onora met her mate and left. Then our parents died. I was devastated. I was also thirteen and Onora’s problem. Her solution? To negotiate with Boian. She invited me to Court Ethelin. I brought my dolls. I thought I was going to live there with my sister. That was her plan. But she didn’t want to fend for me. Her coin was for her new family. I was flattered by Boian’s attention and too stupid to know what I was getting myself into. The rest is history, I suppose. He handed me a pile of coin, took my son, and sent me packing.”
“It won’t be any consolation to you now, but Onora tried to convince Boian to bring you back to Court Ethelin,” Worth said. “She harangued him, and it’s part of the reason we believe Boian had her and Sorin murdered.”
“I hated her, but I cried when I finally learned she was dead. Do you know how I found out? Boian invited me to return to Court Ethelin. I hadn’t heard from Onora. I figuredshe’d forgotten about me. She had deliberately left me out of her life. I didn’t know she had a son. But I knew about Noirin. Yearned to hold her and play with her. I imagined myself in the great room, playing with Noirin and Aleksander. Then I assured myself that they at least had each other while I tried to survive. I was a nobody. Yet if I’d been born a man, they would’ve called meYour Grace. I’m not a weak dragon. Noirin knows. Seneschal Duchess. We may have no family ties to speak of, but damn, do we ever have strong dragons. But you aren’t here to hear about poor little Ismay. A woman so desperate she let that vile Boian put his hands on her again. For money. Knowing she’d hand him another child she’d never see again. My first child was ostracized. It wasn’t until I returned to Court Ethelin that I found out Noirin was with Aleksander at his new court. That Onora and Sorin were dead. Boian didn’t like talking about Aleksander. Not with me.”
“Not with anyone,” Worth replied, feeling sad for the little girl whose life hadn’t turned out the way anyone would’ve dreamed. “I didn’t learn he was my brother until the day I showed up at his court and was staring at a man who could be my twin.”
