Page 54 of Forbidden Obsession
“I don’t see why not. I’m surprised you haven’t learned.”
“Will you teach us?”
“Yes. But let me get your father here so you can say what’s on your mind.”
A roiling wave of nausea threatens to overtake me, but I nod. I have to face him. And I have to face myself, to learn to be true to my own sense of right and wrong, however slow it was to come to me.
Mother wraps an arm around my waist as we wait. It doesn’t take long before his silhouette turns up in the sky, wings flapping furiously to get to us. One little call from her and he comes racing. What power she has.
He’s been a different person these last dozen hours. So attentive to her every need. Smiling like I’ve never seen. Voice warm and calm. He must have missed her terribly, even if he never showed the emotion. But what I don’t understand is why he never did. It would have been one thing we had in common. Maybe we could have bonded…
I shake off this line of thinking. What-ifs have never done me any good.
He lands with a whoosh of air and a graceful lunge, gray wings folding neatly on his back. “What is it, Elara? Are you all right?” His gaze passes over both of us and lingers on me. I must look as nervous as I feel.
“We’re both fine. We’d like you to join us on our walkabout,” she says, letting me off the hook if I need it. No pressure to say anything in particular. That helps.
“I’d love that.” He gestures to the field up ahead. “I can show you this year’s crop. So many beans, more than we can ever eat.”
“That’s good.” She takes his arm, and we walk. The movement helps too.
The two of them chitchat as I work up my nerve. Already I see the beginnings of the partner in my mother that I’ve always longed for. Someone to listen to my side when interacting with Father while he’s being difficult. A parent who supports me and wants me to be happy. Someone I can support in return. I get the sense she could go on like this all day, covering for me as I muster up the courage to broach an important subject with them.
I clear my throat, and two sets of eyes turn my way. Now or never.
“Mother, Father, Rahz has been called into royal service in the south. In Irondale.” I waver. Do I mention who for? If I don’t, they’ll assume Aurielle. If I do, and they disagree with Suvi’s interference in her mother’s plans, I risk the mission. I stay silent on that point. Better to keep it to myself for now. “He’s expected within the coming weeks and must leave at once.”
Mother’s face morphs to concern, while Father’s—I can’t read him. That he isn’t immediately angry I’ll take as a win.
“Oh darling, how long will he be gone?”
“I don’t know. But he asked me to go with him, and I said yes. I gave it a lot of thought first. It felt wrong to leave while you were sleeping. It will be even harder now that you’re awake. I want to be with you very badly, but Rahz is my mate. I love him. We belong together.”
Father scowls. So much for him not being angry. “You can’t go. I need your help on the farm, and I won’t allow you to leave your mother now. Look at her. You’re hurting her feelings.”
I swallow and shift my gaze.
But Mother holds up her hand as if in protest. “No, no. He’s right. If Rahz must go, then so must Jindal. He hasn’t hurt my feelings. I’m only sad our reunion must wait a bit longer, that’s all.”
Unwavering support. Oh, how I’ve yearned for her. How hard will it be to leave her when she’s everything I’ve always wanted?
“Elara, the crops. Who will help come harvest if Jindal is off gallivanting across the country?”
“I will, of course.”
“You need to rest.”
“I’ve rested enough. My strength is returning. In no time I’ll be back to my old self, and I’m looking forward to farming again. We’ll make do without Jinny.”
My nickname from her lips brings a smile to my face. Father never calls me Jinny. But my friends do. Rahz does. And now, so does my mother. “Rahz has enlisted Vander to coordinate volunteers to keep up with my work while I’m away.”
“Vander.” Father scoffs. “That moron? Why him? You don’t even like him.”
So Father knows a little something about me after all. “It won’t just be him taking shifts. Others will help. Our friends. But Vander’s family is good at scheduling staff.”
Before he can complain further, Mother speaks. “I’ll look forward to meeting your friends and to getting to know you through them while you’re away. But, son, tell us, Rahz has been called into service for what? What’s he tasked to do?”
This I must balance delicately. “Do you remember my last visit?”
