“Nothing,” Waev said. “Perhaps it’s for the best. There are all kinds of dangerous people out in the world. There’s no need to invite them into your home in the form of bad memories and nightmares.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Traes said. “He’s bounced back from worse.”
That was true. But the human soul could only take so much tragedy. Especially a little boy.
My stomach churned at the idea it was caused by me.
“I’m going to go check on him,” I said.
“He’ll be fine,” Traes said. “Stay here and vegetate with me and celebrate the end of another forced social party.”
I set the teacup to one side.
“I really should check on him,” I said.
“Do you need company?” Traes said, not moving a single muscle to get out of the chair.
“Would you help if I asked?” I said.
He chuckled and waved his hand.
“See you soon,” he said.
I carried my heels in two crooked fingers as I ascended the stairs. I’d become well accustomed to the layout of the house by now. I turned a corner without needing to think but still needed to count down the number of bedroom doors before I came to a stop outside Cleb’s room.
I was about to knock, then thought better of it. I didn’t want to wake him if he was already sleeping soundly.
I pressed my ear to the door to see if I could hear him breathing. Unlikely, I thought, with the door as thick as it was. I press my hand to the handle and began to ease it down.
That’s when I heard a muffling sound.
Was he having a nightmare? Was he dreaming about what happened today?
I felt terrible. The least I could do was calm him while he suffered the nightmares I’d unleashed upon him.
I opened the door slowly to ensure there was no unnecessary squeak that might disturb him.
I squinted against a blinding light that flashed in my face. I blocked it with a hand and stepped to one side. Now I was cloaked in semi-darkness, I noticed a lamp had fallen off its side table and landed on the floor. What should have been soft yellow light dampened by its lampshade was harsh light glaring out the top of the lampshade.
My eyes adjusted and immediately snapped in the direction of the figure lit by a silhouette of light.
My blood froze in my veins.
Within the nightmarish glow stood the figure of Asshole. He had Cleb clutched in his arms, a hand wrapped firmly over his muffling mouth.
If he wanted to, he could snap his neck with a single jolt of his arm, or any number of other awful things.
“No!” I said. “Please! Don’t hurt him!”
I raised my hands in supplication.
“Shut the door,” Asshole said.
I did as he said. I couldn’t take the risk of Cleb getting hurt.
“It’s me you want,” I said. “Leave him out of this—”
“Now listen to me, girly,” Asshole said. “You gave me the slip once already. It won’t happen again. Not if you want to keep your little lord in one piece. You’re both coming with me.”
Traes
My muscles relaxed and my body unfurled, melting into the sofa’s soft upholstery. I was pleased with how the evening had gone. I had learned there was still great interest in mining. Managing to confirm interest from two of the wealthiest Titans in the empire meant the new mine was as good as built. All it took now was time.
But that wasn’t all I learned.
I also learned the reason the investors were so interested in funding my new mine. They heard rumors the Changelings had altered their usual attacking process.
They’d stopped raiding.
They didn’t have the capability to overrun our military, so they liked to drop down unannounced to one of our planets and kill, steal, and abduct anything not nailed down.
Our government demanded the Titans be returned immediately. They were met, as always, with silence. The Changelings never gave back anything they stole. It was part of their culture, their code of dishonor, and our leaders were much too soft with them.
With so little resistance, why stop?
So, the Changelings didn’t.
But now they were becoming more of a problem. They were attacking in force, destroying a military unit here and there, before retreating to attack again another day.
War was coming, the investors said. And when it did, the empire would need ore and other materials.
My stomach clenched, knowing the devastation battle would have on the people. Yes, it was good for business, but I much preferred peace. It was always the poor that suffered most during wartime.
My entire face yawned. I suddenly felt very tired. I glanced at the clock and found it was past midnight.
Bianca must have found Cleb awake in his room or else suffering a nightmare. She would talk with him, reassure him, and ease him back to sleep.
A raging storm of anger and more than a little fear set my teeth on edge when I thought about what happened to them in town today. A mysterious stranger had attempted to kidnap them.
How did he think he was going to get away with it?
The clock ticked and made a soft bong noise. It was now past one in the morning. Time flew when you were groggy with sleep.
I collected my shoes and socks and headed toward the stairs.
“Would you care for a nightcap, sir?” Waev said.
“No, thank you,” I said. “Get yourself to bed. There’s no need for you to be up this late.”
Waev bowed and took his leave. I never knew the man to sleep when I was awake. He lived his life entirely according to mine. He was a marvel. For years, he’d catered to my every whim, and yet I knew so little about him or his past.
When he first arrived, he admitted he had little experience as a servant but he promised me I would never find a more trustworthy and loyal Titan.
He was right.
I gave him the chance to serve, and I hadn’t
