You Are Mine (Mine #1)(96)
Chapter Forty-One
Curled up on the floor of the study, I stare out the picture window. Though it's been three months since the ball, it still feels like a dream. The sun is bright outside, warming the room. I keep waiting for someone to come in and punish me for something. But no one will. Not even my perpetually gloveless state is commented on.
With father locked away, no one is punished in this house. No one will ever punish my sisters again while they're under my protection. And I have what I wanted. My freedom. Except it still feels like something is missing. Something achingly big.
“Serena?” Cynthia stands at the door. “Waverly and Zade are here to see you.”
Once I'm over my shock, I say, “Send them in. You can come, as well. Wait, why don't you get Bethany first. I'm sure she'd like to talk to them.”
She smiles, bigger and brighter like she does now that father doesn't control our lives. Something is changing with her. “I will.”
After she leaves, I can't help but let my nerves take over. I haven't seen them since we left the day after the ball fiasco. The day I was supposed to marry Zade. It's been so long I was sure we'd become nothing but a distant memory to them.
Without an introduction, Waverly and Zade enter. Zade is still limping, though not as noticeably. Chadwick insisted he get a healer for it, but all the healer said was that it is an injury he will always carry. It hurts to watch him walk, to know his releasing me is partially to blame for the injury.
I can't bring myself to get off the floor even though it's not proper. To stand and show how easy it easy for me, something he'll never have again. As long as mother doesn't see me entertaining this way, I doubt anyone in this house will care. Outside of the house, well, I don't want to venture too far yet and push the bounds of my freedom.
“Please sit,” I say.
Waverly perches on the closest chair, but Zade surprises me sitting on the floor beside me. His nearness is both entrancing and disturbing.
“How have you been?” I ask.
“Fine,” Zade says.
“Bored,” Waverly groans. “And he is too, even if he won't admit it.”
He shrugs. “I guess I got used to having you and your sisters around.”
My heart clenches. “Things happen for a reason though. I'm sure you and Waverly have enjoyed the time to yourselves.”
“We haven't,” Waverly says. “I keep trying to tell Zade we needed to visit sooner, but he said you needed time to adjust. Glad I finally talked him into coming. We need something to do.”
That's why it's been so long? They thought we needed time to adjust? And they probably wanted time to themselves. “I was planning on redoing this room.” Though I don't know why they would want to help instead of being together. “It's the only reason I'm in here. Making plans to tear it apart and start over. Make it more my own. Do you have any ideas from Envado?”
“You know I do,” Waverly says.
“I could help, too,” Zade says. “You have anything specific in mind?”
“Not really. I just want a change.”
“There's a lot that's changing.”
It's so hard not to stare at him. I look at Waverly instead. It hurts as well, but not as much.
“I really don't mind helping, but I was also hoping I could have my old job back,” she says.
“What?” Why would she want to go back to being my servant when she could marry Zade?
“I miss not helping. And not hanging out with you and your sisters. It's why I came here after all.”
“Didn't you come for Zade?”
“Sort of. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here, but I really wanted to work. If money's an issue, I'll get Zade to continue paying my wages.”
“No, it's not that.” Ironically I have plenty of money. Money that Thomas paid father for me. I look back and forth at them. “I thought, well...”
“What?” she says.
“I thought you two would be getting ready to marry.”
Waverly giggles. “Really? You thought—me and him?” She laughs harder.
Zade rubs the back of his neck, cheeks pinking.
Waverly edges farther out of her seat toward me. “Serena, he's my brother.”
I jump to my feet. “He's your what?”
“My brother. And ew. We love each other, but not like that.”
Shock roils through me, bouncing and jostling around until it finally bursts out by saying, “Why didn't you tell me?”
Zade says, “Because of my being a spy. It's dangerous for women here anyway, but if they found out she's my sister, it'd be even more dangerous. So please don't tell anyone. Not even your sisters.”
“Of course not. I'll keep it a secret.” And what does this secret mean for me? My mouth goes dry.
Waverly bounces to her feet. “If you don't mind, I think I'll show myself around.”
“I can take you.”
“No, no, it's all right.” She heads for the door just as Cynthia and Bethany come. “Oh, look. You don't even need to worry about me. Your sisters will show me around, right?”