Chapter 16

16

T halia went back to her chambers and sat, staring blankly at her roaring fire. Echoes of her uncle’s cunning, vaulting chaotically in her mind, keeping her awake.

“We’re going to have a private discussion about your future.”

The last time her uncle said this, he had smacked her across the face, as was usual, but that time had been the last time. Thalia smirked at the thought that Finn lobed her uncle’s hand off with such brutal ease and then shook her head in confusion.

No, that was not good that he did that. I’m still mad at him for doing that.

Each time he wanted to talk to her privately about her future, the short conversation had ended in blows – no longer. She thought again about the times before, when no one was around to defend her. Each blow resurfaced on her warming cheek, and she lifted her hand to rest against it with care – her fingers lightly brushing across her lips.

No, I’m not still mad – Finn shouldn’t have done that, but Uncle Maximillian did deserve it.

Her uncle was cunning, ruthless. He wouldn’t hesitate to use Diana, Caroline, and Arabella against her, to manipulate them as pawns in his twisted game if he somehow managed to get them back. The thought of her sisters being caught in the crossfire was unbearable, especially with her out of the way as his punching bag.

Yet Finn remained unmoved, his determination as solid as the stone walls of the castle. He hadn’t even entertained the possibility of sending them away in the slightest.

I wish he could have just seen it from my side. Now, I have that much more work to do to get him to agree with me…

As she stood alone in the dim light of her chamber, the weight of her failure pressed heavily on her shoulders. But how could I make him understand? How can I protect my sisters when the man who claims to care for me won’t even listen?

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Thalia turned, her heart leaping at the possibility that it might be Finn, that he might have changed his mind. But when the door creaked open, it was Diana who stepped inside, her expression hesitant.

“Thalia?” Diana’s voice was soft, tentative. “Can I speak with you?”

Thalia’s heart sank. “Diana? Why are you awake at this hour?”

“Couldn’t sleep…” she said weakly and pulled the shawl even tighter around her shoulders.

“Come in, of course,” Thalia replied, forcing a smile as she motioned for Diana to sit with her by the fire. “What’s on your mind?”

Diana hesitated, her gaze flicking to the window as if seeking some sort of reassurance from the outside world. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I heard you talking with Finn… about sending us away.”

Thalia’s stomach twisted with guilt. She had heard?

She tried so hard to keep her sisters in the dark, to protect them from the fear that gnawed at her insides, but Diana had always been perceptive, far more so than her years might suggest.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Thalia said gently, reaching out to take her sister’s hand. “I just want to make sure you’re all safe, that’s all.”

“But why would we need to be sent away? We just got here.” Diana’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Isn’t Crawford Castle safe? Isn’t Finn keeping us protected as he said he would?”

Thalia bit her lip, struggling to find the right words. How could I explain this without frightening her even more? She had to tread carefully, to balance the truth with reassurance.

“Finn is doing everything he can to keep us safe,” Thalia began slowly, choosing her words with care, “but… there are some things beyond even his control. I just think it might be safer for you and the twins to be somewhere else for a little while. Somewhere far away from all of this.”

Diana’s eyes widened in alarm. “You mean our uncle, don’t you? You think he’ll come after us?”

Thalia cursed inwardly. She’d hoped to avoid mentioning their uncle by name, but now, there was no going back. “Our uncle is… persistent,” she admitted, her voice heavy with the weight of the truth. “He won’t stop until he gets what he wants. And I can’t risk him using you, Caroline, or Arabella to get to me.”

“But we are together now,” Diana protested, her grip on Thalia’s hand tightening. “We should stay together, shouldn’t we? We can face whatever comes as a family.”

Thalia’s heart ached at the fierce loyalty in her sister’s words. Diana was so much stronger than she realized, so much braver. But that bravery could also be her undoing if it led her into danger.

“I want nothing more than to keep us all together,” Thalia said, her voice thick with emotion. “But sometimes, the best way to protect the people you love is to let them go, to send them somewhere safe. I’m doing this because I love you, Diana. All of you.”

Diana’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked away, her shoulders trembling with the effort to hold them back. “But… what if something happens to you while we’re gone? What if… what if we never see each other again?”

Thalia’s throat tightened, and she pulled Diana into a fierce embrace, holding her close as if to shield her from the world’s cruelty. “Nothing is going to happen to me,” she whispered, more for Diana’s sake than her own. “I promise you, I’ll come for you. I just need you to trust me.”

Diana clung to her sister; her sobs muffled against Thalia’s shoulder. “I don’t want to leave,” she cried, her voice breaking with the weight of her fear. “Please don’t send us away, Thalia. Please.”

Thalia closed her eyes, her own tears slipping silently down her cheeks. “I know, darling,” she murmured, stroking Diana’s hair in a soothing rhythm. “I know.”

For a long time, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, the fire crackling softly in the hearth. Thalia wished she could make the world right for her sisters, that she could protect them from all the darkness that threatened to engulf them. But she knew that wasn’t possible, not entirely. All she could do was make the best decisions she could with the information she had and hope that it would be enough.

Eventually, Diana pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice raw. “I didn’t mean to… I just…”

Thalia shook her head, cupping Diana’s face in her hands. “You have nothing to apologize for,” she said firmly. “You’re scared, and that’s okay. I’m scared too. But we’ll get through this, together.”

Diana nodded, her lower lip trembling. “It’s just not fair. We just got here!”

Thalia’s heart broke at the plea in Diana’s voice, but she nodded, determination hardening within her. “I know, Diana. I know.”

After a few more moments of quiet, Diana excused herself and left Thalia’s room, leaving Thalia alone with her thoughts.

She will come around.

The conversation had drained her, but she knew she had to stay strong, had to keep pushing forward, even when it felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

Am I just letting my own fears cloud my judgment?

Thalia fell asleep in the armchair by the fire and slept until sunset. She stirred for little else other than to move to her bed when the late-breakfast tray came in, and then she got up to slide the curtains closed when the luncheon tray arrived.

Finn had come by, but she kept her back to him. For some reason, on this day, Thalia felt like staying in bed. It was a knock at her door with her dinner tray that roused her.

“Thalia?” Finn’s voice caressed her ear, coaxing her awake from her deep slumber.

“Hm?” she managed to say.

“Ye have been asleep all day; are ye well?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Just tired,” she hummed and watched his shadows dance on the wall as his figure remained backlit from the torchlights in the hall. She watched silently as he quietly stepped through the threshold carrying a tray of food, set it on the table, collected her lunch tray, and then tiptoed out of the room.

He lingered only a moment at her door again and then disappeared. The door closed behind him, and she sat up. While his visit was brief, it still had the same effect of her as their heated first visit in his chambers.

… and the night in the inn, and the woods, and the kiss.

Thoughts of their visits slid ever so softly over her shoulders and down her back like a feather on bare skin. The gooseflesh she had as a result of her thoughts shocked her, and she threw her blankets off the bed.

“Ugh!” Thalia groaned audibly, shooting daggers at the dinner tray. She had to talk to Diana again and make sure her sister understood that she was sending them away out of love , not fear.

Throwing on a robe, Thalia slipped out of her room and padded down the short hallway connecting her rooms to her sisters’ rooms.

When she reached Diana’s room, Thalia knocked softly, not wanting to startle her sister if she was already asleep. But there was no answer, not even a rustle of movement from within. Frowning, Thalia knocked again, a little louder this time.

Still nothing.

A prickle of unease crept up her spine as Thalia slowly pushed the door open, peering into the darkness of the room. “Diana?” she called softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

The room was empty.

Thalia’s heart skipped a beat, and she stepped inside, her eyes sweeping over the neatly made bed and the untouched nightdress laid out on the chair. There was no sign of Diana anywhere.

Panic surged through her as she hurried to the window, throwing open the curtains and scanning the grounds below, but the courtyard was empty, the shadows deep and still beneath the moonlit sky. She ran across the hallway to the other room and threw the door open.

Empty.

Where could they have gone?

Thalia’s mind raced as she tried to think of where Diana might be. She turned and rushed back out into the hallway, her pulse quickening as she made her way back to her rooms.

Perhaps she’s about the castle with them. Perhaps none of them could sleep, like me. Or perhaps, Diana has done something foolish and put them all at risk.

Finn stood in his study, staring out the window into the darkness that cloaked the castle grounds. His thoughts were a tangled mess, swirling with frustration and confusion.

He understood Thalia’s fear and even her suggestion the night before was understandable, but it grated on him that she didn’t trust his ability to protect them. It wasn’t just the idea of sending her sisters away that bothered him; it was the implication that he couldn’t keep them safe. That stung more than he cared to admit.

He paced the room, trying to shake off the frustration gnawing at him. His boots echoed on the stone floor, the only sound in the otherwise silent room. He’d lost count of how many times he’d crossed the length of the study, but each step did nothing to calm his nerves. The glass decanter of whiskey was looking finer and finer with each pass he took.

He paused by the window again, staring out into the inky blackness beyond the castle walls. The moon cast a pale glow over the landscape, illuminating the rolling hills and the distant outline of the forest. The stillness of the night usually brought him peace, but tonight, it only amplified the restlessness within him.

As he stood there, something caught his eye — three small figures moving stealthily across the courtyard. Finn narrowed his eyes, trying to make out who they were. When one of them tripped over something, and the others helped them up, he realized with a start that it was Thalia’s sisters.

“What in blazes…?” Finn muttered under his breath.

Without another thought, he grabbed his cloak and rushed out of the study. He moved quickly, his long strides carrying him through the castle and out into the cool night air. As he crossed the courtyard, he could see the girls better now, all bundled up and clutching small packs of what looked like food.

Finn scoffed incredulously and shook his head. After all that back and forth with Thalia about sending them away, here they are, trying to run away.

Increasing his pace, he closed the distance between them quickly, but as he approached, Caroline and Arabella suddenly turned and saw him. Their eyes widened in terror, and they let out piercing screams that echoed through the night.

Finn stopped in his tracks, startled by their reaction. He wasn’t used to dealing with children, and their fear of him was painfully evident. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure of what to do or say. He wasn’t good with words, especially when it came to calming frightened children.

“Diana, Caroline, Arabella,” Finn called out, keeping his voice as gentle as he could manage. “What are you doing out here?”

Diana stepped forward, her small frame tense with determination. “We’re leaving,” she said, her voice firm. “You can’t stop us.”

Finn raised an eyebrow at her defiance, but he kept his tone calm. “Is that so? And where exactly do ye plan on going?”

Diana lifted her chin, trying to appear confident. “Away from here. Away from… from everything. She wants us to go away anyway!” Diana pointed furiously up at the castle, and Finn’s eyes followed her hand before he twisted and looked at them again.

They’re shivering.

He scowled and then sighed, running a hand through his hair. He could see they had no real plan, just a desperate desire to escape. “If yer determined to leave, then I’ll have to escort ye. It’s too dangerous to wander off on yer own.”

All three of them blinked in surprise at his response. Finn almost smiled at their stunned expressions. They clearly hadn’t expected him to agree so easily, but he wasn’t about to let them wander into the wilderness unprotected.

“Well, go on then,” he said, motioning for them to lead the way. “Let’s see how far ye get.”

Diana hesitated, glancing at her sisters before nodding. They began walking, their small feet making soft crunching sounds on the gravel path. Finn followed a few steps behind, keeping a watchful eye on them.

It didn’t take long for their confidence to falter. The further they walked, the more their pace slowed, and it became increasingly clear that they had no idea where they were going. The reality of their situation seemed to be sinking in, and even Diana’s bravado began to wane.

Finally, Diana stopped in the middle of the path, her shoulders slumping. She turned to Finn, her eyes filled with frustration and fear. “This is all Thalia’s fault!” she burst out, her voice cracking with emotion. “She’s the one who wants us to leave! Why can’t we just stay together?”

Finn sighed and walked over to her, kneeling down so he was at eye level with her. “Diana,” he began softly, “Thalia is only trying to protect ye. She’s worried about what might happen if ye stay here with yer uncle threatening all of you. She’s not doing this because she doesn’t want ye; she’s doing it because she loves ye.”

Diana shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “What? Threatening us? She just told me that he’s being persistent. She never said…” Diana trailed off. Anger radiated off her small frame as her shock quickly turned.

Finn realized all at once that Thalia had not shared the extent of their uncle’s cruelty with her sisters, and it was about to come out right here as he kneeled in front of her most fearsome sister.

“Diana, this is something your sister ought of have shared with ye, but your uncle has been threatening her ever since your father passed. He even set a date for her wedding to Herbert against her will. Herbert had her kidnapped, drugged, and dropped her in my woods.”

“What?” Diana’s face dropped.

“The night I retrieved ye from the estate, your uncle gave your sister that split lip, right in front of me.”

Her brow furrowed as she considered all that she told her. “And what did you do?”

“I cut off his hand.”

Her eyebrows lifted, clearly impressed, and her younger sisters gasped in horror. “Monsters do monstrous things sometimes,” he said with a playful lilt in his voice, echoing sentiments that he knew that had been shared between them about him.

“Good. Well, why does she still want to send us away when you went through all of that trouble to rescue us and bring us together?”

“Your uncle sent a letter to the castle, addressed to me, threatening that if she return you three to him,” Finn explained gently.

“When?”

“Last night I received the letter.”

“We’re supposed to stay together. We’re supposed to be a family.”

Finn considered her argument and then nodded, “Sometimes, protecting the people you love means making hard decisions. Thalia’s been through a lot, and she’s trying to do what’s best for all of you, even if it doesn’t seem that way right now.”

Diana sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “She didn’t tell us any of this. She didn’t say…”

“I know,” Finn said, his voice filled with understanding. “But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care. She’s scared, too. She just wants to keep you safe.”

Diana looked down, her resolve crumbling as she processed his words. Caroline and Arabella stood nearby, their eyes wide as they listened, clearly trying to make sense of it all.

“We didn’t know…” Diana whispered, her voice trembling.

Finn reached out and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Now, ye do. And I’ll do everything I can to protect all of ye. Yer safe here with Thalia and with me.”

Diana looked up at him, her expression softening. “You promise?”

Finn nodded solemnly. “I vow it. No one’s going to hurt ye as long as I’m around.”

The tension in the air began to dissipate, and Diana’s eyes lost some of their earlier hostility. Caroline and Arabella, who had been clinging to each other, seemed to relax as well, their small faces reflecting a glimmer of hope.

“Maybe… maybe we don’t have to run away after all,” Diana murmured, her voice barely audible. “But you are going to have to tell that to Thalia so she doesn’t send us away!”

Finn smiled faintly, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. “I think that’s a good idea. Let’s head back to the castle. It’s late, and ye should all be getting some rest.”

Diana’s expression was that of resignation as she nodded, but it was no longer filled with the same defiance. The girls turned and began walking back toward the castle, their steps slower this time, more deliberate. Finn followed closely behind, keeping an eye on them as they made their way up the path.

As they reached the castle doors, Finn felt a wave of exhaustion settle over him. The night had been long and stressful, but at least, he’d managed to keep Thalia’s sisters safe. He had never imagined himself in this role, trying to calm children and reassure them, but he supposed it came with the territory now.

Diana paused just before they entered the castle, turning to look at Finn. “Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice filled with sincerity.

Finn gave her a small nod. “Yer welcome, Diana.”