5

Andre

About a week and a half before the reopening of the company Mabel bought, she showed up at my door looking half dead and beyond exhausted. She told me she needed me to give something to the doctor that had helped her. That he needed it and that was all she would say, looking almost scared when I pressed her for answers.

I promised her that I would handle it personally and on my way to work as long as she slept. It was the only way I would, and after I pushed on that, she finally agreed. She said she'd eat breakfast and nap.

Good.

I took her carriage and driver since the hospital was out of the way of my station. Plus, the weather was finally acting like it was winter and we'd had a dusting of snow overnight.

So when she offered to make my life easier, I accepted.

I smiled as I saw some kids trying to play in the snow when there was barely enough to stick. It would be gone by lunch if we didn't get more. Still, it was nice to see some happiness and innocence when I saw too much pain and darkness.

I promised the driver that I'd hurry when we arrived so he didn't have to sit out in the cold too long. The knight shrugged it off and gave me a look that he didn't care besides he would probably report it to Ian that I was using Mabel's carriage.

Fine, that was a lot to read into a look, but it was my job to read people.

And I was fairly good at it.

Which was how I knew something had changed in Mabel and Ian's relationship. They'd taken some sort of step because she flushed brightly at the mention of him.

I didn't think she'd done that just from me kissing her.

Bastard.

I found the doctor, and he clearly only met with me because of my position, his eyes full of annoyance at being interrupted. I gave him an understanding nod. "I was told to bring this to you. It's for healing burns. The person was sure you needed it."

He blinked at the jar in my hand for a full minute before he seemed to shake himself out of it. "I do not know how you or this person could possibly know that or what has happened, but we have healers doing everything they can for the child and—"

"I do not know what happened," I muttered. "I am just the messenger and delivery man."

He studied me closely. "A boy of five will probably die from the burns he received. He was rescued, and the healer there knocked him out given the pain was—burns cover his body, and the blanket they used to put the fire out stuck to him…" He let out a heavy breath and shook his head. "Even if we can save the boy, I do not know he'll have a life worth living."

I frowned at the jar. How had Mabel known about any of this? "I do not know what to tell you, Doctor. I was just told you would want this and it will help."

"Who told you this?" he hedged, still not taking it.

"They do not want to be in the spotlight," I muttered, realizing this was a much bigger deal than I'd thought.

I'd thought that Mabel had discovered something and thought the hospital could use it or maybe even try it out before she sold it. I swallowed a sigh. Mabel would never let sick people be test subjects like that. I needed coffee to wake up to not have put that together.

And less time to worry about her since that was the main focus.

Something filled the doctor's eyes that I didn't like and he reached for the jar. "I saw the countess's scars when we treated her."

"This is—"

"Or I should say the lack of scars on one arm," he muttered. "The fading ones that should not be able to fade like that given what was on her other arm."

I didn't flinch, better at hiding my reaction and keeping my composure than most people. "Something has been discovered that is coming on the market soon. She was one of the test subjects and it works. I received something else for my knee and—the products are amazing."

"Mm-hmm."

"I do not know what you are thinking, Doctor, but—"

"But you live next door to her, Commander," he drawled. "Please do not treat me like an idiot especially when she healed so much faster than she should have. For her to have survived that hell she lived, she healed fast. I am a smart man."

Now I felt like an idiot. "She healed faster than she should have?"

He did a double take before studying me closely. "We live in a world with magic, Commander. I know you are a man of the law and facts, but you might need to pay attention to what is right in front of you."

"I do not know what you are implying, but I'd ask that you keep your guesses and assumptions to yourself." I tapped the jar harder than I needed to. "The person wanted to help and—"

"And at risk to herself, but going forward, tell the countess to use a better cover than her next-door neighbor or I will not be the only one assuming she's a mage." He dipped his head to me and hurried off with the jar.

Mage? Was Mabel a mage?

I frowned. Did I care if she was?

No, not at all. I wasn't a fan if there was extra danger to her that I didn't know and was charged with protecting her but… Mabel couldn't be a mage. Mages were few and far between and rarely women.

Or maybe women are rarely trained and overlooked?

I left, my mind still on Mabel and what the doctor said.

By the time we arrived at the station, I had no answers and only more questions. The only thing I'd decided was that Mabel's insistence that she could heal some of the damage to my knee and not simply help it would make sense if she was a mage.

And it was probably something I should ask her about.

I was lost in work and too much going on, sighing that I still needed to talk to Ian about the reports and collection of data that I had wanted to show him before I'd met Mabel. Now it would be more contentious because we both wanted her.

Someone asked if they could pick me up lunch, but I told them I wanted the air and to stretch my legs.

Nothing surprised me more than to find someone waiting for me and trying to be inconspicuous about… Except I was a cop and noticed those sorts of things.

I decided to change the location of where I was going to go for food as I ducked down a side street to get there. I waited for my shadow and did a double take when the doctor walked by me. "Care to explain?"

He let out something close to a yelp and rubbed his chest as he spun to face me. "I was not trying to hide myself, simply not be obvious for the eyes always on you. Or I would think. This is not my area."

"I appreciate you not walking into the station and making a scene," I hedged when he seemed too flustered to get to the point. "What can I do for you?"

"I thought you would want to know so you can tell the person that she saved that boy's life and now he will have a life worth living." He pulled the jar out of his pocket and held it up for me. "This is not a breakthrough, Commander, it's a fucking miracle."

"Explain," I pushed.

He shook his head and tucked the jar back away. "I have been a doctor for thirty years. At the best hospital in the capital. I lecture at the only college for doctors in the kingdom. I certify new doctors."

"You are the best of the best. I would think that just to run a hospital," I cut in.

He snickered. "I am not boasting my resume. I am explaining that I am current on advancements and experiments. Trials in the colleges and more." He waited until I nodded. "So I know what is a breakthrough in medicine and science. What you gave me today was not that. It was a miracle. One you need to protect better than letting her send you on an errand and risk outing her."

I swallowed loudly, his eyes confident, and I knew we were beyond bullshitting. "I understand what you are saying. I did not know. She's… Yes, the cream to help her scars is miraculous, but there are other things out there that do help or… It did not seem out of the realm of possibilities."

"Agreed. Even what you told me about your knee. I have heard the rumors about the lotion that will hit the market that helps those with arthritis and the elderly. From what I have heard, it's much better than what is available, but it's not so revolutionary that anyone might scream miracle. Here me that what was done today is."

"What happened to the boy?" I hedged, realizing I needed to know that part.

I already believed Mabel was a miracle.

"She saved him," he rasped, reaching up and wiping his eyes. "He had almost no skin left, Commander. I wondered… My oath is to do no harm, but there are times that keeping people alive is more harmful. Several of us struggled to not simply let the boy be at peace."

I reached over and patted his shoulder. "I felt the same—saw the same in battle. No one would judge you for that."

"I do. I always do for not being enough. That's the downfall of caring." He wiped his eyes again and took in a sharp breath. "He will have scars, but that balm… It was like a covering beyond what we could ever manage. I saw it soothe the damage and—she basically made a wrapping like skin should be. He stopped bleeding. Wounds stopped festering and infection is—"

"I remember," I cut in, looking away and swallowing loudly. "I have seen many in that state from explosions in… Most die. I get it." I was glad when he left it at that, and I let out a slow breath. "How did the boy get in the fire?"

"Useless drunk father," the doctor seethed. "The fire chief told me after they put out the fire and came to check on the boy. The dad started the heater when he came home drunk and did not close it, so a log probably fell out. The boy had no idea, but best guess is he woke and could not see anything from the smoke and how to escape. You know how poor housing goes up fast."

I nodded. "Any casualties?"

"Just the useless father. The fire chief said everyone else woke and got out. They contained the fire fast and only that house really burned." He waited until I looked at him again. "We do not know the boy has any family. That means the boy will go to an orphanage and—"

I flinched. "The temple will be involved." I sighed when he nodded. "And they stick their noses in everything. One of their priests always visiting to get the attention and donations of healing children and blessing them."

"I worry for more than that," he warned, tapping the jar in his jacket. "I would ask the countess if she smells violets." He went on when I opened my mouth to ask what that meant. "And I need a story to tell people. There is a problem now that the child has been saved with so many eyes, Commander. I can only push people off for a day at most."

"I will figure something out, I promise." I turned to leave. "I am glad the kid is okay. She will be thrilled to hear that."

"I still want to know how she knew it. The fire started in the middle of the night. He arrived not two hours before you did."

I couldn't hide my shock, glancing at him over my shoulder. "For now, I think you got that jar a while ago and you cannot remember where. The situation was so bad and the outcome so bleak that it was worth trying something untested. You will check your notes and—"

"No ‘for now' answers, Commander. I know how to brush people off, and that lie could get me into trouble later. I have a lot of people who depend on me too. So I am willing to help—rushing here to tell you should prove that—but that hospital would fall apart without me, and I cannot have that on my head as well."

"I will handle it." I left it at that and went back to the station, lunch completely forgotten. I thought about it for a moment and decided to reach out to Ian. He was more involved in all of Mabel's business and… There was no way he didn't know what was going on.

And even if he didn't, the only way to cover this up might be with his help.

I sent a messenger to his house with a note to meet me at Mabel's and it was important and time-sensitive. Then I hopped on one of the horses we had at the station and took off, not caring if it seemed like I was overacting.

Nothing was over the top when it came to Mabel.

Mabel had done what she'd promised me at least because she was sleeping when I arrived, the maid/cook telling me that she had lunch left for her, but she wasn't sure what to do. I hated to do it, but I told her to wake Mabel because something was going on that she had to know about.

And I wasn't sure how Mabel would react to finding me in her room looming over her after her horrible past.

Plus, we hadn't been intimate yet, so I'd done enough to push her.

She came down about five minutes later still looking half asleep and in the same outfit as she'd come by in this morning. I'd been very right about how sexy she looked in pants.

Not the time for that, idiot.

"We need to talk about this morning," I greeted, leaning in and kissing her cheek.

She swallowed loudly and read between the lines. She invited me to eat and we did in the sitting room so we had some privacy.

"First, does Ian know whatever is going on?" I asked quietly. "I told him to come over here because of the problem and I figured with—"

"What problem?" she cut in, clearly trying to divert me.

I ran my tongue over my teeth and didn't hide in my eyes that I wasn't happy. "I am trying to be understanding, Mabel. Maybe I do not have a reason to be angry once you explain it to me." For once I didn't allow her reaction to affect me and kept going. "But from where I sit, it seems like you have been holding back something I needed to know to protect you like I promised."

She opened her mouth but then closed it several times.

The door flew open before she could answer and Ian was standing there.

"How the bloody fuck did you get here already when I just sent the messenger?" I demanded, not playing the games of his title or anything right then.

He did a double take before hurrying over to Mabel. "I have not received it. I heard something distressing and was already on my way here."

"Does it have to do with the miracle of a little boy being saved from burns he was not supposed to recover from?" I asked, getting my answer when he didn't immediately respond.

Oh, and Mabel flinched. Lovely.

I let out a slow breath when neither of them said anything. "The doctor who you told me to give that balm to said to ask you if you smell violets at random times. I do not even know what…" I stared at Mabel as my eyes went wide.

And not because she flinched again.

Because I remembered what that meant.

Mabel pulled away from Ian and moved to lean against the wall. "Ian knows, but I did not tell him. I only told the queen. She's the only person I have ever told besides…"

"Who?" I asked gently, getting she was scared. I held up my hand when she opened her mouth. "Wait, I am sorry, this situation first and then you can explain. You are in danger."

Her eyes filled with tears. "The doctor told on me to someone? I thought—his sparkles were so pure."

I had no idea what that meant but ignored it for the moment and told them what I knew.

Ian sighed. "Gerald has people everywhere, or someone is always ready to tell him secrets to get in good with him. Luckily, I was there when he received the report and I knew…" He gave Mabel a sad look. "Lovely, you cannot risk yourself like that."

Tears filled her eyes and she went over to the plush chair, lunch forgotten.

"I felt the child burn in the dream, Ian. I had a dream of what to do like normal or when I ask, but there wasn't context, just to give him the cream. She must be able to know my subconscious or—she was angry. She's been helping, and I-I do not think I have done enough to earn that in her eyes. That boy is important to her. To something needed.

"I do not know, but I got the—she made it clear that he could not die. I was still hesitant because it was something too exposed and I promised that I would not do that." She wiped her eyes, but tears kept coming. "She made me feel the pain of the child. I felt like I was burning and then the pain he felt before they knocked him out. The pain he will feel when he wakes."

"I have never wanted to cuss out our goddess before," Ian seethed.

I did a double take, but they ignored me. I sank into the nearest chair as it truly hit me that this was real. Mabel was blessed by the goddess Violetta who sent her dreams.

Wow.

"I woke with a need to make it happen," Mabel continued. "I realized the fire did not happen yet, but… Why not just have someone go stop it? Why did I need to—but I was panicked. Not just for the boy but for me if I failed. She—it was not like normal."

"I am very late to all of this, but could it have been different to you because of how exhausted you already are?" I asked. "You have been panicked and worried about the opening already, Mabel. Does anything change if you are in a different state of mind?"

"Why would you ask that?" Ian muttered as Mabel seemed lost in thinking about that.

I shrugged. "We ask people all of the time about their state of mind. It changes a perception. Hell, I would think I would automatically feel panicked because it was a child. Or if the dreams did not normally have people in them or—"

"No, that happens often," Mabel whispered. "She's made it clear a few times now that I have to take better care of you and help you because of your pure soul and how many times you have been hurt. And I do not mean physically. She is very upset with how you have been treated and wants your life better."

"I need a drink," I breathed, standing and going over to what would be the sideboard in my house.

But we were in her house.

"I think I do too," Mabel admitted. "There should be whiskey and orange juice in the kitchen now."

"I will fix you both drinks and be the sober adult," Ian mumbled when he realized how bad of a spot we were both in.

"Were you going to tell me?" I asked quietly after he was gone for a bit.

She opened her mouth a few times and closed it, wiping her eyes before trying again. "I do not know that I even really believe it most days, Andre. It seems so—why me? Why an unloved child born of a sexist dad and a doll mother who raised me to be a doll too? Sent to hell and—the days I do believe I am angry with the goddess. So it's all a mess."

"You are angry with her for what you have been through?" I hedged.

She raised her head and met my gaze, hers destroyed. "For judging me. I only received one dream while married. She did not approve of the path I was on, and I am pissed she would judge me when—what options did I have?"

I gratefully accepted the stiff whiskey Ian handed me before giving Mabel one with a lot of juice. "What do we do right now? We have to handle this."

"I have an idea, but it means giving Gerald the credit," Ian said quietly, kneeling in front of Mabel. "Let the rumor be that he funded the work of a mage who focuses on health. That a few things like that are being sampled and tested at the capital hospital."

"He will be judged for trying it on a child. I worried of the same, but the goddess was upset I would be so selfish." She started silently crying again. "I am not selfish. I want to be free and actually live my life. Is that really so wrong?"

"No, no, it's not, lovely."

My heart hurt when she broke down sobbing. I was glad for Ian right then because he lifted her up and sat her on his lap to comfort her.

I needed a bit more time. I understood what she was saying and… I had a right to be upset that she kept something so big from me when I'd been honest that I wanted something real with her.

I understood what she'd done and why, but I felt I also deserved to be upset.

Life was complicated like that.

But something had definitely happened between them. It upset me more than her keeping things from me. Here I'd been patient and understanding, and Ian was his normal suave and charming self to get away with too much.

He will take her away from me. I will lose her because of him. He will cost me my only chance at love just like he broke my heart before.

It hurt so badly that I behaved badly.

Not right then, but I did later, and I hated myself for butting into their relationship for my own benefit.

Then again, if I was Mabel, I'd want to know the truth before it was too late.

I wish someone had told me before Ian had broken my heart so many years ago.