Free Isaura by Ruth Silver Page B

I could feel his breath, but he didn't lean in and he didn't kiss
me. “Do you have any more Mindonsiphan left?”
    “What?” I swallowed. It was not what I had expected him to
say. Relief flooded through me. “It's gone. The last of it was destroyed.” At
least I thought it had been.
    “That's too bad,” he whispered, taking a step back. My heart
pounded in my chest and I took in a heavy breath, nearly gasping for air.
    “It's late, I should go to bed,” I reminded him before
brushing past as I retreated back to my room. Luckily, I made the way without
getting lost. I snuck into bed and felt the warm blankets surround me.
    “Where were you?” Joshua mumbled wrapping an arm around my
waist. “You're so cold.” He pulled me tighter.
    “Shhh, go back to sleep,” I encouraged, dropping a kiss to
his lips. “Goodnight, Josh.”
    “Night,” he answered and a moment later he was snoring.
    I wished I could fall asleep so easily. It took hours and
just as the sun rose, I drifted off.
    “Milady.” I recognized the voice but wasn't quite sure who
it was. I groaned in protest but refused to move from the bed.
    I buried my head beneath the pillows doing my best to block
the light from the windows and the sound of soft footsteps. “Go away,” I
muttered feeling the bed dip.
    “Olivia!” Adelaide, giggled climbing atop the mattress.
    “I'm sorry, Lady Olivia, but I didn't quite know what to do
with her,” Tria admitted.
    “It's just Olivia,” I corrected her. I wrapped my arms
around Adelaide, tickling her. “Do you like waking me up in the morning?”
    Adelaide giggled and laughed nodding vigorously. “I wanted
to wake Joshua, too, but he was already outside.” Tria walked out of the room,
leaving Adelaide with me. I shifted onto my back, letting my eyes adjust as
Adelaide bounced on the mattress excitedly.
    “Are you hungry for breakfast?” I asked. She must have been
ready to eat. It was why she'd wanted to wake me, right?
    Adelaide shrugged. Her eyes lit up with a smile. “I want to
show you something.”
    I nodded through heavy eyes, sitting up in bed. “What is it?”
I asked, trying to seem interested even though I was tired and cranky from lack
of sleep.
    Adelaide smiled. “Promise not to tell?”
    “I promise.” I kissed her cheek and she clasped her hands
together and blew into them. She giggled and opened her palms as a butterfly
flew out.
    “See what I can do!” she squealed with delight.
    I sighed, realizing she'd figured out about the Mindonsiphan
long before the rest of us had. Perhaps she hadn't fully known or understood
what she was capable of, but she was smart and imaginative, a dangerous
combination.
    “I bet I can make fairies, too!” She giggled clasping her
hands together again.
    “Wait!” My eyes widened as I stopped her, resting my hands
above hers. “We need to talk,” I breathed. Adelaide frowned, confused. It
hadn't been the easiest conversation to have with a six-year old. Trying to
explain to her what we'd done to save her life and how she was now forever
different. She didn't mind that. What she hadn't liked was the fact we insisted
she keep it a secret.
    “I don't want to,” Adelaide whined, climbing off the bed as
she sulked out of my suite.
    “Adelaide!” I called out to her. I climbed off the bed,
grabbing the robe from the previous night as I headed for the hall. I glanced
from side-to-side trying to make out which way she'd gone. “Adelaide!” I tried
to keep my voice down, unsure the hour and concerned about waking the entire
town. The sun had come up some time ago and based on Adelaide's previous time
living with us, she was an early riser.
    Joshua turned the corner, a steaming hot mug in his hand. I
stopped abruptly, careful not to walk into him. “What's going on?” he asked.
    “Adelaide knows,” I emphasized giving Joshua a look.
    “Knows what?” He frowned.
    She's figured out about the Mindonsiphan .We
didn't have time to sit down and talk.