Free Haven by Dria Andersen

series of tiny braids. Gold bangles jingled on her wrist as she
glided to them. Her eyes, large and tilted at the corners, glowed from her
caramel face. With the push of a few buttons on the control pad in the yard,
the tiles on their walkway extended, connecting the airlift pad to the front
yard and bringing her the rest of the way. She grasped her daughter's hands and
kissed Liliana's cheeks.
    "Do you have
any idea how worried we have been?" She examined his mate, her expression
anxious, and relief plain on her beautiful face.
    Something was off,
but he couldn't put his finger on it. Her mother made all the correct motions,
said all the right words, but an air of falseness surrounded the woman. Leo
wondered what she hid.
    "I'm sorry, mother,"
Liliana whispered, tears streaming.
    The sight pulled at Leo
and he stepped closer to her. He slid an arm around her shoulder. Her mother
stepped back and eyed him from toe to head, disdain curling her lips. Could be
his human skin, or the fact he was touching her daughter, the Eshu were strict
about propriety. Openly touching her daughter in public was frowned upon. Only
his uniform kept her from saying the nasty words glowing in her eyes.
    Leo smirked. The
fireworks would fly when she realized he was her daughter's mate. Suddenly the
trip was looking up. Yeah, he was petty, but anything that took his mind off of
where he was, he'd take.
    Her mother bent her
legs in a small dip he assumed was supposed to be a curtsy. "Thank you for
bringing my daughter home. If you will come in, my mate will be home soon to
thank you properly."
    Liliana's eyes met
his entreating him not to say anything. He nodded and her mother escorted them
both into the two story glass structure. A large painting of who he recognized
as the lost daughter dominated the wall directly across from the front door, he
gave a surreptitious look around for one of Liliana. Finding none, he made a
mental note to ask Liliana about the clear preference her parents had of Kita. It
could explain the falseness he felt around her mother.
    The place was well
kept. The Eshu nobles were known for their exquisite taste…and the tendency to
show off. He could hardly see the paint on the walls through all their 'good
taste'. Expensive artwork littered the table surfaces and covered the walls.
Leo sat in the plush leather armchair and controlled his urge to roll his eyes
at the trappings of wealth.
    "Would you like
some tea?" Her politeness was forced, her hands white knuckled in fists at
her side. Evidently Liliana's mother didn't think much of him either. But then
he imagined no noble would like feeling beholden to an Amanda soldier. Though
they ranked high in status in most realms, the Eshu regarded anyone in service
as lower.
     Leo nodded and the
woman turned to leave, but turned back quickly to hug her daughter once again.
They were left alone and an awkward silence descended. Liliana looked at him.
He could almost read the thoughts crossing her face. Doubt and fear were the
clear winners as she worried her bottom lip with her teeth. She opened her
mouth to speak when the door crashed open.
    "Arian, is it
true?" Her father rounded the corner of the room and came to a halt.
"Lily, my darling." Her father crushed her into a tight hug.
"You've had us worried to death. The prince and his family will be over soon
to greet you."
    Leo cleared his
throat.
    Emerald eyes the
same as Liliana's stared at him from over her shoulder. An older version of
her, Liliana's father had hair the same colors but muted with age. His hair,
pulled back into a neat queue, revealed his narrow face and stubborn chin, the
twin of his daughter's. His skin was a darker brown, its pallor dull. Worry had
taken its toll on her father. Compassion welled unbidden.
    "I cannot thank
the Amanda enough for finding my daughter." He held out his hand.
    Leo shook it, giving
Liliana a pointed look.
    "Sit, baba ,
I have news." She grabbed her father's shoulders and guided him