Brunch

The Lockwood house hadn’t changed, which wasn’t entirely unexpected. It was Titus who’d cared most about it, believing it a sign of the Lockwood power, and Emory clearly didn’t feel the same way. Neither did any of the generations before him. Em definitely wouldn’t have. Knowing him I didn’t think he’d have chosen to live there, preferring the home Maeve left him, but there were those who had, including Papa’s father, who’d learnt of the existence of Marren Vale from another Jasper. Very few of the family knew where the name came from, because another Emory, the first Thaddeus’s brother, told stories of an uncle to his sons, the name being passed on to a grandson he was never lucky enough to meet.

As we stepped closer to the door Titus tightened his grip on my hand. Of course he worried. Being back might have an unexpected effect on my memories, had I not already remembered the house, and I glanced at him, the weight of the secrets we both kept heavy on our shoulders. He felt my eyes on him, because he looked at me. I nudged him with a shoulder gently, and he smiled, although it didn’t reach his eyes. Papa was the one who knocked, his hand likely almost as tight on Mama’s as Titus’s was on mine, because any kind of relationship with Emory was new to him. Titus was likely the one who’d gently nudged Papa in that direction, for the ritual. We needed the right number for it to work.

Using the Lockwoods was a decision he wouldn’t have made lightly. He never had before, the rituals some of the first, traumatic, memories I’d regained, so I knew who we’d sacrificed, and the Lockwoods were safe. Only now the alliances Papa had created were too weak for Titus to use them. We saw that at the Darkholmes. Had it been Titus neither Lars or Jonas would have dared to go against his express wishes. As they had it was clear to me we needed the numbers from the Lockwoods and Tyrells, leaving us as the last two standing again, but then we’d at least be able to live. That had always been the final goal.

Emory must have been waiting, because he opened the door sooner than I expected, the smile still not quite touching his eyes. It was more natural. From the way he stood I could tell he was as uncertain about brunch as Papa.

“I’m glad you came.”

“So am I.” Papa stepped forward, still holding Mama’s hand, to use one arm to pull Emory into a hug. “Thank you for inviting us.”

“Petra would never forgive us.”

“No, she wouldn’t.” There was a love in both their voices, because Petra, their eldest sister, was the one who’d kept the family together, until her death. “I’m sorry, Emory.”

“Honestly, Thaddeus, I’m the one who should apologise. I am the head of the family, so I should have held us together, but without her…” Emory raked a hand through his hair, glancing at Marion. “Come in. This is a subject best talked about elsewhere.”

Gesturing with an arm, he stepped back for us to enter, Papa going first with Mama, then Zachary, and finally me, with Titus not letting go of my hand. Emory looked between the two of us for a moment, so I smiled at him, reaching out to touch his arm.

“Thank you for inviting us, Uncle Emory.” He softened then, giving me a true smile. “It’s nice to finally see the Lockwood house.”

“After we eat I’ll give you all a full tour, if you’d like.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m really glad you’re here.” Then he looked at Titus. “Both of you. When Thaddeus chose the old names I was more than a little surprised, but it was the right choice.”

“Why do you say that?” I looked at Titus to see an eyebrow raised. “You barely know us.”

Emory looked at our hands. “I don’t need to know you, nephew, to have seen the relationship you have, or understand you both inherited the Lockwood magic. Finn’s the most powerful of my children, and even then I’m not certain I’d say he truly had.”

“No, he has. He’s just young.” Titus shrugged. “Give it time.”

“You’re certain of that?”

“I am.”

Slowly, Emory nodded, closing the door as we stepped further into the house, Titus gently tugging me in the direction Papa had gone. Emory followed us, and we entered what had always been the kitchen. Georgina stood close to the door to the sunroom, arms crossed, seeming the most uncomfortable. Zachary had already drawn Sarah and Emily into a conversation, while Finn watched them, until he realised we were there too. He looked at us, so I gave him a smile, which seemed to put him at ease, because he crossed the room.

“Finn Lockwood, at your service.” He lifted my free hand to his lips, giving me a bow, which only made me smile more. “Pleasure to meet you, Anne.” Then he turned to Titus. “And you, Titus. I was hoping we may be able to talk.”

“Of course.” Titus held his hand out for Finn to shake, always careful to be on the right side for that to be possible if we were going anywhere together. “Helping a Lockwood cousin is something I always have time for.”

The relief in Finn’s eyes was a surprise. “What’s wrong?” He blinked at me. “I’m an empath.”

Glancing back at Georgina, who’d been joined for a moment by Emory, talking quietly to her, Finn shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

“Anne can also tell if you’re lying, Finn.” There was a touch of amusement in Titus’s voice, as magic swirled around us, in a way I knew no one else would have even realised it happened. “You’re safe to talk now, if you wish to.”

Being told he was safe didn’t mean he felt it. “You can trust Titus. No one outside the circle he created will be able to hear us.” I didn’t want to draw too much attention to what was happening, so I stayed where I was, even though I wanted to hug him. “Family can be complicated.”

He nodded, as though he didn’t expect to, glancing at Emory and Georgina once more. “Why did they even get married?”

I shared a look with Titus, who raised an eyebrow. “Your father was the Lockwood heir, Finn, and that… it’s a heavy weight for any of the heirs. Jonas, for example, didn’t make good choices last night, because he’s struggling with what it means to be the Darkholme heir.” Reaching out with my free hand I took his. “Grandfather made certain choices I know affected both Papa and Uncle Emory, so your father… he chose the name rather than the person, unfortunately. Papa wasn’t the heir, but he was lucky enough to meet Mama, which…” Looking over at Emory and Georgina I could see the shared dislike. “None of this is something you should have to deal with, but, unfortunately, it’s part of being one of the Greater families.”

“Mother has a favourite, who she wants to be heir, while Papa hopes I’ll come into the Lockwood power, so he can choose me, even though I don’t think Mother actually likes me.”

Fortunately, Zachary was still talking with our other cousins, which gave me a reason to look over, giving him a smile when he glanced over at me. He smiled back. Even though I didn’t have the kind of relationship with him I had with Titus we were still friends. With a slight head movement he asked about Finn, and I shook my head, so I had a feeling he might also have got the same idea when it came to issues within our uncle’s family. Turning his attention back to our cousins, he kept chatting.

“Are you close with your sisters?”

“There’s an age gap.” Sarah was twenty, Emily eighteen, and Finn’s thirteenth birthday was next month, when he’d come into the Lockwood power – Titus was never wrong about that. “I know I was a mistake.”

One of the words I hated the most when it came to children, and it was then I completely gave in to the urge, drawing Finn closer, wrapping my arm around him. “You were not a mistake, Finn.” I felt eyes on me, and looked over to find Georgina staring, her emotions ones I expected considering my actions. “Make me a promise, cousin.” He looked up at me. “Whenever you feel uncomfortable here you come to one of us. Currently it will most likely be me, because Titus is busy with Papa a lot of the time, but you are family, so that means you have support.”

Circle dropping, I paid no attention to why because I knew Georgina was still on the other side of the room, I waited for Finn to nod. “I won’t be annoying.”

“No, cousin, you wouldn’t.” I tightened my arm around him. “Have you felt very alone?”

His face crumpled, and he buried it into my side. Emory’s eyes met with mine. Although he’d known there was very little he could do, making me wonder if the whole reason he’d reconciled with Thaddeus was for Finn. That way his son had other family, who could support him, when there was something more to the age gap comment. Pushing wasn’t the right thing to do then.

Emory’s hand touched my shoulder. “Thank you.” He mouthed the words, not wanting Finn to know he was there. “Finn needs family.”

For the first time Titus let my hand free, stepping over to Emory, drawing him away. I didn’t pay too much attention, even when Papa joined them, focused on Finn, who I gently drew out of the room. When he’d composed himself, looking at me, we were in one of the many libraries Titus created, entirely alone.

“Anne, I… Mother told me not to monopolise your time. This…”

“Let me deal with your mother.” I kissed the top of his head, something I’d only be able to do for a short amount of time, because all the Lockwood boys I’d met had a massive growth spurt when they came into their power. “Spending time with you is something I want to do, cousin. Zachary can keep your sisters entertained.”

“You’re the important one.”

“How am I?” I couldn’t keep the amusement out of my voice. “Clearly she has certain expectations.”

“She does, and that…” Finn closed his eyes. “Mother… neither of my sisters are Papa’s daughters.”

“Uncle Emory knows?” Without saying anything more Finn nodded. “How did he find out?”

“I don’t know.” A tear rolled down his cheek. “They were arguing in Papa’s study, I wasn’t meant to hear anything, but he told Mother he knew, and she… I’ve kept the secret ever since. Mother… she said she loved Sarah’s father. Only he didn’t have the right name, so she ended up marrying Papa, because he was a Lockwood. How I happened… I don’t think she ever wanted to have a child with Papa. My existence… I might be the reason Papa realised. My sisters look nothing like me.”

Fortunately all the libraries had plenty of comfortable spots to sit down, and I led Finn over to one of them as his one tear turned into sobs, because he blamed himself for Emory finding out about his mother’s infidelity. I held him, caring more about him that the plans I had for my time in the Lockwood house. The moment I stepped through the door I felt Titus’s wards in the same place they’d always been. Had it not been for Finn I’d have already been there, searching for his journals, but I wasn’t going to leave him when it was clear how much he was struggling. From the way he clung to me it was clear he needed someone.

“None of this is your fault, Finn.” He shook his head. “Don’t take that on your shoulders. The only person to blame is Georgina, because she made the decision to continue her relationship with another man after she married your father.”

“Other men.” Finn breathed deeply. “Emily has a different father. I didn’t get all the details, I honestly wasn’t interested in knowing, but Mother never loved Papa, and Papa… he’s jealous of Uncle Thaddeus. Marrying for love… only the woman he fell in love with was a Tyrell.”

Sometimes it was best to be honest. “Papa might love Mama, but she doesn’t love him.” Finn looked at me, eyes wide, and I stroked a hand over his head. “How things look from the outside isn’t always how they are from the inside. They understand each other. Clearly it’s not the same with your parents, which, again, is not your fault. What choices they’ve made are theirs. You are not a mistake, whatever your mother might think, and I believe Uncle Emory cares deeply about you.”

“Papa does, but I see how it causes even more problems between the two of them, because Mother… she wants Sarah to be the Lockwood heir, not me. Only Papa, now he knows they aren’t Lockwoods by blood, isn’t willing to let either of my sisters take that position. He didn’t believe it would be the right thing even before he knew, as neither of them are particularly powerful, while I… he has hopes, Anne, while I… do I want to be the Lockwood heir?”

“Do you want me to be honest with you, Finn?” He nodded, his eyes on mine. “The best Lockwood heirs haven’t wanted it, while those who have…” I thought for a moment, he’d probably dealt with enough secrets, but it might be worth it to build a relationship with him. “Can you keep a secret?” Again, he nodded. “Even from Titus?”

There was a moment of thought. “How long for?”

“A few days, probably. It’s a conversation I need to have with him soon, but there are reasons I haven’t, and that… I trust you.”

Eyes widening again, he took my hand. “Anne, I… thank you. I honestly didn’t think this morning would work out the way it had. Every choice I made I second guessed, because of Mother.”

I nodded in understanding. He wasn’t the only one to have found himself in that position. “Do you know your Lockwood history?”

“You and Titus have old family names.” His eyes met with mine. “There are those who suspected it was something more, but… I read good things about the Lockwood siblings, although some believed Titus to be a danger to Marren Vale.”

“Well, Finn, those who suspected weren’t wrong. Titus and I are the first reincarnated, but it’s different this time.”

“On the night of a Council ritual Titus, and everyone else on the Council died, but Anne wasn’t there, with no one certain what happened to her.”

Curling my arms around Finn, moving so he was leaning against me, I sighed. “Titus made a mistake. He continued on with a dangerous ritual when he was emotionally compromised, and it led to both our deaths.”

“How do you know that?”

“More often than he’d ever admit to anyone Titus has nightmares. I’m drawn into them, because we’re soulbonded.”

“Should you be telling me any of this?”

“That’s a very complicated question to answer, but you are the Lockwood heir, and that means something, Finn.”

“Not yet.”

“You will come into the Lockwood power on your birthday, and Emory will designate you the Lockwood heir, because that’s how it’s always been. The most powerful is the Lockwood heir.”

“Except there’s Titus, who’s much stronger than me.”

“Who is Papa’s heir.”

“Anne…”

“Don’t assume anything at this point. I don’t think even Titus could tell you for Certain what’s going to happen next.” Standing, I held my hand out to Finn. “There’s a secret place I can show you, for times when you might not want to make the long walk all the way to the Tyrell house but still want to get away from everyone.”

Before I had a chance to start leading Finn anywhere I heard footsteps. From the sound of them I believed it was Georgina, who then stepped through the door into the library, eyes on mine for a second. I didn’t need her to say anything for me to be certain she didn’t actually like me, but she wanted her daughters to build up a friendship with me to undo the damage she’d done, by having children who weren’t her husband’s, as though I could ever be enough. Then again she was a Galbraith… but it wasn’t entirely fair for me to tar them all with the same brush. Some of the Galbraiths were lovely. Others… well, I could see who Georgina was easily.

“Finn, I did ask you not to monopolise your cousins’ time.” Her voice was gentle, in a way I didn’t think was faked. “It is wonderful to see you, Anne, and I am pleased to see you getting along with Finn. Recently it’s become clear he really does need someone more in his life.” Maybe I’d misjudged her. “The relationship he has with his sisters had always been a little strained… which I know is my fault.” She moved closer to us. “Love, I know I’ve not always been the best mother to you, but that doesn’t mean you’re the problem.”

Silence followed her words. I waited for Finn to say something, but then Georgina shook her head, crossing the full distance, and taking Finn’s free hand. “Look at me.” Eventually, he did. “You are not the problem. Believe me when I say that. Our issues are ours, love. What you overheard…”

“Mother…”

“Please let me finish. Do you think I missed the way you look at me? I know you know. My choices, Finn, are mine alone. The problems I have with your father are not your fault. Honestly, I should have told you this weeks ago, but it’s not always easy for me to admit when I’ve made mistakes, especially to my children. You deserved better. Hear me when I say these words, because I mean them – I am sorry. More sorry than you can know.”

When Finn looked at me, it wasn’t as though it wasn’t in the Lockwood history about my ability to know if someone was being honest, I nodded. Georgina gave me a look, more amused than I expected. Letting go of my hand, trusting us both, he half threw himself into Georgina’s arms, and she wrapped them around him.

“Everything will be fine.” She kissed the top of his head. “I love you, Finn. Truly. You are my son, and whatever happens with your father I will always love you.” Her eyes met with mine. “From what you said there’s somewhere he can go, when he doesn’t feel safe with us.”

“There is, and I’ll show you both where it is. You won’t be able to get through the wards, but then if you need to talk to Finn you can knock on the door, check in on him.”

“You believe me?”

I stepped closer, my eyes not leaving hers. “Yes, I believe you.”

“Anne, I know how it seems. My family name isn’t exactly the best, even though the Galbraiths have power, and I admit I married Emory for the wrong reasons, the same way he married me. We made choices that have harmed out children, which…” She looked down at Finn’s head. “That is a problem we need to deal with, without causing any more harm, even though I’m not certain it’s possible.”