Merlin's Children (The Children and the Blood) by Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson Page B

she said, nodding as much to herself as the girl. “Then this is what we’re going to do. We’re getting out of here. As far from Atlanta and all this as possible. But I need you to promise me something. If Cole tries to contact you or if you see him again,” she bent to catch the girl’s eye, “you can’t talk to him, okay? And you stay away from him. Just for now. Alright?”
    The little girl looked like she felt sick.
    “Lily?”
    “He’s not bad,” she mumbled.
    Forcing herself to breathe, Ashe fought down the responses that rose to mind. “Okay,” she agreed.
    Lily eyed her.
    “He’s going to be fine, Lil. It’s us I’m worried about. I need you to promise you’ll stay away from him.”
    “But–”
    “Lily.”
    The girl dropped her gaze to the floor. “Okay.”
    Ashe hesitated. “And,” she continued carefully. “I need to know if he was telling the truth about where you found the staff.”
    Exhaling in frustration, Lily looked away.
    “Please,” Ashe urged. “It’s important.”
    Lily’s gaze went to the door. Her lip slid between her teeth as anxiety gradually subsumed her expression again.
    “Lily?”
    “Where he said,” she answered softly.
    Ashe paused. “Really?”
    A desperate noise exploded from Lily. “What?” she cried, her voice breaking. “Are you calling me a liar too? He’s not a bad person and neither am I, but you just keep–”
    “Okay!” Ashe yelled.
    Breathing hard, Lily cut off.
    “Okay,” Ashe repeated more calmly. “I’m sorry. I just… you seemed…” She regrouped, shaking her head at herself. “I’m sorry.”
    Lily looked up, her expression more anguished than enraged. “I just don’t want you to get hurt,” she whimpered.
    “I’m not going to get–” Ashe started, and then the automatic response caught up with her. She swallowed, trying not to feel the phantom twinge where Harris’ bullet had torn through barely a week before. “I’m careful, Lil,” she amended quietly. “More than you know.”
    Lily’s lower lip trembled. Wordlessly, Ashe crossed the room and kneeled down, wrapping the girl in her arms.
    “I just… I can’t… with Daddy, I just…”
    Pained, Ashe closed her eyes, bullets having nothing to do with the tightness in her chest. “Shh,” she whispered.
    Lily buried her face in her sister’s shoulder.
    “We’re okay, kiddo,” Ashe told her.
    When the girl didn’t respond, Ashe pushed her back gently and looked into Lily’s teary eyes. “Hey. You calling me a liar?”
    Lily sniffled and shook her head, an uncertain smile hovering around the edge of her lips.
    “Good,” Ashe said.
    Taking a steadying breath, she climbed back to her feet and then ruffled the girl’s hair, producing a cry of protest from Lily, who instantly started smoothing her black waves. Her lip twitching, Ashe looked away, and her gaze caught on the door. Outside, she could hear the faint sounds of Elias and Cornelius talking.
    The nascent smile died. “Wait here for me?” she asked Lily. “I just need to tell them what’s going on.”
    Lily looked as though she’d rather Ashe didn’t, but she just nodded.
    “I’ll be right back.”
    The girl didn’t answer.
    Running a hand through her hair and trying to school her features back into something resembling impassivity, Ashe headed for the door.
    “So?” Elias demanded immediately.
    Ashe glanced to Nathaniel. Without a word, the man disappeared into the bedroom.
    “She doesn’t know where he’s gone,” Ashe said once the door closed. “She thought Jamison was dead.”
    Elias let out a breath slowly.
    “Will Cole try to reach her?” Cornelius asked.
    “She promised she’ll stay away from him if he does,” Ashe replied. Her mouth tightened at their expressions. “And yeah. I know. But it’s the best I could get from her. She refuses to believe he isn’t just trying to protect her.”
    For a moment, no one spoke.
    “Could he be?” Elias asked finally.
    The wizard held