They did this just as they perplexed him.
"And what have I done for you, witch?" he asked as the green mist grew around her.
"Not one thing, mon loup," she replied, her body fading, her lips curving up. "I do not express my grat.i.tude for me, but for my sister."
This perplexed him more.
"I do not know your sister," he told her something she knew.
"We women are all sisters," she told him something he did not.
Then she faded away.
However, he understood and he wanted to feel satisfaction in knowing that she felt he gave something to one of her "sisters" that deserved grat.i.tude.
He just didn"t feel that way considering, with her manner of late, there was more work to do to mend his broken dove.
He needed to talk to Madeleine. It was just that he was forced to do it later and he was becoming more and more impatient with all the "laters" that were forced upon him. Laters that meant he didn"t see to his dove. Laters that meant he didn"t see to his son.
But now, he had to find Frey and report what just occurred. Then it would seem he"d need to give the order to prepare to have more people in his house and likely more soldiers on his grounds. Further, there was the matter of Franka and their next move, which needed to be intricately planned, which would mean they would need to be away to the Winter Palace for the Bitter Gales soon.
But presently, after talking with Frey, he needed to have lunch with his children.
He would send for Maddie to join them and speak with her after.
And after that, perhaps both of them would sit down with Christophe, whose distance Apollo felt had gone on long enough.
It was unfortunate he had to press this issue with his son.
But he wanted Madeleine bound tight to him and his children. He wanted them all to build their relationship as a family together. And he wanted his children settled with that, working toward that same goal, and not battling demons alone.
On this thought, he got up from his desk and was making his way around it when a knock came at the door. Before he could call out his command to enter, the door opened and Achilles moved through.
He closed the door behind him and stopped, as did Apollo.
But before Achilles could speak, Apollo did.
"The green witch was just here, cousin. I apologize, but I must find Frey."
"I was just with him and Lavinia. Lavinia sensed her and I came to see if she was visiting with you."
"She goes to Lavinia now," Apollo told him.
"Frey went to his wife on the same errand as mine."
"Then I must go to him and explain what we discussed. You should accompany me as you"ll need to know as well."
"If it isn"t urgent, while I have you alone, I"d like a moment before we go."
Apollo studied his cousin and asked, "Is what you need to speak with me about pressing?"
"It"s about Maddie."
Anything about Maddie was pressing.
Therefore Apollo crossed his arms on his chest, indication his cousin should proceed.
He did.
"I will preface this by saying that I understand it"s not my place to pry, but Draven told me you, Maddie and the children were getting on well in getting to know each other while you were away. He"s noted now that"s changed and since your return, I"ve seen Maddie often with elan, never with Chris. He"s your son, Lo, and you have your way with him but I"m surprised you have not yet intervened." He tipped is head to the side and suddenly asked, "May I ask why Maddie"s still at the dower house?"
Maddie continuing to dwell in the dower house was something Apollo had hoped would change when they returned. Weeks spent in the presence of the children, she had to feel that it was fitting that she move to the main house.
Further, Apollo felt that the more his son saw him with Madeleine, the more accustomed he would become to her, the more he would settle into the knowledge that Maddie was Maddie, not his mother. And also he would see she was important to Apollo and Christophe"s sister and in the end come to the conclusion he should shirk his current behavior and settle into his place in the family Apollo was trying to build.
However, upon their arrival, Madeleine had balked at this, saying it was clear from Christophe"s behavior that he was not ready for it, and Apollo could not disagree with her.
He didn"t like it.
But he didn"t disagree.
Thus it was most definitely time to talk with his son.
And there was more than one reason he wished her in his home and his bed, a reason he had not yet shared with Madeleine.
She had shared greatly about her past life. She had only prodded gently about his.
They would have time for him to share his life, which was nowhere near as complex and heartbreaking as hers. And that time would come after he had all of her.
"It"s precisely that Chris has distanced himself from Maddie that is the reason she"s still at the dower house," he explained. "She feels the children should be comfortable with her presence and know her well before the manner of our relationship is further defined for them."
Achilles took a step toward him and stopped, saying, "I think this is wise. However, I also believe the manner of your relationship at this point is relatively clear, or as clear as their ages will allow it to be. elan thinks the world of her and would benefit greatly with having a lady in the house that is not a servant. But allowing Christophe to act out, even silently, against the relationship you"re building with the woman you intend to wed might not be sensible."
"Agreed. Thus, Madeleine and I will be speaking to him this afternoon."
Achilles nodded but his gaze grew intense. "I bring this up, Lo, not only due to what Draven shared about Chris, but also because Alek brought gossip from the village."
"b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l," Apollo muttered, knowing exactly what the villagers were saying without having that information imparted.
"It is now known wide that you intend to wed her. But your installing her in the dower house has brought up speculation that I"m sure won"t surprise you. It would not serve you well if Maddie were to hear it without it being in context."
Apollo grew impatient with their discussion and repeated, "As I said, I"ll be dealing with these issues shortly, Lees."
Achilles gaze did not lighten. It did the opposite as he asked, "Is Maddie all right?"
Apollo threw him a look before he sighed, leaned into a hand on the back of a chair in front of his desk and noted, "You"re far too observant."
Achilles smiled a small smile. "You usually find this a boon."
He did.
Since Achilles knew it, he didn"t confirm it.
Rather, he returned, "I"m uncertain I"m comfortable with the attention you"re paying to Maddie."
Achilles"s smile died. "You can"t mean to imply-"
Apollo interrupted him. "Of course not. But I can handle my romantic affairs, Lees."
"I"m aware of that," Achilles retorted instantly. "But you grow close quickly. Very quickly. And Maddie is in danger." His expression changed and Apollo braced at witnessing it. "You"ve lost a great deal, Lo."
"I may have moved past that, cousin, but I do remember it," Apollo told him.
"Is she sharing with you?" Achilles asked quietly.
"Yes," Apollo answered.
"Are you sharing with her?" Achilles pressed.
Apollo straightened from the chair and again crossed his arms on his chest. "This is where I"ll put a stop to your prying."
Achilles ignored that and carried on.
"She seems strong, surprisingly so after all she"s endured. Draven explained that she recovered from the attack very quickly. Yet, since her arrival home, I can"t help but think that something has changed."
"Again, I"ll repeat that I"ll be dealing with these issues shortly, Lees. And that time would come a great deal sooner if we could end this conversation."
Achilles studied him and Apollo allowed it.
For three seconds.
Then he uncrossed his arms and moved toward his cousin, stating, "We"re done with this. Let us find Frey."
He stopped when Achilles put a hand to his shoulder as Apollo would pa.s.s him.
"We now live with many unknowns," his cousin said softly. "For you, Maddie, your children, one less unknown, an important one, the solidity of your family, would be beneficial. Especially for Maddie as this is something she"s never known. She"s adapting to a land that"s very strange to her and doing it well." His lips quirked. "She"s adapting to you and doing that well also. But with all that has occurred from Vasterhague to Brunskar, she is quite aware of the dangers lurking. She has lived long with dangers lurking, cousin. A foundation such as this, I can only a.s.sume, would go a long way to making her feel safe during troubled times."
Apollo raised his brows. "But a month ago you felt this was moving too fast. Now you"re advising I speed things up?"
"But a month ago you had essentially just met. Now, I"ve seen her smile at you. I"ve seen you make her laugh. I"ve seen her do the same for you. I"ve seen how she is with elan. She does not hide in the slightest that she feels deeply for you, cousin. For your children. You have all lost a great deal. It"s a beautiful thing, watching you become found."
At his words, words he liked, Apollo sighed.
Then he shared, "She knows I wish to wed her, Lees. It"s she who wishes to understand herself better before she allows this to happen."
Achilles dropped his hand from Apollo"s shoulder as his brows shot together.
"How can a person not understand oneself?"
"I"ve no b.l.o.o.d.y clue," Apollo replied, shaking his head. "She"s explained it. It made sense at the time. Or more accurately, what made sense was the emotion she felt behind the words she said which didn"t make sense. However, they did to her and she meant them a great deal. What I took from that is that she needs time. I"m giving it to her."
"This is uncharacteristic of you, cousin," Achilles remarked.
Apollo held his gaze when he replied firmly, "I"m a man falling in love. We do many things that are uncharacteristic."
He watched surprise suffuse his cousin"s features before warmth overtook them.
"This makes me happy," he said quietly.
Apollo smiled at him. "It does me as well."
Achilles smiled back. "Obviously."
Apollo did not reply so Achilles spoke on.
"Now, I will cease causing a delay so you can see to important matters."
"Why do I not think you"re referring to me speaking to Frey?"
"Because nothing is more important than the pursuit of happiness."
Yet another thing Apollo could not argue.
However, they had one other matter to discuss and it unfortunately took them out of discussions about the pursuit of happiness.
"An important thing of note that the witch shared with me is that she has not been able to find my twin from the other world."
The warmth fled Achilles face and his eyes turned sharp.
"That does not seem to be good tidings, Lo," he noted.
"I don"t believe it is. Neither does Valentine, who is speculating that he"s in this world, veiled by our enemy, but brought here in order to do ill."
"If we remain in Lunwyn, with Frey here, the dragons and elves at his command, Lavinia and the green witch both providing their skills, they could be seeking non-magical means to bring harm to Maddie and the other women."
"Precisely," Apollo agreed. "And this other me has proved irrevocably he has no issue with bringing harm to Maddie and thus any woman."
"I will increase the guard on the dower house and her," Achilles declared.
"Also on Loretta, Meeta and Cristiana. They mean much to Maddie. If our enemy could get to them, they could be used to cause Madeleine harm."
"Done," Achilles stated. "I"ll see to this before I join you and Frey."
Apollo lifted his chin.
Achilles nodded, and finally they moved to the doors.