Raintree: Sanctuary (Raintree 3)

“Yes” was all Judah said.

Eve lifted her arm, reached out and grasped Judah’s hand. For an instant her eyes flickered, turning from green to gold and then back to green. Mercy’s heart stopped for a millisecond.

I imagined it, Mercy tried to tell herself. But she knew better. Something powerful had occurred between Judah and Eve, even if neither of them was aware of it.

Mercy knew. She felt it down to her bones.

All during breakfast, Eve chatted away like a little magpie, filling Judah in on her likes, her dislikes, her daily routine. Basically, she told him the story of her life. Mercy picked at her food, but Judah ate heartily.

“If you’re finished, we can go into the study now,” Mercy told Judah as she scooted back her chair and stood.

He glanced over his shoulder at Sidonia. “The breakfast was delicious. Thank you.”

Sidonia snarled, giving him a withering glare.

He chuckled, then tossed down his napkin and stood. He waved his hand in a gentlemanly gesture and said, “After you.”

Eve hopped out of her chair. “Me too.”

“No,” Mercy said. “You stay here with Sidonia. Judah…Your father and I need—”

“You’re going to talk about me.” Eve planted her hands on her hips and frowned. “I should be there so I can tell you both what I think.”

“No.” Mercy shook her head.

“Yes.” Eve stomped her foot.

“You will stay with Sidonia.”

Eve looked at Judah. “I want to go, too. Please, Daddy.”

Before Judah had a chance to respond, Mercy said, “Enough, young lady. You will stay with Sidonia.” She glared at Judah, daring him to contradict her.

Suddenly an empty glass flew off the table and crashed against the wall, then another and another. Within a minute, every dish, glass and cup on the table flew into the air, whirling around in a frenzy, then one by one crashed to the floor and smashed into shards of glass and pottery.

Mercy narrowed her gaze and concentrated on her daughter, using her powers to counteract Eve’s and put an end to the temper tantrum. With each passing year, Eve’s talents grew stronger, and Mercy knew that the day would come when her child’s abilities would surpass hers. She prayed that by that time Eve would be mature enough to handle such awesome power.

“You will do as your mother requested,” Judah said. “You will stay with your nanny.”

Knowing she had been defeated, Eve puckered her lips into a pout and managed to squeeze a single tear from one eye.

“Sidonia, be sure that Eve cleans up the mess she made,” Mercy said. “And I don’t want you to help her.”

“Daddy!” Eve looked to Judah to save her from her punishment.

Ignoring Eve completely, Judah grasped Mercy’s arm and led her out of the kitchen. As soon as they reached the hallway leading to her study, Mercy jerked away from him and paused to regain her composure.

“She’s quite a handful, isn’t she?” Judah said.

“You sound rather proud of that fact.”

“Would you rather she be some sniveling, weak little mouse?”

“I imagine you were a handful when you were a child, weren’t you?”

“I still am,” he said, his tone teasing.

This was the Judah she remembered, a charming man with a sense of humor. If only she had known all those years ago that beneath the charm lay a wild beast, one capable of ripping out her heart. She walked away from him, down the hall to the open study door. With out looking back, she knew he had followed her. Once they entered the study, she closed the door behind them.