MAGNOLIA WALKED TO HER BEDROOM, she sighed in relief when Daniel was not there. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. She also needed a bath. Clara ran one quickly when she called for her.
Magnolia soaked in the hot water and closed her eyes.
'I have a brother.'
The thought brought a smile to her lips and filled her chest with warmth. Then she remembered what happened in the sitting room.
She sighed.
She did not want to be put in a position where she had to choose between Daniel and Killian.
'Is it too selfish to want them both in my life?'
As soon as Magnolia stepped out of the tub, she heard the bedroom door open. She wrapped her robe around her and took a deep breath before walking out. Daniel froze when he saw her.
"I thought you would be sleeping already," he uttered.
She stared at him for a moment. She was not sure how to bring up what happened with Killian. The room fell into silence.
"Laya told me about what happened at the Gottanlich castle," he started.
"Yes, it was a–"
"You should not have brought him here," he interrupted.
"Excuse me?"
"He's still a stranger, Magnolia, and obviously a vigilante."
"I invited my brother here so that I could introduce him to my husband and my son."
"Out of the question, I forbid him from meeting Geoffrey."
"What?" Magnolia's blood was boiling. "Are you hearing yourself? Geoffrey is my son and Killian is his uncle," she yelled.
"Geoffrey is my son too, or have you forgotten?" Daniel matched her tone.
Magnolia was silent for a moment. "I want my son to meet his uncle, Daniel," she told him with a lower voice.
"Do you think introducing our son to a criminal is a good idea? Even if he is your brother, is it really alright to have Geoffrey meet a murderer?"
"He is not a murderer, Daniel. He swore to me that they never killed anyone."
"And of course, you believed your dear brother," Daniel roared, he was fuming. He wrecked his hand through his hair violently. "I cannot believe you put yourself in front of him when I was about to attack him."
"Should I have let you stab him then?"
"You have just met him, did you even consider that he might be deceiving you?" His voice rose again.
"What if he's not, should I not give the only family I have left a chance?"
"The only family you have left?" Daniel repeated, hurt traversed his eyes.
"That is not what I meant–"
"It seems that you have already made up your mind about this man and nothing that I say will change that." Daniel stared at her for a moment, waiting for what she would say next.
He had hoped that she would come to her senses, at least investigate the man before welcoming him as her beloved brother.
"I will visit him tomorrow morning at the inn." Daniel's eyes widened. "I won't bring Geoffrey, but I need to speak with him more. There are so many questions that I need answered and he's the only one who can." She sighed. "I was hoping that we would do that over dinner or while all of us are together, but I guess that's not possible."
Daniel felt his chest on fire, he felt a little betrayed. He wondered if that brother of hers were the one to strike first, would she have stood in front of him like she did with the Phoenix.
"I see," he uttered before walking toward the door separating their bedrooms and closing it behind him.
Magnolia stared at the door for a long time after he left. She felt a pain in her chest, she had never seen Daniel look like that.
'Why can't he understand? Killian is my brother, the brother I thought was dead for years. He should be happy for me.'
***
"WHAT IS THIS?" Magnolia asked, looking from Daniel back to the knights.
"If you think that I will let my duchess go visit a criminal without protection, then you are mistaken." Daniel's face was stern and cold.
'My duchess?'
Magnolia swallowed. "I refuse to bring all these knights to visit my brother," she told him. "If you wish, you and you alone can accompany me. If that would make you feel better about your duchess."
Daniel was silent for a moment. Magnolia could see his jaw muscles contracting as he considered.
"Fine," he finally said. "You ride ahead and stay outside of town," he ordered.
"Yes, Your Grace." Victor bowed before leading the knights away.
Magnolia chose not to comment any further, she climbed up the carriage and sat in silence.
As they rode to town, she stole glances at Daniel, but he did not look at her, not even once. He kept his eyes on the road with a tense jaw.
A mixture of guilt and anger brewed inside her chest. Part of her wanted to console him, declare that he was the only man she was in love with and that there was no doubt about him being her family too. But another part of her was mad that he did not even try to understand her situation.
Discovering that the brother she thought was dead was actually alive, even if he was a vigilante, was something that took priority.
'Damn it all.'
The ride continued to be atrociously silent until the carriage stopped in front of the inn.
Magnolia led the way inside. After asking about Killian's room, she walked up the stairs. Daniel followed closely behind.
Magnolia knocked a few times, but no one answered. Her heartbeat quickened. When she lifted her hand to knock a third time, Daniel reached over and opened the door. The small room was empty.
'I knew it.' Her shoulders slumped.
'Take care of yourself, little sister.' She remembered Killian's words.
'He had no intention of meeting me again.'
She felt tears pricking behind her eyes when she noticed a familiar book on the bedside table. She took fast steps and grabbed the note that was placed on top of the book.
'I decided to leave, not that I don't trust you, but it is your husband I cannot trust. He is the King's Dog after all.
You should have this book, mother used to read it to us sometimes. I'm sure we will meet again, maybe I can meet my nephew then.
Take care, little sister.
Lian'
Magnolia lifted the book in her arms and hugged it. She turned toward the door to leave, but not before she shoved Killian's note into Daniel's chest.
"Thank you," she said before leaving him standing there, confused.
He quickly read over the scribbled words and crumpled the paper in his hand.
"Bastard."