" Since I'm so popular today, we will go based on first come, first served. So, who was here first?" Graham takes a sip of his coffee while he looks at me and then at Mason, waiting for one of us to speak up. Shit.
I clear my throat to buy myself a few more seconds. I have a feeling that Graham would tell Mason that I dropped by and asked him a bunch of questions.
" Where are we?" Well, that caught my surprise because that was not what I planned to ask.
" Taqqara District. Meza," Mason is the one to answer, drawing my full attention back to him, " It is a week's drive from Morston," A freaking week? Holy Shit. I definitely didn't think things through.
Graham chuckles at my disbelief, and Mason smirks, " How are you going to get home?" He lazily leans back in the armchair, full of himself. At least I had food to last me that long. I wouldn't be faring all that bad.
" I'll figure something out," I shrug, but I know that Mason has made arrangements, " I could always hitch a ride with you," He nods in assent to my surprise, and turns his attention to his coffee.
" And you?" Graham asks Mason the moment he puts his coffee down, and leans forwards to prop his elbow on his knees.
" I need to borrow Shay for a week," Mason frowns and clears his throat, " I have to go up North. It's just a safety precaution," Mason smoothes his frown with the palm of his hand, and I wonder what is the cause of his worries.
" No," Graham's reply makes Mason sigh, and shake his head, exasperated.
" You can come too, but prepare yourself for the worst. We are leaving tomorrow morning, at the break of dawn," Graham's eyebrows creep up all the way to his hairline, and nods in agreement. Whatever it is, is serious judging by the somber look on Mason's face.
" Is something wrong?" The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop myself, but I feel that this is something important. At least to Mason, anyway.
" Landore has been murdered," Graham curses under his breath and groans.
" How?" I shuffle to the edge of the chaise, wanting to offer him some comfort but I don't know if he will let me. I refrain from moving any closer because the sting of his rejection still echoes in my bones.
" Home invasion. He was shot while he was helping Marie run to safety. Thankfully Antoine was at one of the mines and didn't get caught in the whole affair. He'd probably be dead too. I need to get up there, to find out what exactly happened. Varan District is quite peaceful. There hasn't been a murder in a few decades, and this has shaken the fragile peace. There is an open investigation in the case but I knew Landore better than anyone. I need to see for myself that it wasn't intentional. That they weren't targeting him and his family. For now, Marie and Antoine are safe in a friend's home, but she can't stay there forever. And she is refusing to set foot in the house where her husband was murdered," Mason takes a deep breath, " I need Shay in case of emergency. Because I have a feeling that there will be one," Graham nods, downs his cup of coffee, and gets up to refill it.
My eyes meet Mason's over the coffee table that separates us, itching to curl into his lap and soothe his troubles. The gloom that has settled over the room is rather suffocating. Get over yourself, Lily. He is marrying Ava, and that is that.
" Why are you really here Lily?" Shit. What do I say?
" Uhmm...I have a little time on my hands, and I figured it would be nice to see Shay and Graham again," Why would you say that Lily, when you know he can tell when you spew nothing more than nonsense?
" The truth, Lily," Mason presses taking no notice of my nonsensical ramblings.
With a deep breath," I have questions, and I figured Graham is a good place to start. I've read my mother's journals, you already know what they say. So naturally, I'm gathering information about an enemy I didn't know existed until a year or so ago," He scowls at me, rubbing his temples and looking on the verge of breaking someone's neck.
" And you couldn't come to me to ask those questions. You had to come all the way to Meza to find out about an enemy that I've spent night and day hunting down and squeezing every bit of information that I could get my hands on," He takes a deep calming breath, his nostrils flaring, and I think I can see smoke coming out of his ears. Oh, he was absolutely pissed as hell," Fuck, Lily," He curses through clenched teeth, and I don't know what to do. Firstly, don't panic. Secondly, remember to breathe. Easier said than done.
" You haven't been exactly forthcoming last we saw each other," I say tentatively, and shuffle a bit in my spot uncomfortable.
" You practically shoved me out the door. You sent Mr Reed to deal with the inheritance, and to hand me over the journals," There is a hint of acussation in my tone, and he has the audacity to look offended. This is where Mason and I lock horns very much like two enraged bulls.
" I was angry. I still am angry. But this doesn't mean that you prance around from District to District on your own, without anyone to watch your back," He throws back in the same accusatory tone, and I think Graham has decided to stay in the kitchen and out of this, even though I could use a buffer between us, right about now.
" And because you were angry, you decided to marry another woman. Strange how you seem to fix all your problems by marrying someone, " The resentment that has been building up inside me is bleeding through, unfortunately I also can feel my eyes prick and I know I'm not far from breaking into a full sob.