Chereads / Alpha’s Desired Slave / Chapter 40 - Chapter sixteen

Chapter 40 - Chapter sixteen

"Marshall is building a new home," Maya said dreamily. She was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, feeding Nicholas his bottle.

Avery looked up from where she was scrubbing the floor. "Oh?"

"Yes." She smiled down at the baby. "He says he's building it for me. He says that once it's done, he'll buy me from Tristan, and we'll be married."

She kissed Nicholas' forehead. "It is a very small house. Only three bedrooms but Marshall says that's enough for us to have a boy and a girl. He says I'll have to learn to cook and clean. He cannot afford slaves, but I don't even mind the thought of that. Is that what love does to you, Avery? Does it make even the most menial tasks seem romantic?"

Avery laughed, scrubbing at a particularly dirty spot in front of the fireplace. "I wouldn't know."

Maya continued to stare dreamily at the baby. "I was so frightened when Mama sold us to the slave house. I used to lie awake at night and worry about what would happen to me. But look – I've fallen in love with a wonderful man who is building me a home of my own. We'll have babies and grow old together."

"Will his family object to him marrying a human?" Avery asked.

"He doesn't have any family. His parents died when he was very young, and Tristan's father took him in and raised him as his own. He thinks of Tristan as his brother." Maya smiled at her. Avery returned her smile and dipped the wooden brush into the bucket of water. She scooted

back and brushed the floor briskly. She'd had no experience with scrubbing floors until joining Tristan's home but, she reflected wryly, it was a skill easy enough to learn.

"I can't wait until I never have to look at that ugly old Mrs. Lanning again," Maya suddenly said. "She's a horrid old woman who makes both our lives miserable. The day I stop being a slave will be the happiest day of my life."

She suddenly gave Avery a look of shame.

"Avery, forgive me. I am being a complete idiot." Her mouth trembled and tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Maya, what are you talking about?"

"I've been going on and on about how happy I am, and I haven't once thought of your feelings."

When Avery only looked at her blankly, Maya swiped at the tears on her face. "I know you're miserable here, Avery. Mrs. Lanning and the others treat you horribly. You spend your days cleaning and scrubbing while I prance about cuddling babies, and -"

She paused and whispered, "You're in love with lord Tristan."

Avery dropped the brush and crossed the room to Maya. She crouched in front of her and took her hand in both of hers. "One, I am not in love with Tristan and two, your happiness makes me happy."

Maya looked at her doubtfully and Avery squeezed her hand. "It's true, Maya. You are the most precious thing in my life. To know that you're happy and loved is all I need to make my own heart happy."

Maya sniffed. "But what will become of you?"

"Stop worrying about that, Maya. I always make out just fine, do I not?"

"Perhaps in time lord Tristan will realize he loves you too and you will be married."

"Lord Tristan desires only one thing from me. What he feels is not love, Maya," Avery said.

"But I want you to be happy, to be married and to have children of your own," Maya said.

"With hair like this?" Avery tugged on her hair. "Even if Daddy hadn't died, we both know I would never have married anyway. I'm just lucky to have been bought by a man who doesn't believe that all Reds are witches and should be burned at the stake."

She leaned down and kissed Nicholas' head. She was actually feeling a little cheered by Maya's news. If Maya married Marshall and moved from Tristan's home, Avery would no longer need to worry about her safety. If she didn't have to fear that Maya would be labeled a witch along with her, she could breathe easier.

And, a voice deep inside of her whispered, you could warm Tristan's bed and bring him pleasure.

She frowned to herself. He called it being a companion, but it was nothing more than a fancy word for whore. A year ago, she would have been horrified at the thought of being sold to a man for the sole purpose of pleasuring him. Now she was considering it to be the better option for her life. She blinked back the sudden hot tears, deeply ashamed of herself.

"Avery?" Maya said, laying a timid hand on Avery's head. "Are you all right?"

"Good morning, Maya." Vivian entered the room.

Avery and Maya stood, and Maya smiled nervously at Tristan's mother. "Hello, m'lady.

How are you feeling today?"

She shrugged. "I've had better days."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Maya said as Avery returned to her bucket and her floor scrubbing. Vivian reached out to brush back a strand of Maya's hair. "My son tells me that you and

Marshall will be married soon. Do you know he is like a son to me?"

Maya nodded. "He told me he loves you like his own mother."

"He's lucky that such a beautiful girl is so willing to marry him." Vivian frowned slightly. "I

will not lie to you. I wish very strongly that you were a Lycan but since Marshall is only a half- breed himself, I can understand why he feels such a strong affection for you."

Maya flushed a little but remained silent. Vivian held her hands out for the baby and Maya carefully transferred him into her arms. She stared down at the blond-haired boy, smiling a little when he reached up and grabbed her chin. "He's a handsome child, is he not?"

"Aye," Maya said.

"I thought my son was foolish for taking in a bastard child, but Sophia loves him very much. I understand why he did it."

She handed Nicholas back to Maya who nestled him against her shoulder and patted his back gently. "If you're looking for lord Tristan, he has taken Sophia riding. They should return soon."

"Actually, it is your sister I wish to speak with."

Avery looked up in surprise as Maya glanced at her. "Very well, m'lady. I will leave you with her."

"I had a sister once. She died many years ago. You and your sister remind me of the way we were." Vivian paused, smiling dryly at Maya. "I imagine that whatever I say to your sister will be repeated to you anyway. You might as well stay and hear it now."

She turned and motioned to Avery. "Come here, girl."

Avery stood in front of Tristan's mother. Vivian reached out and pulled a strand of her hair free from her braid, rubbing it between her fingers. "Sophia is right, you know. Your hair is very beautiful."

"Thank you, m'lady."

"I imagine it has brought you nothing but trouble and sorrow your entire life, has it not?"

Avery didn't reply as Vivian continued to study her hair in the sunlight. "Yet you wear it proudly. You choose not to cover it or perhaps cut it short so that the red is not as noticeable. I admire that. I do."

She smiled and released Avery's hair. "My son is very taken with you. Tell me, was Sophia telling the truth? Did he buy you because she wanted you, or did he buy you as a companion for himself?"

"He bought me because of Sophia," Avery said.

"So, you seduced him then. Do you believe that you may one day be his wife?"

"No, m'lady. I am not so foolish that I would believe your son has any interest in me other

than his own physical pleasure."

Vivian regarded her solemnly. "You're a very wise girl. There is something about you that

makes you quite unlike any slave I've ever seen. I can see why my son is so taken with you." Vivian crossed her arms over her chest. "I love my son very much and I want nothing more

than for him to be happy. I want him to marry and give Sophia many more siblings. I want him to live to an old age with someone who loves him. It's what all mothers want for their children, is it not?"

"Aye," Avery said.

"Tristan is a Lycan. He should love and take a Lycan as his mate. Only a Lycan can truly understand how to make him happy."

"From what I hear that didn't work out so well for your son the first time around," Avery said as Maya gasped in horror behind her.

Vivian gave her an almost admiring glance. "Aye, but she was a city Lycan. Just between you and me, I had my reservations about her from the start. I've arranged for the children of some very old friends to come for a visit. Victoria is a lovely girl and has many pleasing qualities. She remembers my son and is quite eager to see him again. I have high hopes that sometime in the near future our families will be joined together."

She smiled at Avery. "In order for that to happen, I need you to stay away from my son. Do you understand?"

Avery nodded. "Perfectly, m'lady."

"You think me cruel, do you not? To ask you to do this favour for me when you hardly know me? To ask you to do this when you're in love with my son?"

Avery swallowed hard. "I am not in love with your son, m'lady."

Vivian laughed. "Do you think me stupid, girl? I see it on your face every time you look at him. I bear you no personal ill-will, child. I want only the best for my son. A human, and a Red at that, is not what he needs. Will you stay away from him?"

"Aye, I will," Avery said.

Vivian studied her closely for a moment and then, satisfied by what she saw in Avery's eyes, walked out of the room.

Avery turned away and dropped to her knees by the bucket of water. She scrubbed the floor with hard and savage strokes, blinking the tears away.

Maya's cool hand dropped onto her shoulder. "Avery, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said.

"Please stop and look at me," Maya said.

Avery pulled away from her. "Maya, go. I wish to be left alone for a while." "No. Avery, we should talk."

"Maya, leave me be!" Avery shouted.

Maya stumbled back with a frightened squeak as Nicholas woke and began to cry lustily. She turned and fled the room, holding Nicolas tightly against her. The minute the door shut, Avery dropped the brush and wept bitterly into her cupped hands.