I can’t help but agree with her about getting ahead of whoever is controlling us for once. I’m sick of having my life ruined by someone invisible. If I’m a Guardian, I want to embrace the fact and not have all the mystery surrounding it.
Juniper opens her mouth to answer me, but she doesn’t get a chance. A loud thumping at my front door has us both turning towards the sound with fear in our eyes, like the devil himself is waiting for us on the other side.
“Juniper Ambrose, I know you’re in there. Open this door immediately. Emmie called me.”
Juniper looks up at me.
“We’re in big trouble, it’s my mum.”
I’m frozen, unsure of what to do, but Jacobi moves to the door and unlocks it. My mum shoots into the house. “Juni, where are you?”
“In here, Mum,” I manage to croak out.
She quickly rushes into the room, followed by Jacobi. Her gaze bounces between me and him, no doubt noticing our current state of undress, but I ignore her confusion.
“What are you doing here, Mum?” I question.
“You’re leaving Caspian!” she shouts, and it surprises me. My mum never shouts; she’s always so softly spoken.
I look between her and Jacobi, not sure how much to tell my mum. He’s no help, looking at me blankly. This is clearly my choice.
“Why? Why would you want to leave Caspian when you have Emmie, and,” her eyes move back to Jacobi, “him. I don’t understand, Juni. It’s not like there are a load of other schools to choose from. You’d have to go to one in another country or be home-schooled again.” She sighs, and sitting down on the edge of Jacobi’s bed, she starts tapping her index finger against her lips. “Hmm, I suppose I could speak to Mrs Donovan. She was always a really close friend of mine. She would have you back if I ask, I’m sure,” she mumbles to herself.
“I’m not leaving,” I blurt out, and her eyes jump to mine.
“You’re not? But why would Emmie say otherwise?” She’s confused, and I’m in a mess. I have to tell Mum about my dad. There’s nothing else I can do.
“Dad told me I have to leave.”
“No,” she shakes her head, “he wouldn’t.”
“He did, Mrs Ambrose, I was there,” Jacobi confirms as he moves to lean against the windowsill.
“Why?” my mum breathes out, and I can see the sadness in her eyes.
“I don’t know, but there’s a reason he doesn’t want me to stay in school. I told him no, Mum. I said I wasn’t leaving, and he…” I break off. My mum is well aware of my father’s violent temper, but she’s never witnessed him hurting me before.
She edges forwards, closer to me. “He what, honey?”
I look at Cobi. I need his strength.
“He hit her, twice,” Jacobi grinds out.
My mum gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. “He wouldn’t-“
“He did,” I snap back, not willing to listen to her protect him.
Her eyes fill with tears, but I don’t feel sorry for her. I love my mum, but where my father’s concerned, we’ll never be on the same page.
“He told me he’s coming back in three days, and that I need to be ready to leave or he’ll do God knows what,” I explain.
I watch with morbid fascination as a hard resolve filters into Mum’s eyes. She works her jaw back and forth and clenches her fists until she seems to have herself under control, then she turns to Cobi.
“Jacobi, I understand your parents don’t live here with you anymore. How would you feel about me staying with the two of you for a few days, or longer?” she asks, and Jacobi’s jaw drops. He looks to me, clearly not too sure what to say.
“Why?” I ask. I’m being harsh now, but if she’s not in my corner, I’d rather she went back home. At least, I’d know she was safe.
“Because your father has had his own way for far too long. He’s become a spoilt brat, and I will not allow him to dictate what you do or don’t do anymore.”
I watch her eyes. There’s something in them, something she’s not telling me.
“What else, Mum. I know there’s more,” I push.
Her eyes drop to the floor, and it takes a moment for her to gather the strength she clearly needs. When her eyes meet mine again, I suck in a breath. “He’s promised you to the son of one of the lords on the council.”
“Motherfucker,” Cobi snaps, punching his hand through an internal wall.
My mum’s eyes don’t move from my face. “I’ve always said no, and we’ve argued about it, many times. I don’t like the man, and I fear his son is no better, but more than that, I know…” She breaks off with a cough, then she rubs her temples. “I never told you this, Juni.” Her gaze comes back to me. “I was promised to your father.”
I stand up. “What? You didn’t choose him?”
“No,” she whispers, and that single word holds more truth than the last seventeen years of my life.
“Do you love him?” I ask her. It’s something I’ve wondered for years.
Mum takes one of my hands and holds it between her own. “I tried to, I did. He was cruel and heartless, but I thought it was because of how his father treated him. I made excuses for him, but the truth is, I did love him at one point, but I’ve never liked him.” She looks over to Jacobi. “So you see, I want to stay here, to protect the two of you from him because if he says he’s coming for you in three days… well, then he is.” She shrugs. It’s so matter of fact, but I can forgive her for it because it’s better to have the truth.
“You can stay in my parents’ bedroom,” Jacobi tells her, looking over to me, and I give him a nod in agreement.
While Jacobi settles my mum in her room, I sit in the middle of the bed, waiting for him to return.
“Your mum just told me she isn’t a prude, and it’s totally fine me sleeping in bed with you,” he chuckles as he walks into the bedroom.
I shrug. “Why don’t you?” His eyes widen. “I mean we can’t kiss, but we can hug, right?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything.” He stands still, running his hand through his hair. “There’s a lot going on at the moment. This isn’t…” I can see him struggling with his own emotions, so I kneel up on the bed and shuffle towards the edge.
“Come here,” I urge, holding my hands out to him. He stares at me but doesn’t move. “Please, Cobi,” I whisper, and instantly he comes to me. He closes his hands around mine, and pulling me into his chest, he nuzzles his nose into my neck and peppers my collarbone with gentle kisses. “At least it’s just my lips you can’t kiss,” I joke, and he pulls away.
“True, but there’s no need to get carried away.”
I nod, offering him a smile. “Come to bed with me.” It’s a plea, and thankfully, after a moment of clear indecision, he relents and climbs in next to me.
“Turn over,” he commands, and I do as I’m told.
Jacobi hauls me against him, my back to his front, and his arm snakes around my waist. I enclose his hand with mine.