Chapter 384: Numia wants a vacation, by force!
Moonlight spilled across the bedroom, catching the fox shapes in the lanterns hanging on the ceiling. Sienna lay sprawled lazily on the silken sheets, her hair a dark halo around her face. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Her breathing was slightly labored.
Elias leaned over, eyes gleaming with unmistakable intent. "Another round," he murmured, voice low and husky. "We didn’t take that walk like we planned, so we must work off the calories in another way."
It sounded technical, but they both knew his sudden desire of working out at night had nothing to do with real exercises. He was just indulging in lust.
Sienna pushed his head away with a palm, rolling her eyes. "We did it once in the morning and we have just done it again." she said flatly, as if reminding him of the day’s schedule.
He chuckled, undeterred. "Three is the lucky number."
She rolled her eyes again, but when she spoke next, her tone shifted. "Listen, I need to tell you about the Stormfeathers. My mother was almost kidnapped--"
Elias groaned and threw his head back, "Must we talk about them now? It is not proper bedroom gym conversation, wife. Besides, I already know about those secret meetings you have been having with Grace Twindell. As soon as I found out that my mother-in-law was a hacker, I refused to believe that it was a coincidence that Paris Rocland the rebel got her pregnant twice without a hidden mission.
Add to that the suspicious deaths of your grandparents and the lack of a proper death certificate. So, I had Timothy do some digging. It didn’t take long to find a string that led back to your maternal grandparents, Bib and Pip." He chuckled.
She groaned. "Those names alone are an embarrassment."
Elias nodded. "I couldn’t agree more. Those names led us to the Stormfeathers. My people have been keeping an eye on your mother since then. My secret guards were watching when your men captured the kidnappers. They even listened in when your men tortured the kidnappers for answers. One and Two are very ruthless by the way.
They killed those men when they were finished and dumped their bodies in the Spiny spider territory. I am sure nothing remains of those men but bones now. I wonder if those two have always used that part of the forest as their body dumping ground." He shook his head. "Anyway, back to the Stormfeathers, I already know everything. I have been waiting for you to decide to let me in, rather than forcing my way into your mother’s business."
He kissed her fingers, leaning closer. Sienna dodged, shoving him back with her foot,
He caught the foot, smirking, and used his strength to part her legs. "Wife, this is not my fault at all. You raised your beautiful legs first and used them to caress my chest. I am simply responding to your enthusiasm." He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "You don’t understand how needy I am now that I can have your body. If I don’t have you again tonight, I will go crazy, little leopard."
Sienna blushed and huffed, slapping him lightly on the back. "I am trying to tell you something serious!"
"I have already marked off all the Stormfeathers’ standing major businesses," he replied smoothly. "Tomorrow, when we got to St. Vitts, we will begin destroying the enemy. Without money, what will they use to fund their operations? Moreover, I shared all my findings with the king. The Stormfeathers are at the end of their rope."
With that, he sealed her lips with his own, silencing her protests in a kiss that was both tender and possessive.
***
In another cottage on the compound, Numia sat before her vanity table. She dabbed purple and blue powders across her cheeks, painting fake bruises. She adjusted the lighting, practiced a pitiful cough, and prepared to livestream her "tragic" tale: her fake sickness, her delicate pregnancy, and the cruel neglect of Sienna and the Rocland’s.
"Once I get the pity of the world," she muttered, adjusting her camera. "Then I will see how they will dare to kick me out."
She pressed "Go live."
The screen flickered. Then, with a sharp crack, her phone exploded. Sparks flew, smoke curled upward, and Numia shrieked, leaping back.
Her wails echoed through the walls, but no one stirred. Next door, in a separate bedroom, her husband Christo covered his head and fell into slumber. He was used to his wife’s nightly dramatics. Lately, every night was an endless stream of complaints about Sienna and his parents. He had no doubt that it was the same tonight.
***
By dawn, the compound was alive with the chaos of departure. Servants darted across the courtyard, loading hover-carts with luggage which was sent off to air ships. Children squealed as they chased each other, their laughter echoing against the walls. Sienna stood at the center, calm but firm, directing her her brother and children as she searched their luggage for anything they were not permitted to take on their family vacation.
Her grandparents, Elias’s grandparents and parents lingered on the porch, sipping tea, content to stay behind. They all had different plans for the winter holiday. Everyone would reunite in two weeks to share stories of their adventures. Then, they would celebrate the temple festival and entering the new year together.
Elias emerged from the house, looking more rested than he had ever been. He had a smile on his face as he pulled a small suitcase that carried the ten pairs of shoes Sienna was taking.
"One suitcase for shoes!" Aunt Linera laughed. "Oh, Sienna, the princess is having more of an influence on you that we all thought."
Sienna rolled her eyes. Ali’s eyes lit up and the little girl went running into the house for more shoes.
It was a rather peaceful morning, but that peace was shattered with a shriek. Numia stormed into the courtyard, her hair wild, her face streaked with tears. She clutched the charred remains of her phone, thrusting them forward like evidence in a trial.
"You tried to kill me!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "Sienna, you made my phone explode! You had all my BeastNet accounts blocked!"
The younger children froze, wide-eyed.
Soren muttered, "Here we go again with the senseless drama." He was glad Corven Junior had already left for his ’trip to the wild camp’, which was sponsored by the king for teenagers hoping to serve in the army and join the vanguards or enforcers. He would not be back until temple fair day. So, he would not be stuck here, torn between his mother and the rest of the family.
Numia’s accusations poured out like venom. "You don’t want me to have a voice. You don’t want me to tell the world how sick I am, how neglected I have been. How you have isolated me. How dare you take a vacation without me?"
Sienna raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Numia, I don’t owe you anything. Least of all a free vacation."
The older Rocland couple and the aunts and uncles tried to intervene but Numia would not be stopped.
Numia stomped forward, dropping the remains of her phone. She pointed a trembling finger at Sienna. "Why aren’t you taking me to St. Vitts? You are selfish! I am the pregnant one here. Who deserves a vacation more than me? You are cruel! You want me to suffer while you enjoy luxury trips!"
Soren snorted. "Or maybe we just don’t want to babysit you."
The children giggled nervously, hiding behind him in case Numia turned their wrath on them.
To everyone’s shock, Lady Cadelaria chimed in with some sense. "Numia, are you crazy? Why should Sienna take you on her vacation with her family? The rest of us are not complaining or trying to join. What makes you special? I think you should be checked into a mental health facility for a while."
Marius gave a thumbs up. Yesterday night, she had suddenly apologized to him and the children and promised to change. So far, it could be seen that she was trying.
"If not for that Christo, I would have made the decision for Sienna long ago." Jess muttered.
Numia’s voice rose to shriek. "You know what I hate the most about you Sienna, you think you are better than me! I am your aunt! I am your elder and you don’t respect me! You think you can leave me behind while you have fun. Don’t you care that my pregnancy is sensitive?"
Sienna’s tone sharpened. "No, Numia. I don’t care about your sensitive pregnancy because you don’t seem to care about it either. The doctor ordered bed rest, but here you are, screaming to be taken on a vacation. You keep trying to guilt everyone into giving you things you don’t deserve, using this pregnancy as an excuse. Unfortunately for you, I don’t care anymore. I don’t owe you a seat on my ship. I don’t owe you a diaper. I don’t owe you sympathy."