Page 78 of Goldilocks
“Do you even realise what you’re suggesting?” Vi cut in. She strode across the stone path towards them with Laurence trailing behind, staring at the greenery, all wanderlust and mouth agape. Jasper was tied to his side, tail brushing over the back of Laurence’s calves with each step. “Introducing a foreign species could devastate the native ones. I am, of course, interested in seeing these creatures, but I will not allow them loosed in my garden without thought.”
Goldilocks met Vi’s fearsome gaze, and he did not avert his eyes from her glare.
“An aviary can be built,” she allowed, but she did not cave. “It will take a few months to complete, but there is room to expand. Sam, if you could put me in contact with a trader to arrange the delivery and study of the native plants your sire’s preferred birds consume, I will research how to cultivate them. I would also beg some of your time to discuss currencies” – her eyes flicked to Laurence – “but later, when we are without company.”
A splash at the pool preceded Bee and Dew’s arrival. They pulled themselves from the water to sit on the stone edge, but they did not transform and remained there.
Laurence sat down, his gaze darting between Vi and Sam. “Your dad’s moving here?” he asked. “I wonder if I could convince my dad to come over too…It is soo cool here—Jasper, are you not going to eat with us?” Laurence twisted to look over his shoulder where Jasper stood waiting quietly.
Jasper’s gaze darted from Vi to Goldilocks.
“You may as well sit. Goldilocks has a task for you to perform through The Tear that he must discuss with you,” Vi said.
“A task?” Laurence questioned.
The sight of the ghoul had left Sam so disconcerted that he wanted Jasper, sword and all, to accompany him to the house. “There was a break-in,” Sam explained. “I need to go back and get clothes and sort through what books are left, and if Jasper’s okay with it” – Jasper was sitting at Laurence’s side looking incredibly uncomfortable – “I would appreciate the company.”
Jasper’s chin jutted down in a quick nod.
“Your place is too far inland for Goldilocks, I guess? Lucky for whoever broke in.” Laurence nodded as if Sam was perfectly reasonable to bring a sword-wielding escort to go and pick up some clothes. Truth was, Sam didn’t want to return at all, but he needed to get clothes for both himself and his dad. He wished he’d thought to do it earlier while the guards were still there.
Food was brought out on platters while Sam talked, and Laurence’s attention darted from the food to Vi to the birds to Sam to Goldilocks to Bee and Dew, who snatched a bottle of wine as the server walked by and promptly dove into the pool and vanished. Bee followed with a bark of laughter.
Vi reached over and folded a gloved hand over Sam’s. “Might I just say how delighted I am to have you, Sam,” she said, looking at the pool where their wine had disappeared. She gestured to the startled serving girl to fetch another bottle. “I feared for years Goldilocks would settle for one of them.”
“Of course not,” Goldilocks said. Sam suspected if Adonis had been included in thethem,there would have been a more passionate denial, as well as genuine offence.
How Sam ranked higher in Vi’s esteem than two mermen was beyond him, but he decided to take the compliment at face value. “Too wild for your tastes?” Sam asked, curious what part of him she preferred.
“Merfolk are always wild,” Vi said. “Even if they try to pretend otherwise. Belle was too, but she had such devotion to beauty and art. I admit I may have fallen in love with the waysheloved.” A smile, which Sam already suspected was rare for Vi, curved her lips. “No,” she continued, “it is not the wildness. It is themannersthat appal me.”
Sam grinned. So this was where Goldilocks got it from.
Laurence piped up in defence of his co-conspirators, valiantly detailing their good points. All things, Sam noted, that fed his wanderlust. Bee let Laurence experiment with him. They would dive with him, show him cool fish and rocks. Guide him through patches of seaweed.
“They’ve even taken me swimming with dolphins,” Laurence declared.
Finished eating, Sam leaned back in his chair. “I’ve seen them throwing seaweed at seals.”
“Err, seals need exercise too?”
“And they messed with my pots before,” Sam said, but he looked at Goldilocks, realising as he said it why that had only happened once. “And you set them straight for that.”
Goldilocks huffed. “Yes.”
Months ago, before there had been anything going on between them, Goldilocks had still been looking out for him.
“Can I stay the night?” Laurence asked, changing the subject since he was losing the argument. He glanced at Vi as he asked.
“Definitely not,” Sam interjected, not giving Vi the chance to answer. “I’m going back soon, and I’m not having Connor pissed off at me for leaving you stranded here.” And he most certainly didn’t want to have to explain to Trevor where he’d left his son.
“I’m not stranded. I have Bee and Dew. They can bring me back whenever,” Laurence insisted. “And it’s the weekend, so I don’t have school tomorrow.” No mention of the fact that he must have skipped out on schooltodayto sneak through The Tear.
“You will return with us,” Goldilocks stated.
Laurence cast him a definitely sulky look, but he didn’t argue.
“Jasper’s coming with us,” Sam pointed out. “Don’t you want to show him around?”