Chapter 63

MAGNOLIA PACED BACK AND FORTH IN HER ROOM. It was clear that Daniel was not planning on helping the barons pass that bill.

"This should not be the priority right now." She slammed her hand on the table.

'Geoffrey is.'

She crashed down on the chair and leaned into her arms across the table. She remembered when she found out she was pregnant, she was only seventeen and she hated the baron.

She thought of getting rid of the baby because she did not want her child to be brought into her horrible world.

The baron was indifferent, he did not care about children or heirs, but at least he kept his distance from Magnolia when he found out she was pregnant. He did not come to her bed and he did not vent his anger on her and beat her anymore.

Magnolia had secretly bought an herbal mix that would have caused her to lose the baby, but she just stared at it for days without being able to use it.

She could not bring herself to kill her child. Even though the baby's father was Baron Croix, the man she despised the most in the world, it was also hers.

She never regretted her decision, especially when she laid eyes on Geoffrey for the first time. An immense happiness filled her chest. It was as if the tiny boy brought light to her dark world, he brought hope.

She was not alone in this life anymore, she had a son who was her blood, her family. She swore she would protect Geoffrey with all her might until the day she died. And she did keep that promise, up until last night.

Magnolia sobbed. Her heart ached. She was scared that she would never get to hold her son in her arms again, to hear his laughter, or to see his cute face.

If anything happened to him, all the light he had brought to her world when he was born would turn back to darkness, she was sure of that.

'I must do something.'

'Magnolia.' A voice called. She raised her head, startled, and looked around the room. She was alone. 'Magnolia, can you hear me?' The voice was in her head, she recognized it now.

'Killian?'

'Yes, it's me,' he answered. 'How are you? I just saw posters of your son saying that he was kidnapped.'

'He was.' Magnolia shattered again, fresh tears cascading down her cheeks. 'I need your help, Brother.' Her voice was full of despair.

Killian was silent for a moment. 'Can you meet me in an hour?'

'I can, where?' she answered immediately.

'Just head west when you leave the castle's main gate, I will find you.'

'I will,' Magnolia said, then called after a pause. 'Killian.'

'Yes?'

'Thank you.'

'I will see you in an hour, little sister.'

"Your Grace," Clara greeted. Her face was as tired as every other employee in the castle. "Would you like some breakfast, Your Grace."

"I don't, Clara, but I want you to help me change out of this gown and into a riding dress." Magnolia said as she pushed to her feet. She still had on the dress she wore to Florence's wedding.

"Right away, my lady."

By the time she was ready and heading to the stables, it was already mid-morning. The sun was bright, but only its light reached Magnolia. It was a chilly autumn morning.

She mounted the horse the stable boy had just saddled and headed toward the front entrance. She decided not to ride Thunder, in case Daniel needed him urgently.

"Your Grace." The guards at the gates greeted, but none of them moved to open them for Magnolia.

"Open the gates," she ordered.

"We were ordered not to let anyone in or out of the castle, my lady," one of them said, hesitant.

"But I am not 'anyone', am I," Magnolia's tone changed to a more authoritative one immediately.

"Your Grace, it's dangerous," another guard offered. "Other family members might be targeted as well."

"I have an urgent matter to tend to, and it's related to the kidnapping," she said. "So, you better open those gates before I lose my temper." The guards looked at each other, not sure what to do.

"At least take a few knights with you, Your Grace," The first guard pleaded.

"I will accompany Her Grace," Laya said as she approached them on her horse.

"Are you spying on me?" Magnolia snapped.

"I am not spying on you, I am going with you." Laya shrugged.

"Well?" The duchess turned back to the guards. "Open the Gods damned gates."

They finally did and Magnolia instantly pushed her horse into a gallop. Laya followed.

"What is this urgent matter that you need to tend to," the mage asked after a moment.

"I am meeting my brother," Magnolia told her.

Laya sighed. "Daniel is not going to be happy about this."

"Well, I am not happy about how he is handling my son's life." She sent her a side glare.

The two rode in silence after that.

"Mag," Killian called from between the trees, making Magnolia pull her horse to a halt.

She looked toward the source of the voice and saw her brother in the shadows. She dismounted and walked toward him.

A part of her was scared that the voice she had heard earlier might have been a fragment of her imagination.

"Killian," she called with a choked voice.

Her brother immediately hugged her. The gesture made Magnolia even more emotional. She sobbed in her brother's arms until she calmed down.

The whole time, Killian did not loosen his embrace, nor did he stop patting her back gently. He only did when Magnolia pulled away to wipe her tears.

"What do you need me to do?" he asked. "I would do anything for my family, Mag."

Magnolia pondered for a moment. "I want to pay a visit to Baron Pruice and get information from him about my son."

"Torture? That is a bad idea, Magnolia," Laya interrupted.

"It worked with their other dog, Cross. I will make him speak," she told her.

"What if he gives you the wrong information and then hurts Geoffrey?"

Magnolia was silent for a moment. Her fists were clenched.

"I will kill the barons one by one until I find my son."