“He is a sweet child, Aidan. He already has Stefan wrapped around his little finger,” Marie pointed out.
“Ha!” Stefan protested emphatically. “It is you who weeps for him and fills him full of food at every turn.”
“I will speak to him,” Aidan reassured the couple, “and tell him that his sister will see him later this evening after she rises from the underground chamber.”
“After she wakes up,” Marie corrected with a frown. She wanted no allusions made to the otherworldly life in front of the innocent boy. “Do you think it wise to promise such a thing? What if she…” She hesitated.
Stefan filled in. “Has problems accepting what she has become? Or worse, what if she is not the true one you seek and is now completely deranged?”
“She is the true one. Can you not see her presence, her light, in me already? She has given me life, light, emotion. I see colors once more, and they are radiant. I feel things, everything from anger to a melting warmth. She has returned the world to me. She will wake as one of my people, and yes, I expect considerable resistance from her, but not in front of the child. She loves him very much, and she will try to appear as normal as possible for him. He has been her prime motivation for years, and he will continue to be so. It will be as important for her to see him as for the child to see her. I suspect that if Joshua can accept me into his life, that will be half the battle.”
“Aidan!” Joshua ran into the room and flung his arms around Aidan’s legs. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Marie told me where your bedroom is.on the third floor, but you weren’t there.”
“I told you to stay out of Mr. Savage’s rooms,” Marie said with her best scolding tone, but there was no way to conceal the warmth in her expression.
Joshua looked a bit ashamed but answered her with spirit. “I’m sorry, Marie, but I have to find Alexandria. You know where she is, don’t you, Aidan?” he asked.
The Carpathian male rested his hands gently on the boy’s silky curls. His heart twisted, a funny, melting sensation. There was so much trust and faith in those blue eyes looking up at him. “Yes, Josh. She is still asleep. I want you to give her another hour or so to rest, and then I’ll bring her to you. How is that?”
“Is she all better? I’ve been afraid she wouldn’t come back—you know, like Henry and my mom and dad.” The young voice trembled with fear.
“Alexandria is not going to leave you, Josh,” Aidan assured him quietly. “She will always be here, and we will look after her together so that nothing will ever take her from either of us. You know I will always protect her, and I am not easily defeated. No one will take her from the two of us. Is that a deal?”
Joshua grinned up at him trustingly. “We’re best friends, aren’t we, Aidan? You, me, and Alexandria.”
“We are more than best friends, Joshua,” Aidan replied soberly. “All of us who live in this house are a family.”
“Marie says you want me to go to a new school.”
Aidan nodded. “I think it would be best. The one you were attending is far from here, and the school we have in mind for you is very good. You will have friends and good teachers there.”
“What does Alexandria say? She usually takes me to school. She thinks it’s dangerous for me to go by myself.”
“Not this school. In any case, Stefan and Marie will go with you if you like. They will escort you there every day until you feel comfortable with the arrangement.”
“I want you to go with me if Alex can’t take me.” Joshua managed a decent pout.
Aidan laughed softly. “You little devil. I can see you are used to getting your way. Alexandria is a soft touch where you are concerned, is she not?”
Joshua shrugged, then laughed, too. “Yeah, she lets me have just about anything I want, and she never gets mad when I don’t do what I’m supposed to do. Sometimes she tries to yell at me, but she always ends up hugging me instead.”