Training…
My mind raced. Although the boys and I had been in the mansion for about a month, Lucas and Simon still hadn’t said anything regarding their supposed training. After all, that was the exact reason why they brought us here in the first place. I couldn’t trust them, and they clearly didn’t trust me either, but could I really blame them? Their biggest concern was me sneaking out with the kids, and given the number of escape attempts I had made during our time here, I couldn’t blame them for that.
Now that they had finally decided to discuss the children’s future, I didn’t know what to feel. My emotions were all over the place, unpredictable like the gusts of wind that rattled the windows at night. Whatever Lucas and Simon had to say, I had to hear it, but I needed to tread carefully. The danger that clung to them was real-especially after overhearing their lethal plans. Everything seemed to be moving faster than ever, and any wrong move could mean the end for me and my children.
I glanced back toward the playroom where Luke and Simeon were calmly playing, for once free of their usual arguments. At least for now, there was peace. But with everything that was looming, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wouldn’t last. Whatever Lucas and Simon had in store, I needed to face it head-on.
—
Later that night, when the house was silent and the guards had switched shifts, I made my way to the east wing. My heart pounded with every step, but I forced myself to keep a steady pace, careful not to attract attention. The east wing, old and abandoned, was a part of the mansion most people avoided. I could understand why Lucas and Simon had chosen this spot-privacy and seclusion were essential, and the isolation made it the perfect place for a secret meeting.
When I arrived, I found Lucas waiting by a tall, arched window. He was bathed in the cold, silver light of the moon, and his figure-tall, muscular, exuding quiet intensity-looked even more imposing than usual. His face was resolute, and there was a heaviness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
“You came,” he said, his voice low and firm, barely above a whisper.
“I didn’t have much of a choice,” I replied, keeping my distance. “Where’s Simon? Will he be joining us?”
Lucas sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “He won’t be here tonight. We’re dealing with something important, and he’s busy with that.”
I thought back to the conversation I’d overheard earlier that day, my mind swirling with half-formed questions. “Of course. Only the goddess knows how many people you two have killed,” I muttered under my breath, my gaze fixed on the floor.
“What?” Lucas asked, his voice sharp.
“Hmm?” I played dumb, shaking my head. “I didn’t say anything, Lucas.”
He stared at me for a moment, his eyes narrowing. For a second, I thought he had heard, but he didn’t press the issue. The silence between us stretched awkwardly, thick with unspoken words.
“Alright, let’s get to the point,” he said at last, his tone serious. “As you know, the main reason Simon and I brought you and the children here was to prepare them for their future responsibilities. They are destined to be kings, and they need proper training. We’ve been delayed, but that changes now.”
I couldn’t hold back my frustration any longer. “So why didn’t you get someone else to start the training instead of wasting a month of our time?” I snapped.
Lucas shot me a warning look, but I ignored it. The sigh that escaped my lips was heavy, as if releasing weeks of pent-up frustration. He cleared his throat, pretending not to hear my outburst.
“We didn’t want to involve anyone else. The children’s existence is still a secret, and we need to keep it that way for as long as possible. Any misstep could lead to disaster, not just for them but for you as well. We’ve been cautious, but now…” He paused, his gaze piercing, as if weighing the gravity of what he was about to say. “Now, it’s time. Their training begins soon, and you need to be prepared.”
A chill ran down my spine. I froze. “What do you mean?”
“They’re going to start their training, the first step on their path to fulfilling their destiny. Luke and Simeon may be children, but that won’t protect them from the forces that will rise against them the moment their true identities are revealed.”
I nodded slowly, trying to keep my emotions in check. George’s face flashed in my mind. Should I ask? Could I trust Lucas to give me an honest answer?
“What about my husband?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “You and Simon have spoken to him before, haven’t you?”
For the briefest moment, something like amusement flickered across Lucas’s cold, unreadable face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Oh, I see. He didn’t tell you, did he?” Lucas’s voice was laced with mockery.
“Tell me what?”
Lucas shrugged, his expression indifferent. “It’s nothing. But I’m not surprised he didn’t mention it. George tried to manipulate the situation, thought he could outsmart us. But we found out about his plans to take you and the children away. He’s moved on, Ashley. He knows you belong here, and he’s accepted that.”
My heart sank. George’s strange behavior, the distance between us, the constant postponing of our escape-it all made sense now.
“I knew something was wrong,” I whispered, more to myself than to Lucas.
Lucas stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. “Simon and I have bigger plans than you realize. We didn’t bring you here just for show. You’re the mother of future kings, and despite our past, we all need to come together for the sake of the children.”
I stared at him, my mind spinning with the implications of his words. He wasn’t just speaking as a king-he was speaking as a father. And as much as I wanted to deny it, there was no escaping the truth.
“Lucas, are you serious?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
He met my gaze, unwavering. “Very serious. The kingdom needs our sons, and it needs you too. Simon and I have waited for this moment for a long time.”
“Of course it’s about you two,” I said bitterly. “This has never been about me or what the boys want. It’s always been about solidifying your power.”
Lucas’s face hardened, but he didn’t deny it. “Think what you want, but don’t poison our sons’ minds with your resentment. They have responsibilities, and so do you.”
I sighed heavily, feeling my resolve slipping away. Any hope I had of escaping seemed to vanish with each passing moment. Lucas and Simon had already made up their minds, and there was nothing I could do to change that.
“Fine,” I said at last, the words bitter on my tongue. “I’ll do it. But if anything happens to my kids-”
“Nothing will happen,” Lucas interrupted, his voice firm. “They’re our children too, Ashley. You’re not in this alone.”
I nodded, knowing I had no other choice. “Is that all?” I asked, eager to leave.
“Yes, that’s all,” Lucas said, though there was something in his tone that suggested otherwise.
“Goodbye, then,” I said, turning on my heel and walking away without looking back.
The following day, I couldn’t shake the sense of dread that clung to me like a shadow. I spent every moment preparing myself for what was to come, though deep down, I knew escape was impossible. Even if we made it past the gates, there was nowhere to go. Lucas and Simon would find us before we got far.
I laughed bitterly to myself, realizing just how trapped I truly was. There was no freedom, no escape. All I could do was accept my fate and hope that, somehow, we would survive what was to come.
As the morning sun delicately cast its rays on my face, I was dawned heavily with the weight of inevitability. Sunlight poured through the windows in warm beams, but the warmth did little to soothe the cold knot of anxiety in my stomach. Luke and Simeon were already awake, their innocent laughter filling the room as they played with a set of wooden toys Simon had brought them. For a brief moment, I watched them from the doorway, my heart aching at the thought of the life they should have had-one free from the heavy burdens of royalty, training, and dangerous futures.
But that wasn’t our reality. Not anymore.
As I stepped into the room, they both looked up, their smiles wide, their faces lit with excitement. They had no idea what was coming.
“Mommy, look!” Luke held up a small wooden wolf, his face beaming with pride. “I named him Silver, like the moon.”
“That’s lovely, Luke,” I said, trying to force a smile. I sat down beside them, pulling them both into a tight hug, as if that could shield them from what was to come.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Simeon asked, his small hands reaching for mine. “You’re squeezing too tight.”
I loosened my grip but didn’t let go. I couldn’t. My mind raced, trying to find the right words to explain what was about to happen, how their lives would change forever. But how do you explain to your children that they’re being thrust into a world they didn’t ask for? A world filled with danger, responsibility, and expectations far beyond their years?
“Mommy has something important to tell you,” I began, my voice unsteady. “Soon, you’re going to start learning some new things. Things that are important for your future.”
Simeon’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Like school?”
“Not exactly,” I said gently. “It’s more like… special training. You and your brother are very special, and you’ll have to learn how to protect yourselves and others.”
Luke, always the more curious of the two, tilted his head. “Is this because of Daddy’s friends? The ones with the swords?”
I swallowed hard. Of course, they had noticed the armed guards, the whispers in the hallways. They were observant, even at their young age. “Yes,” I said. “It’s because you both have an important role to play. Your fathers and I, and… ther friends, are going to help you get ready.”
Luke nodded thoughtfully, but Simeon, younger and more sensitive, clung to me tighter. “I don’t want to,” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “I don’t want to learn about fighting. I just want to stay with you.”
I held him close, my heart breaking. “I know, sweetheart. I know. But we’re going to be together, no matter what. And I promise, I’ll be right here with you through everything.”
I wished I could say more, offer them the comfort of normalcy, but that was a luxury we didn’t have.
The next few days passed in a blur. Lucas and Simon kept their distance for the most part, leaving me with the boys as we tried to prepare for the inevitable. There were moments of tension-times when I thought about escape again, but the more I considered it, the more futile it seemed. The mansion was a fortress, and the eyes of the guards were everywhere. There was no way out. Not yet.
On the third day, the training began.
I led the boys down to the courtyard at dawn, the crisp morning air biting at our skin. Lucas and Simon were already there, standing tall and imposing, both their expressions unreadable as they waited for us. Behind them, a few men I hadn’t seen before were gathered-likely the trainers Lucas had chosen. Each of them looked deadly serious, their hands resting on the hilts of the swords strapped to their sides. They didn’t belong to this world of innocence that my children still clung to, but soon enough, neither would Luke and Simeon.