Two Sons, A Mother's Divided Heart

ne Jack

Arthur led me through silent, cavernous hallways to Iggy's bedroom suite. The air outside his door was thick with the scent

ce, syrupy sweet and laced with frustration. "Ig

Christabel, this is getting us nowhere. If he

" the woman's voice replied,

and pushed the door open

sitting on the edge of the bed, dabbing Iggy's forehead with a cloth, was Christabel Fitz

venom. "Look what the cat dragged in. I though

hristabel, perhaps you should get s

esides, our wedding is just a few months away. I need to get used to taking care of

it held an unmistakable command, the tone

ilk robe. As she passed me, her eyes, cold and sharp as shards o

of us in the cavernous room. Hampton, me, and the small,

medicine," Hampton or

fever. He cracked open an eye, saw it was me, and immediate

sn't going to wo

nough," he said, his voice laced with a strange bit

l I couldn't deny, no matter how much pain it was attached to. I

in a secluded wing of this house. They told me I wasn't to see the baby, that it was for the best. But at night, I would sneak i

in my hand. "Iggy," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

dn't

se, I

is eyes glassy with fever and resentment.

e took a small sip and immediately

ntil it was cool. He took another sip.

re the medicine was finally gone. I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. Cale was neve

, my shoulders slumping with relief. I co

demanded, his voice

ha

e one you used to sin

d. "I... I don't

ng stronger with agitation. "The one about

traightened up, his gaze sharp and questioning. He was loo

s to the nursery. I had sung to my son in the dark, my voice a broken whisper, a lullaby about a little

gry, spoiled boy, he remem

meone else," I lied, my voi

en, violent rage. He sat bolt upright, his small han

bling backward off the bed. I threw my hand out to catch myself, but

red under

of porcelain was embedded in the palm of my hand. Blood, dark and sho