Chapter 44

Chapter 44 Grievance

CA SSANDRA

As Adalyn continued to glare daggers in my direction, I turned to look at

Finnick.

“Did you lay a hand on Prince Marco?” I asked as evenly as I could possibly manage. Finnick took a moment and then shook his head.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said quietly, but his expression told a different story. Finnick tended to glance down at the ground when he was lying, and he’d done just that a moment ago. So, I took a breath and repeated myself.

“Finnick, this is serious,” I said in a much sterner tone. “I want the truth. Did you lay a hand on Prince Marco?”

Finnick took a moment of pause, and then he nodded.

“Sort of,” he admitted. “But it was just a light push, Mommy. And Marco hit me

first-”

“Prince Marco,” Adalyn corrected him through bared teeth, and then she rushed over to us. She seemed as if she were going to sn atch my son away, but held firm. and lifted him up before she could do anything.

I glared at Asher’s wife as she stopped in front of us. No one, royal or not, was going to lay a single finger on my son.

“I’ll take my son and leave-” I started to say, but as I turned to move, Adalyn’s hand clamped down on my shoulder.

“I’ll tell the Alpha King,” she spat. Her nails dug into my skin, but the pain didn’t matter. I was in protective mode and my only concern was my son.

“Tell him whatever you like,” I retorted, and I yanked my shoulder away with

impressive force. “But I’ll be taking my son away now.”

Prince Marco began to wail.

“My father is going to punish you!” he cried, and he pointed his finger at Finnick. “You’re going to be in trouble!”

Finnick opened his mouth to speak, but I shushed him immediately. I didn’t wait for Adalyn to dismiss me. I simply turned and rushed right out of the room and into the busy hallway. I walked as quickly as I could with Finnick in my arms, and I held him tightly against me.

“Mommy,” Finnick whimpered as I sped toward our chamber. “Mommy, I’m

sorry-”

“Why did you push Marco?” I asked him sternly.

“He deserved it,” Finnick insisted, but I wasn’t having it. I set him down on the ground and stared at him.

“There’s never an excuse for physical violence,” I chastised him. “Now, tell me Finnick, why did you push the prince?”

Finnick was quiet for a moment, and then he began to sniffle. It was soft at first, and then it grew a little louder. I paused for a moment and looked at him.

“Finnick?” I prompted him quietly.

When the tears fell down his cheeks, my heart began to ache. Finnick hardly ever cried.

“He was making fun of me,” Finnick revealed through his sniffs, and the whites of his eyes turned slightly red. “He laughed at me, Mommy, for not having a daddy. So, I told him that he was abandoned by his parents.”

I was shocked. I hadn’t realized Finnick had overheard what Erika had said to me last night. Even if I’d known, I’d never have expected him to repeat it back to Marco. Finnick wasn’t usually that mean.

“Finnick, that’s not okay,” I said loudly. “You don’t say things like that to people.”

Anger swelled within me. I didn’t understand what had gotten into Finnick. I hardly ever raised my voice, but my son needed to know he was in trouble.

Finnick knew right away and suddenly began to s ob.

“I hate you, Mommy!” he exclaimed, and before I could say anything else, he

took off down the hall toward our chamber.

“Finnick!” I called after him, but it was no use. Tears welled in my own eyes. My worst fears were coming true.

This place was toxic.

Footsteps rang out behind me, and I readied myself for the stern hands of guards, but when I turned, it was just Erika.

“Are you okay?” she asked, and when I shook my head she sighed. “Shhh… don’t cry. Finnick didn’t mean it. The boy is young.”

“He’s never said that to me,” I whispered through my cries.

“I know,” she a*sured me. “He’s not that kind of boy. I must tell you, Ca ssandra.. This is all my fault. I stepped out of the cla*sroom to grab some water and left the boys alone. I didn’t expect them to quarrel.”

The maid looked terrified and I didn’t blame her. Adalyn was on the war path and would likely seek revenge on anyone involved in the situation.

“It’s not your fault,” I said as I wiped my cheeks. “Thank you for getting me. I appreciate it. I’ll handle Finnick from here.”

“Okay,” Erika said, and she offered me a small, apologetic smile. “Thank you, Ca ssandra. Please, take care.”

The maid turned and walked down the hall. Once she was gone, I continued toward my chamber.

When I got there, Finnick was in bed with his head buried in his blanket. I quietly closed the door behind me and then approached.

“Finnick?” I called out softly. “Finnick, I’m sorry.”

Finnick raised his head up slowly. I took a seat beside him on the bed and we

sat there in silence for a minute or two.

“Why didn’t you tell me you overheard us last night?” I asked. “And why would. you repeat our words back to Marco?”

Finnick sniffled. “Marco is always saying bad things about you, Mommy. I… just wanted to say bad things to him too.”

I swept him into my arms. “Honey, it doesn’t work like that. I know you meant well, but you can’t say things like that to people, even if they’re mean. You also shouldn’t keep things from me-”

Finnick squirmed. “You always keep things from me, Mommy.”

I was taken aback. He was right. I was so full of secrets l,could hardly breathe.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“I’m sorry too,” he whispered. “I should probably say that to Marco too.”

“When the opportunity presents itself, you should,” I agreed. “For right now, everyone needs to take some time to cool down.”

“Mommy, did Daddy leave because he didn’t like me?” Finnick wondered, and my heart ached again.

“Why would you say that?” I asked in shock.

“Because that’s what Marco said,” he replied.

“That’s not true,” I a*sured him, but he didn’t seem convinced.

“Daddy never seemed to like me,” he said.

I sat there in surprise for a moment as Finnick’s words settled in.

Emmett had never been good with emotions. He only seemed to care about two things- his patients and his career. In fact, he never showed much affection for Finnick or me for that matter. Of course, he’d never wanted to marry or have

children in the first place, but that wasn’t fair

for Finnick.

I considered my words carefully. Emmett hadn’t been a great example of loving parenting, but I wasn’t like him.

“Finnick, Daddy loved you very much,” I a*sured him softly. “He just didn’t know how to express it.”

“Promise me you aren’t lying,” Finnick whispered.

“I’m not,” I said, even though I wasn’t convinced.

I hadn’t completely lied to him. If it weren’t for the inferno that’d destroyed my life, Asher could have been a loving father to Finnick. That much was obvious by the

way he treated Prince Marco.

Bitterness rose up in me again.

It always came back to the inferno.

Finnick nodded carefully. “Mommy, it’s sad and lonely here. Can we visit Anemond?”

“I don’t know, baby,” I said. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. I just have a lot of work to do-

“Oh,” Finnick whispered, and he bit his lower l*p. He was so crestfallen that I needed to find something to cheer him up. Palace life wasn’t easy and I knew he was homesick and lonely. I had to do something to rea*sure him.

“I’ll talk to the Alpha King, okay Finnick?” I said as I drew him into an embrace.

“We’ll find a time to visit Anemond. I promise.”