The Blizzard Crossing (Borderland Guardians Series) by Lyssa Lund

Author:Lyssa Lund [Lund, Lyssa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Whimsey Publishing
Published: 2023-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

ARIN

Walking down the halls of Mansen’s mansion, Arin could hardly differentiate what part of his memories were dreams and which of his dreams were memories.

It was a grand estate with three wings and over a hundred rooms. It had been in the Aoura family for many generations, and as a child, Arin had wondered why they had insisted on building so many rooms.

Especially because Mansen was not a socialite.

The front court had a large fountain directly in front of the entrance doors, a small patch of green field groomed around it.

The walls were pastel and cream, although Mansen liked darker colors. The furniture, however, had been redone to her style: Black velvet curtains and blood-red carpets along the corridor. As a child, he had run through corridors with somber paintings and listened to the emptiness of multiple vacant rooms.

Memories flooded his head with a vengeance, and all he wanted was reprieve and answers.

The maid that had led him inside, as if he could not remember the layout of his childhood home, knocked on the door to the dining room.

“Elder Mansen, Guardian Arin has arrived,” she said, before opening the double doors and stepping aside for Arin to enter.

“Thank you, Elvita.” His mother was already seated at the head of her finely crafted dining table.

The maid stepped back and shut the door after her.

The dining room was as he remembered it: Marble and jade walls, with green velvet cushions on the dark mahogany chairs. Vases in the corner filled with beach pebbles because Mansen thought the flowers outside were enough.

Laid out on the dining table were plates of sausages and eggs, bread and honey, decanters of juice, and pots of tea. The spread contained all the things Arin had liked to eat as a child.

Arin quirked a smile and went to take his mother’s hand. “A little lavish for breakfast, don’t you think?” he said before kissing the back of her hands and taking a seat close to her. “Or were you feeling guilty about shifting my appointment?”

Mansen gleamed at him. Yes, she really did smile more these days. “Well, your letter was so sudden; you are aware the council members have tight schedules. I kept my entire morning clear for you, and you’re only arriving now.”

“Well, Elder Mansen, as the Guardian of Aorel, my schedule isn’t flexible either. Especially because the elders keep calling.”

She shook her head at him before reaching over her plate to dish food out for him. “What is it you wanted to discuss?”

Always direct.

Arin cleared his throat. “Nothing much, I wanted to have a meal with my mother.”

She placed a small piece of bread on his plate and sat back down. “Mhmm, you can think of your approach while I fill my plate.” Then she paused and looked at him. “Have you decided on your mate?”

“No, is there a problem?”

Mansen continued dishing her food out. “I’m curious what this is about. It feels like you’re going to pack a blow.”

Arin chuckled and waited for Mansen to start eating before he picked up his fork.

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