(William's POV)
It was half past one in the morning. I lay awake staring at the clock, everything silent except for its soft ticking. Then suddenly, it began to rain; droplets of water assaulted the window, thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed through the window, illuminating the darkened entrance, exposing Alastor standing in the doorway, staring straight at me, a strange, unreadable look in his eyes. I moved my body protectively over Mary's sleeping form, glaring at him. He continued to stare at me, stepped into the room, walked over to a chair next to the four-poster and sat down.
"Why do you disturb me?" I demanded, tightening my hold on Mary.
"You weren't asleep anyway."
My
eyes widened in horror.
"You never sleep during storms."
"It didn't start until now."
"You're a light sleeper anyway."
"It's military tactics." I replied tersely. "Now get out of my bedchamber, you old dog."
"Papa?"
I turned suddenly to see Brielle standing in the doorway shaking. Thunder rumbled and a flash of lightning lit the room; Brielle yelped and ran over to me. I gathered her in my arms and held her close to me.
"Papa I'm frightened!"
"Shh. It' s all right Brielle. It won't hurt you." I said, kissing her forehead.
"Can I stay here tonight?" She asked.
"Yes. Get under the covers."
Just as Brielle got beneath the covers there was another flash of lightning followed by an angry growl of thunder. Mary startled and gave a surprised gasp upon seeing Alastor.
"What are you doing here Alastor?"
"It's complicated to explain…"
"Then please, can you leave?" I asked, trying to be civil tongued. "It's late, and I find it hard enough to sleep as it is."
Alastor nodded and left the room.
"What was he doing here?" Mary asked.
"I don't know. But it's making me uncomfortable." I replied. "I should have sent him to the stables for the night."
"Why in the stables Papa?"
Brielle's head popped out from under the covers.
"Brielle"
"Because Brielle, your father doesn't trust him." Mary finished smoothly, deflecting what would have been an irate reply to my daughter's question.
"Why is he here if Papa doesn't trust him?"
"I don't know, my angel, but hopefully he'll be gone in a few hours." I replied. "Until then, go to sleep."
Brielle obediently settled back down under the covers and was asleep within a few minutes. Mary bent over Brielle's sleeping form and kissed her forehead; then looking at me with grave eyes she said, "I don't feel safe anymore William. At least not while Alastor is here; I didn't think he would come up here again, but now I don't know what to think If it weren't for Braden and Brielle, I'd say that the door to this room needs to be locked at night but I can't bar them from me."
"And you won't need to bar them from you. I'll send for the captain to stay with you during the day."
"I do not wish to pull the captain into this."
"Mary, the captain is like a brother to me, and cares for you very much. In fact, he told me after we began courting that if I hadn't gotten to you first, he would have pursued you himself; even so, he will protect you with the same unyielding loyalty he does me."
"Alright, send for him then."
"I shall as soon as soon as it is a decent hour to be awake." I replied with a mischievous grin.
"Well I can't sleep now."
I kissed Mary's forehead.
"Just try not to concentrate on the movement within you and sleep."
"Easy for you to say." She said dryly.
"Yes well, I love you anyway." I replied with a smirk. "Now just try and sleep."
