The Catalyst

Chapter 30

In the morning, Noah met Alexa for a walk across the gardens. Pale sunlight shone over the thin layer of snow on the shrubs and flowerbeds that lined the gravel path.

"I'm thirty-five years old," Alexa said.

"How did you know I was dying to ask that question?" Noah asked.

She smiled. "Some things, you just know."

"I owe you an apology," Noah said. "Your imprisonment was my fault. Your letter, it got in the queen's hands and she must've—"

"It's all right. It seems your life's been a little hectic lately."

"You could say that."

"I'm the one who should apologize." She wrapped her dark red cloak tighter around herself with gloved hands. "I've never been ashamed of what I am, at least I didn't think so. But when it comes to you, I've had to admit it to myself, the one thing that always kept me from you was just that. Shame. You heard what Lord Kemon called me?"

Madam.

"You run a brothel," Noah said, and she nodded. "Please spare me the details of how Kemon knows that."

She laughed. Then there was a silence, filled only by the sound of gravel crunching underfoot.

"So," Noah said eventually, "Victor Starborn."

"I suppose you deserve an explanation."

And she did explain, starting from the very beginning. Noah's fists clenched painfully when she mentioned being sold as a sex slave at a young age. But she'd met Victor at a time in her life when no other men touched her. She had escaped and taken residence at a temple.

"With him it was different. For just one night I pretended to be a normal girl. He was kind, caring, and funny. I never wanted him to know the truth about me. I wasn't supposed to get pregnant. They do something to us, a procedure to prevent that. But they must've done something wrong because I still had you. Though I never got pregnant again after that. Anyway, the temple priests offered me shelter until I gave birth, they sent you to the Quickrivers orphanage, then they kicked me out."

"Why?" Noah exclaimed.

She gave him a wry smile. "The terms of my residence clearly stated that I was not to have sex. Of course, I thought they would never find out. So, I packed my bags and I got back into the only life I knew. I was fifteen, I had no family, and no money. What else could I do? A few years later the Madam took me under her wing and I became her assistant, which led me to what I am now."

"Is Ivy one of your . . ."

"One of my girls, yes," Alexa said. "Though she's been yearning for a different life ever since the queen allowed women in the army."

"I'll put in a word for her," Noah said.

Alexa smiled. "Thank you. Could I take advantage of you having friends in high places for one other request?"

"Sure."

"In response to my latest query, the queen had promised to send guards to work for me. My establishment being the most frequented in Veicira, it sometimes becomes difficult to control all the clients. They can be violent, and too often the militia turns a blind eye. I simply want more protection for the girls."

"I'll bring it up," Noah said. "I can't imagine Jaden saying no to that."

"You have my thanks."

Noah waved it off. "It's nothing."

After a pause, she asked, "Will you be at the Blackhill this afternoon, for the burial?"

Noah figured Dharkan would agree to wait one more day. "Yeah, I'd like to be there."