Meri’s eyebrows rise. “A whole week? What does he need a whole week for?” She leans on the table, ready for all the gossip.
“I’m giving him sex lessons.” I arch my eyebrow right back, as if this is all a joke.
Meri wrinkles her nose, leaning back in her seat. “Does he need them?”
I swallow a large gulp of the amber liquid. “Nope.”
“Hmmm.” Meri looks back and forth, between me and Bianca. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
I keep quiet. I used to tell Bianca practically everything, the rest of the girls nearly as much, but I’ve been holding back since that day in Bianca’s room. If I tell them what Lady M has asked of me, what she is doing to my sister, and they don’t believe me, it might destroy me.
Bianca’s brow creases in worry. “Cate, what is really going on?”
“I’m doing what I need to do to protect myself and Andra.”
“From the Reids?”
I shrug, not willing to contradict her, though despite everything, I don’t feel like the former rulers of Scota truly pose a threat.
Meri leans forward, reaching for my hand across the table. “I don’t like this, Cate. This is a former monarch, a man who will lose everything because of the Uprising. A man whose family is part of the reason Gifted have no rights. How do you know he’s not setting you up for something truly terrible? How do you know he doesn’t have ill intent?”
I squeeze her hand. “Despite all my better instincts, I think I trust him.” If nothing else, I trust Callum Reid more than I trust Lady M.
Bianca’s green eyes study my face. “You like him.”
I pull my hand away from Meri as if that can hide the flush on my cheeks. “Don’t be silly. He’s a client.”
Bianca shakes her head, a small smile tugging on her lips. “I know you better than that, Caterine. You are not nearly suspicious enough. You like him.”
I down the remaining few drops of whisky clinging to my glass. “What does it matter if I do? He’s just a client, it’s not like there’s any hope for anything more. I wouldn’t want it even if there were.” The lie tastes sour on my tongue, and I realize just how deeply Callum Reid has implanted himself in my life, maybe even in my heart. I shake the notion out of my head.
Meri shrugs. “Why not? Things are different now, Cate. He’s no longer a prince. He could be with whoever he wants.” She pushes her chair back. “I truly hate to miss out on the rest of this gossip, but I have a client meeting.” She blows us kisses as she lets herself out, the door of my room clicking shut behind her.
Bianca levels me with a knowing look. “What’s this really about, Cate? Has he done something to you?”
“It’s not about him. It’s about me.”
Bianca’s face softens and her smile holds no small dash of pity. “You deserve to be happy, Cate. It’s not your job to take care of the whole world. The club is fine, the Uprising is over, Andra is—”
“Andra is being worked to death and the only hope I have of getting her out of the situation is to finish this job. Callum is paying for my services, just like any other client. And that’s all he’s going to be.” My words are sharp, and I don’t know if I’m trying to convince her or myself.
Bianca’s teasing smile fades. “What do you mean Andra is being worked to death?”
I close my eyes, admonishing myself. “It’s nothing.”
Unfortunately, the door separating my and Andra’s rooms opens just in time to prove me wrong.
Andra looks even worse than the last time I saw her, like she’s managed to lose both weight and sleep over the past couple of days.
I jump out of my chair, crossing to where she hovers by the bed. “Andra? What happened? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Her voice is weak.
I guide her to the chaise and gesture for Bianca to get her a glass of water.
Bianca hands her the glass and kneels in front of her, her healer’s eyes scanning Andra’s face. “I don’t think there’s much I can do. There’s nothing physically wrong.” She looks at me, a thousand questions in her eyes, but I ignore her and them, focusing on my sister.
I sit next to Andra on the chaise. “Just a few more days and this will all be over.”
