“Coffee would be lovely.”
I move to the kitchen, and Elena follows at a respectful distance. She settles onto one of the stools at the counter while I measure the grounds, put them into the coffee maker, add water, and hit brew. Having Calder’s mother here feels dangerous in a way I can’t quite name. Like I’m doing something wrong, without really doing something wrong.
“This was always my favorite house on the property,” Elena shares. “Small. Private. With enough distance from the main house. I’m pretty sure one of Roman’s mistresses lived here for a time.” The casual mention of infidelity shouldn’t surprise me.This is the Bishop family, after all. Doesn’t mean I would ever be okay with Calder doing such a thing.
“Calder said he thought we’d be more comfortable here.”
“He was right. The main house...” I see her fingers twist together in her lap. “It’s suffocating at times. All those years of violence soaked into the walls. Even with Roman contained in his wing, you can feel it everywhere you go. Like a shadow following you from room to room.”
Contained.Like he’s a wild animal they’ve managed to cage, but that occasionally escapes every once in a while. The coffee maker beeps, signaling the brew is complete. I pull down two mugs from the cabinet, trying to figure out why Elena Bishop is really here.
Is it a strategic move? It’s more than just towelcomeme. That much is obvious.
“How do you take it?” I ask.
“Black.” She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
I pour the coffee into a mug and slide it across the counter to her. I choose to lean against the opposite counter, cradling my mug in my hands. We drink in silence for a moment, two women trapped in the same family for different reasons.
“I’m sure you’re wondering what the hell I’m doing here?” she finally says.
“I mean, the thought crossed my mind.”
She sets her mug down carefully, her gaze penetrating. “I’m here because I want to warn you about tomorrow night.”
My heart sinks into my stomach. “The branding.”
“Yes.” Her gaze drops to her legs, where I know the Bishop brand no doubt sits if Roman’s boasting was correct. “Roman mentioned it the other night, but he didn’t explain what it actually entails. And Calder...” She pauses. “Calder probably doesn’t want to think about it. He’s very good at compartmentalizing the parts of this family he hates.”
She’s got that right.I squeeze the mug a little tighter. “Will you tell me? What happens? Explain the process to me.”
“Did Calder tell you anything?” Elena asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing. I planned to ask him about it tonight.”
Elena is quiet for a long moment, staring into her coffee like she can read the future in its dark surface. When she speaks again, her voice is carefully neutral. “Okay. The ceremony takes place in the main barn. All the brothers will be present. Roman presides over it. You’ll be...” She swallows. “They’ll secure you. To make sure you don’t move while they press the iron into your skin. It’s important that the brand is clean. You don’t want it to blur because then they have to do it again.” First, they’ll secure me, then they’ll brand me, and if I move too much, they’ll do it again. It’s a miracle I don’t vomit all over the floor right now.
“How long does it take?” I don’t know why I ask that question. Branding another human shouldn’t even be a thing.
“The actual branding? A few seconds. Roman will heat the iron in front of you first. Let you watch it turn orange, then white. Build the anticipation up so you know what’s coming.” She traces the rim of the mug with her fingers. “Whatever you do, try your best to keep your fear hidden. Roman enjoys it more than he should.”
Of course he does. I’m not surprised. “What happens after?”
“After, you’ll be in considerable pain. They’ll bandage it, but there is always the risk of infection. Healing can take weeks, and the scar is ugly for a long time.”
I set my mug down before I drop it. “If you’re trying to scare me?—”
“I’m not trying to scare you.” Elena interrupts. “Like I said, I came to warn you, to explain what is going to happen because I wish someone had done the same for me.” Elena’s eyes finally meet mine, and for the first time since she arrived, I see realemotion in them. Raw and painful. “I went into my branding ceremony blind. I thought it would be like getting a tattoo. Something uncomfortable but manageable. I was wrong. It’s nothing like that, Saint. It’s medieval. It’s cruel. And once it’s done, there’s no going back. You’ll carry that mark on your skin for the rest of your life.”
I wish I could close my ears. That this was all a bad dream, but it’s not. It’s my life now. My stomach clenches tight, and bile rises in my throat. Never in my mind did I think this would be a good experience, but hearing the details from someone who experienced it firsthand and survived? I can’t possibly see a path forward.
“I can’t refuse,” I ask quietly. “Can I?”
“No.” Elena’s answer is immediate. “Refusal is the same as betrayal. You say no, and Roman will find a way to kill you. It might not be that day, but it’ll happen. He’ll make it look like an accident or a disappearance. And you aren’t the only one at risk of dying. Calder will most likely be next for failing to control his wife.”
I press my palms against the counter, needing something solid beneath my hands to stop my knees from buckling. “There’s no choice then. I’ll have to accept it or face death.”
“Yes.” She picks up her mug again and takes a slow sip. “Just remember. The pain is temporary. The fear is temporary. The mark is what’s forever, and that’s all that Roman cares about. He wants a permanent reminder that you now belong to this family. That you’re his property as much as you are Calder’s.”
