I jerk my head up, Silas twisting next to me as we both crane our heads to look down the hall. William pauses, his head moving between us as he emerges from the bedroom he shares with my mother. “Well. This looks… cosy.”
“Dad.” Silas sounds exasperated, and Williams laughs. He’salwayslaughing, even though he looks more tired than usual, with dark circles beneath his eyes.
“Sorry,” he says unabashedly. “Didn’t mean to disturb you. But your mother is looking for you, Stasi.”
I scramble up, dread already filling me at the thought of seeing her. “Did she say why?”
William shakes his head, and I notice the smart suit he’s wearing. “She’s not well, so she’s staying behind this evening while I attend the gala. Perhaps she’s missing you. It might be nice, to spend some time together.”
There’s an edge ofsomethingin his voice, even as he smiles at me easily enough. I don’t think it’s aimed at me.
I’ve heard the hissed arguments at night. We all have.
Every single one sends me into a panic. Silas doesn’t understand. Rafe and Kit don’t get it either, and I can’t explain. Not without telling them everything.
They don’t know how she works.
But I do. And I can see the signs a mile away.
The waning interest. The feigned excitement, even as her eyes grow dull and bored.
My mother is getting ready to move on.
And as I shuffle towards her bedroom, I pray that I’m wrong.
“Mother?” I call out as I push the door open. It’s dark inside, and it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the gloom. The daylight is still fading into evening, but all the curtains are pulled tightly closed, blocking out any light from getting through.
“Anastasia? Close the door.” My mother sounds groggy, and all I feel is relief. Maybe she’s really sick, and not about to demolish the only good thing I’ve ever had.
But my relief is short-lived.
As soon as the click of the door sounds, the lamp next to her bed is switched on, and she sits up. Her hands beckon me. “Come here.Closer.”
A lump appears in my throat as I gingerly pad over to the bed. “What’s the matter?”
“Anastasia.” She pats the bed. “Sit down.”
Crossing my arms, I stay where I am. “Don’t.”
She doesn’t try to lie to me. Instead, she sighs. “It’s time, sweetheart. This is… not the life I expected.”
My throat begins to prickle, the back of my eyes growing hot. “It’sneverwhat you expect. I’m tired of moving around. I like it here.”
More than like it. This feels likehome. Home, with Silas, with Kit, with Rafe.
My mother gives me a pitying look. “Oh, sweetheart. Those boys don’tcareabout you. They’re only humoring you. Why would they?”
She scans me with disinterest, missing the stab inflicted with her barb as I suck in a breath. “That’s not true. And even if it was… I don’t want to leave, mother. I want to stay here.”
She waves her hand. “Don’t be stupid. I can hardly leave you behind, Anastasia. Why on earth would they want to keepyouwithoutmebeing here?”
She laughs, a sharp, disbelieving bark, and for a moment, I hate her.
“Don’t,” I whisper. “Please, mother. William is a nice man.”
She sniffs. “Perhaps to you. He barely even looks at me, anymore. I feel quite unwanted.”
I glance towards the expensive jewelry on her dressing table. There’s so much that there’s little space for anything else. “He’s not a stupid man. Maybe he’s worked out what type of person you are.”
