“Anything. I’ll do whatever you need.”
Her eyes softened. “I was hoping you’d say that.” The mask of collected woman slipped, showing her terror over her brother’s life.
My heart tripped into a knot. “Kes. Is he alive, too?”
My spine locked, bracing for bad news. It seemed too much to have Jethro back from the dead, let alone another.
Jasmine sucked in a breath. “He is. For now.”
My hands fisted. I wanted to sprint faster. “What does that mean?”
She glared ahead, stress lining her mouth. “They were moved before Cut could dispose of them. We’ve done what we could, but it isn’t good enough.” She swallowed hard. “We’re running out of time.”
We...
Her and Flaw?
“Where did you put them?”
“The only place not monitored.”
“And where is that?”
She lowered her voice. “It doesn’t matter. You’re not coming with me.”
My stomach flipped. I had to see him. Had to hug him and kiss him and tell him I never stopped loving him. “You came for my help. I’m coming with you.”
Jasmine pursed her lips. “It has to be this way. It has to be tonight. And it has to be now. The longer you argue, the less time we have and the worse it will be for all of us. Got it?”
I wanted to argue—to slap her and let go of the helpless anger inside. Instead, I curbed my temper. “Fine.”
But the minute he’s safe and well, I’m claiming him. He’s mine, not yours.
Flying around a corner, Jaz whispered, “Now, hush. Answers will come later.”
* * * * *
This part of the house hinted at its age.
We were no longer in the manicured wealth of parlours, dayrooms, and libraries.
This part had an aura of forbidden.
An abandoned aura.
An aura of death and warning.
Portraits didn’t hang, showing pockmarked faded walls. The threadbare carpets misted with dust as our footsteps disturbed ancient dirt, and my cardigan and leggings weren’t enough to combat the icy chill emitting from the walls.
Hawksridge Hall lived and breathed as surely as its inhabitants, but down here...here was forgotten, only fit for cretins and rodents.
I blew on my fingers, gritting my teeth against a shiver.
“Here.” Jaz suddenly stopped. “This is the room.”
I skidded to a halt, staring at the imposing door with a brass locking plate engraved with weasels and stoats. “What is this place?”
“It used to be the servant’s quarters, but an old water pipe burst a century ago and destroyed everything. My grandfather never got around to fixing it. This wing has been ignored ever since.”
