Seconds before they turn the corner down the hall, I call out, “Mother.”
Jinneth stops as Keffa and Cyprilis disappear down the hall. She furrows her brow. “Not coming in, Seph?”
I glance at Garroway. “No. We have a meeting with ayoung devilwe’re late for.”
Jinneth chuckles. “Don’t let Lord Ashfen warp your spirit, lass. I don’t care how handsome he is—”
“It’s too late for that, Mother.”
Her mouth closes, a vein of frustration pulsing at her temple.
“You’ll take care of her?” I nudge my chin. “Sister Cyprilis? We grew up in the same House. Our lives deviated from there.”
“Right.” Jinneth sighs. “Of course we’ll see she’s taken care of, Sephania. Who do you think we are, monsters?” She smilesas she finishes, turning to head down the hall and then pausing. Tapping the corner of the wall with her fingers, she says, “You know . . . I’m more informed about your upbringing than you might imagine.”
It’s tempting, but I resist the urge to snap at her bait.I’ll have time for her stories soon enough.My mother wants to bring me inside so I won’t see Skartovius, but that’s an impossibility. I’ve seen Skar least of all my mates since I’ve been back, and I intend to rectify that issue.
“I’m sure you are,” I say wryly. “Don’t think just because I’m leaving for an evening that I’m letting you off, Jinneth. I have questions for you. Many of them.”
Her smile seems strangely placed. “Then you’d best hurry back, dear daughter.”
She vanishes down the hall before I can reply.
I look over at Garroway, who pouts in consternation. “I’m still not sure about this mother of yours, little honey badger.”
Sighing heavily, I take his hand, squeezing it as we turn to leave. “Me either, cub. Why do I get the sense my own mother is hiding secrets?”
Garroway scoffs. “Lass, she’s been imprisoned for two decades. All shehasare secrets.”
Chapter 14
Sephania
The gilded halls of Manor Marquin are empty save for Lord Ashfen’s mute white-robed servants when we arrive later that evening via carriage. The elegant horse-drawn cart was stashed away near the Chained Sisters, and Garro insisted on using it so we wouldn’t have to march hours east of the city.
“My legs are tired,” Garro told me, provoking me to roll my eyes.
“You just woke up hours ago! How can your legs—”
“Have you so quickly forgotten our rooftop escape, little honey badger? You twisted me into positions I’ve never attempted and—”
“Yes, yes,” I cut in, blushing. “I haven’t forgotten. I, erm, don’t know what came over me.”
From the oversized double doors of the manor, Garro bobs his eyebrows at me with a smug smirk. “That excuse won’t last forever. Perhaps you’re unwilling to admit your deepest, darkest desires when you’re not in heat.”
I snort as our footfalls echo off the high rafters of the drafty manor. “You make me sound like I’m an animal.”
“Aren’t you?”
My cheeks burn deeper. I’m vexed Garroway can so easily embarrass me, and I open my mouth to voice my retort—
“Took you chatter-birds long enough,” grunts a deep baritone voice across the way.
Vallan Stellos stands at the top of the stairs, his beefy arms crossed over his barrel chest in a posture of annoyance. The sight of the massive fullblood makes my heat rise—just how Garro accused me of moments ago.
“Vall!” I chirp cheerily. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Skartovius asked for all of us to attend his whims, silverblood. Though he preferred to meet yesterday, when he says he was less busy.”
