‘No, no one who knows Niamh would believe that.’
‘We never really know how other people are feeling, Rose.’
‘No, Niamh would never… And what the hell is she supposed to have?—’
The lounge grows darker despite it being late morning, and the middle of summer. I shiver, the shadows growing deeper around the edges of the room as I push to my feet.
‘What’s going on?’ I ask, looking around, but my sister is acting as if nothing happened.
And instantly the shadows are gone, and the room is bright, sunny, warm.
‘Stop trying to change the subject, Cillian. You’ve done something to my best friend. Did you really kill her? Just like you killed Matt.’ Rose’s eyes are glassy with tears, with grief. ‘And for what? To appease a family whose rule has brought the Court all but to its knees? Why? Why would you do this?’
‘Because… I have a duty,’ I snap. Does she really believe I wanted to do this?
‘Then give it up! What are you going to sacrifice for your duty next? Me? Niamh loved you, did you know that? She thought I didn’t know, but I did.’
My heart seems to turn over in my chest, pulsing as though it might burst as Rose’s words register. My thoughts focus solely on the wild, impossible truth of it as a rush of heat floods my veins. Niamh loves me. My pulse thunders in my ears and I clench my hands into fists so that Rose can’t see them trembling.
‘I did not know that, no.’ My voice is flat and hollow in an effort to conceal what I’m really feeling.
‘And I know you cared for her in your own sick and twisted way.’
We stare at each other, both breathing heavily.
‘When did it start? At the party? Where did she sleep that night, Cillian?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
We glare at one another, but Rose isn’t giving up.
‘Anyway. You abandoned her, as I recall, so that you could go fuck your boyfriend!’
‘Really? I’m not stupid, Cillian. You think I don’t know that you watch us when we’re out. Make sure that any guy, no, make that anybody at all, who gets too close to Niamh, suddenly finds a reason to abandon her. Do you know what that’s done to her?’
‘What do you mean?’
She laughs as she lets her head fall back onto the cushions and turns her head away from me, towards the window.
‘How can you not see it? She’s stuck exactly where she was when she first met you. Pretty much. Every time she gets close to someone, somethinghappensand they suddenly ghost her. Or leave the country or?—’
‘What do you mean “pretty much”?’
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Cillian! You weren’t watching us all the time. There were a couple of guys who got past your security safeguards. Although you didn’t exactly leave her with the cream of the crop, so I’m not sure exactly what happened, but?—’
‘Who are these guys?’ My muscles tense.
‘I wouldn’t tell you even if I could, because I don’t want to read about them floating face down in the Clyde in the morning papers. If I’d told you about them, the poor bastards would have had to cross busy streets just to avoid her, because whatever you’d have threatened to do to them if they tried to have a relationship with her would have put each one of them off taking the risk.’
I clench my fists to stop myself yelling at her. The fact is, nothing she’s said so far is untrue. But I never expected to feel such guilt.
‘I was simply keeping unsuitable men away from her, making sure that she was safe.’
‘Safe? From who, Cill? Someone whomightfall in love with her? One day give her a home, a family, children? All the things you’re going to give to Vittoria and at the same time make sure Niamh never has with anyone! The biggest danger to Niamh Whyte was always you and now you’ve proved it.’
‘Rose—’
‘No, Cillian. Just leave. I have nothing else to say to you.’
