“What the fuck?” Orion comes in next, looking around my empty apartment with eyes of wonder.
“My plan was to stop her from breathing,” I say, ignoring his expression as the other three follow us in. “I could have managed it.”
“I know.” Soren nods. “You can manage anything. That doesn’t make it a good plan.” I meant to say something cutting back, but his partial flattery worked.
“Where are we?” Orion asks, but I ignore the question.
Soren takes my knuckles in his hand, frowning when he finds blood.
“It’s not mine.” I smirk.
“Oh good.”
“Sable?” Lex interrupts the moment with so much calm, I can’t resist looking at him.
“Yeah?”
“Where are we standing right now?” he asks with his bedside manner firmly in place.
“In my room.” I shrug. I oddly like it here. Everything is incredibly old, and there’s this musty smell that won’t go away. I do love waking up surrounded by all of them, but it’s been comforting to wind up somewhere that’s mine.
“It’s a long story.” Soren sighs. “We need to get Arabella off the floor.”
Part of me is still convinced this is based on affection for her. His careful words bring the rage back. He should want to see her dead.He said he wants that too,I remind myself as I try to gain control of my temper and get the color of blood out of my vision.
Lex leaves the room, followed by Hadrian, and my eyes turn to Parker. He’s too quiet, watching Soren and me close.
“Parker?” I ask.
“Did he know?” he shoots back.
“About what?” I try to feign innocence.
“This place. He’s the only one who doesn’t look shocked.”
Oh. I nod, wondering how much I can say about the night I brought Soren here. It all leads back to a secret that I’m not allowed to tell.
“It’s a long story,” Soren says again, this time with a little more force.
There’s no need for him to defend me. It was my choice to keep this place a secret. I open my mouth to argue, but it closes on a snap when Lex and Hadrian get back inside the room. Their expressions are closed off and jaws hard.
“Is she dead?” I ask, a hint of hope in my voice.
“No, she’s gone,” Lex says.
“What?” Soren shakes his head.
“She probably went back to her room. The Offering room.” I can’t hide the bitterness from my words.
“No,” Hadrian says. “We checked there.”
“She wasreallyhurt,” Soren says.
“And?” I ask, jealousy and hatred building inside me and making me unreasonable.
“How did she get up and walk far enough away to be out of sight when she was knocked out cold a minute ago?” Soren asks.
I take a deep breath, still somewhat lost in the haze of battle. “I really don’t know,” I say, not caring the way they seem to want me to.
