She didn’t know how to answer that.Yes.No.Maybe.Having Marilisa laid to rest in his family crypt was a pretty good indication that he was serious about having her be his thrall.Did their one night together count as enough to form a stable relationship for the rest of her life?
Then again, whatwasshe going to do with the rest of her life?The only idea that had floated in her mind was ridding the world of her evil half-sister.She had a choice.One path led to her own destruction as she dealt with Lori.The other hope—or a better description would be a lifeline that her soul recognized.
She blinked and refocused on Lionel.“Before I can answer that, I have to confess that I want revenge.My half-sister sent the men who killed Marilisa, and I want her to pay.Why should she live when my friend lay in her coffin?”
“Your sister’s actions are notyourresponsibility.”Lionel’s voice was pitched low with care and understanding.“Don’t let her steal your future.”
Adalyn nodded, feeling a little confused.So much had happened in rapid succession that the static messed with her thoughts.It was so jumbled that she found it difficult to focus on a linear timeline.
“Thank you, Lionel,” she said.“I think I need a little time to process everything.”
Lionel smiled.“I expected nothing less.”
“Will Lord Huntley be mad if I take some time to think over his proposal?”
“Not at all.Come, Chester will take you to the cemetery.”
“Okay.”
Brennen escorted her to the car and helped her back into it.Chester drove them to the cemetery outside the city limits and into the more affluent part where lines of crypts bore the name of the family inside.Vampires weren’t immortal.They lived longer lives than humans, but they would eventually die.All the myths associated with vampires had pretty much been debunked when they emerged from the shadows.Garlic, no.Crosses, no.Holy water, no.Sunlight, no.That particular falsehood came about from an old movie titled ‘Nosferatu’ when they needed to wrap up the film and didn’t know how to, and thenpoof!Sunlight.
Chester stopped behind the hearse near a white marble crypt that had the name Huntley chiseled across the top.She watched in silence as the pallbearers pulled the casket out and then took her into the crypt.Moments later, it was done, the door of the crypt locked up tight.Adalyn didn’t know what to do.Stay.Leave.Cry.Curse.Scream.
She did none of those things.
Chester led the way back to the car.“Are we going back to the chateau, miss?”
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully.“I need to return to the shop.At least to gather my personal stuff.”
Maybe her answer would come as she packed up her stuff.Being a thrall wasn’t how she envisioned her life, but she knew in her gut Gareth wouldn’t let the darkness consume her.Perhaps he was what destiny had given to her.When one door closed, another opened.
“Do you think Lord Huntley might help me sell the shop?”
“I think he’d be happy to help you.”
They hit traffic on the way back into the city and arrived late afternoon.Chester and Brennen chose to wait in the car so she could assess her tentative decision.As soon as she stepped into the shop, however, Adalyn sensed she wasn’t alone.Her sister emerged from the shadows with a sneer etched on her face.Blonde hair teased within an inch of its life.Rheumy blue eyes looked like they belonged on an eighty-year-old person.Too many drugs.Too much alcohol.Lori was just rotten to the core.
“Sister dearest,” Lori spat.“You fucked up my plan.”
“Oh, is that supposed to make me feel bad?Yousoldme.How could you do that?”
“Easily,” she smirked.“Apex wants to know where his men are.”
“Who’s Apex?”
“The man who owns you.”
“No one owns me,” Adalyn snapped.
“I’ll ask again.”Lori took a step closer.“What happened to his men?”
“They’re dead.”
Lori’s eyes widened.“Excuse me?”
Adalyn lifted her chin.“They.Are.Dead.You sent them here, so their demise is onyourhead.”
“Bitch!”
