“Oh?”
“I didn’t think Fynn is Don’s son. He never let on if he was, but our engagement wasn’t profound. He didn’t tell me anything worthwhile. He was too besotted with his ex to pay me much attention.” I raise a brow. “Oh, come on, you must have heard the rumors.”
“Sorry, no.”
Gi sits straighter. “Fynn was seeing this Nebula girl, Corvina. They were in love, based on what I gathered. But he dumpedher and asked me to marry him, likely for propriety’s sake.” She gives me a sympathetic look, but I refuse to show any emotion. Leigh and I will cross that bridge when the time comes. Ifit ever does. “I felt sorry for the girl but said yes to the proposal, regardless. Anything to obtain an ounce of approval from Elio.” She says her stepfather’s name like a sneer.
“Where is Corvina now?” I make a mental note to look into her, to unravel the mystery of Fynn’s past and the secrets he took to his grave. Maybe he confided in her before he died.
“Corvina isn’t a danger to Leigh.”
“How do you know?”
“We went to school together. The girl is a mouse.”
Yeah, but mice still have sharp teeth.
“I’m sorry,” I say after a beat, and Gianna’s brows dip. “Fynn was your future husband, and though there was no love between you, it still must’ve hurt when he died, and again, it must’ve been tough to call off your engagement to Hammond.”
Gianna tips her head back and laughs, but there’s no humor. “Calling off my engagement to Hammond was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. But do you want to know the hardest?”
“What’s that?”
“Coming here to be turned away at every turn. I thought I’d finally get answers about my family by talking with Stellan, but he hasn’t had time for me, and then the riot at the rally happened, and—” She cuts herself off with a groan that tightens my throat. “I’ll never know where I belong.”
“Maybe Stellan doesn’t have all the answers.”
She nods solemnly. “Maybe.”
“I’m going to see if we have any leftovers from dinner. Hungry?” I ask.
“I ate.” Gi waves her hand, and the screen returns to life.
I take that as my cue to leave. As I go, I glance back at Gianna. She quickly wipes an errant tear off her cheek.Fuck, I wish there was more I could do for her.
“Leigh will be here in the morning,” I say to better her mood.
Gianna’s eyes widen. “She will?”
Something about her worried tone gives me pause. “I thought you’d be excited.”
Gianna swallows. “I am. I just wasn’t expecting it. Do you know why she’s coming?”
I hesitate. If I tell her about the meeting with Stellan, she’ll probably want to come. But if she comes, Stellan may be less inclined to cooperate with Leigh. I can’t take that risk.
“I miss her,” I say, and Gi makes a gagging noise.“Why don’t you give her a call? She has a long train ride.”
Gianna doesn’t reach for her phone. “No, that’s okay. I will see her when she gets here.”
Baffled by her response, I walk away. What the hell was that all about?
The polished surfaceof the mahogany table reflects the opulence of the royal train compartment. Despite the late hour, Janus sits across from me. I summoned her here to establish a chain of command at the last minute. Unexpectedly, she brought Bennett to act as a “witness” to our discussion.
My knee bounces. I’m so close to stopping Stellan and uncovering his accomplice. Victory is practically within reach.
“You could always send a Council member to speak to Stellan in your place, Leigh,” she offers. “Bending to Stellan’s will is beneath you.”
I sigh. The Council isn’t trustworthy right now. One of them might be Stellan’s mole, and the rest want to marry me to one of our enemies.
