“Ah, Rebecca.” My father stands and kisses her cheek in greeting. “Drink?” he offers, gesturing with his own empty glass.
“No thank you, Renard,” she answers with a saccharine sweet voice before turning to me. “How are you, my darling?” she asks, cupping my face with her soft, manicured hand as my father refills his own glass.
“Mother.” I lean down and kiss her opposite cheek. The Ignis matriarch is the picture of poise even this late at night: perfectly coiffed red hair, flawless makeup, and tailored dress cinched tightly to her figure. Her black eyes shine in the firelight so like my own, the one feature of hers I’ve been cursed with.
“Oh I think you can do better than that, my love.” She smiles, revealing perfectly white, perfectly straight teeth. I have no choice but to comply when she opens her arms, gesturing for a hug. With one hand she runs her palm up my waist and down my back, and the other twines through my hair until she brings my face to hers, kissing the spot on my neck just beneath my ear. Her familiar touch makes my skin crawl, and I have to smother the compulsion to scrub away the memory of it until I’m raw and bloody.
“I’ve just informed Roth of my negotiations with the Beauchamps.” My father says as he resumes his seat. Our eyes connect as my mother tightens her hold one last time before releasing me to join him.
“Isn’t that just wonderful news? She’s such a lovely young lady. You remember her mother, Amarantha, don’t you? She attended so many of our parties when you were younger.”
As if I couldeverforget.
“Of course. How is she?”
“‘Thrilled’ would be an understatement. While the men haggle over the particulars,” she smiles over her shoulder at my father, who returns her grin with a wink, “she and I have already begun scouting venues.” Her voice lilts into a tinkling laugh at the thought. “How do you feel about a summer wedding?”
“The Hamptons house might suit,” I respond with a shrug, feigning nonchalance. Inside my mind, my demon begins clawing at the bars of my control.
“Oh thatwouldbe delightful! Amarantha had suggested Italy or France, but I think keeping it small and intimate is more ‘us’. No more than a few hundred guests, at most.”
“I leave it in your capable hands,” I nod in deference, “I’m sure Amarantha will see you’ve got the right of it.” Her eyes sparkle at the prospect of winning that particular battle. There are few who would dare oppose her for long. Just as she opens her mouth to speak, I interrupt her.
“Apologies, Mother, but I’m expected back at campus.”
“So soon? I hardly see you anymore,” she pouts.
“He’ll be back for Saturnalia,” my father consoles. “Run along Roth. I look forward to your progress.”
“Goodbye, darling. We’ll be seeing you soon,” she croons. With a nod to them both, I calmly walk out of the stifling room. Every step between us loosens the fist gripping my chest. It’s not until I exit the portal into our apartment that I’m able to draw a full breath. Killian, Luther, Thane, and Xaphan perk up at my arrival, but I barely spare them a glance before locking myself in the bathroom and stripping off my clothes before stepping into the scalding shower, determined to remove every memory of that house from my skin.
20
NYX
If I could go back and smack the shit out of the Nyx from a month ago, I would. Because she was a fucking idiot to think she could just mind her own business and keep her head down and everything would be okay like it had been in Lynden.
This place is fuckingnothinglike Lynden.
How would I even begin to explain to her that less than 48 hours ago I let one of the biggest assholes on campus finger fuck me, and then entered into some fugue state where I agreed to a girls day out. With my newfriends. Brynne, who shared a blunt with me last week; Tori, whose persistence on being friendly is borderline disconcerting,andher sister Evie, who witnessed the train wreck of my last session with Brandt and decided to tag along.
One moment I’m walking back to the dorms with Brynne after she found me hiding behind the Planetarium again, and the next Tori’s rushing up to us like we’re old friends, which apparently she and Brynne actually are.
Because ofcoursethey are.
Actually, I’m pretty sure the Nyx from a month ago would want to smack the shit out ofme.
I could have declined the invitation once I came to my senses.
When Tori and Brynne knocked on my door this morning, I could have said, “Hey actually no thanks, I don’t want to go shopping for a masquerade ball I have no intention of attending because everyone hates me and I’m saving my money for when I leave here with nothing but bad memories.”
Fucking hell. I couldn’t have said that.
They don’t seem to notice I’ve disassociated since we sat down at this disgustingly chic café… which I’m just now realizing I haven’t done much since I came here.
Huh.
Nope. Not going to dwell on that today.
