“Bullshit.”
Paloma’s tone was so vehement that every eye in the room snapped to her.
Deryn wanted to think how sexy and hot she looked, all worked up like that, then reconsidered.
“Why bullshit, Ms. Allen… Paloma?” Seren looked around her, and Paloma motioned to the little fridge in the corner. Seren came back with more water and sat cross-legged on the chair.
Bisexuals and their weird-ass sitting.
“I’ll pay you back for that one, Deryn.”
“Before sibling violence increases, I don’t believe for a second this was a random attack.” Paloma gestured to Deryn’s head. “They meant to harm her as much as possible. A temple hit? An inch here or there and she’d be…dead.” Paloma’s voice broke over the last word. She took a deep breath and continued. “And you don’t escalate and then, the very next day, de-escalate your modus operandi. Once violence is unleashed, you use it more often—unless violence was the point all along. Everyonein this freaking town knows Lachlan is staying at the flat over Book Nest and watching the possum and the cat. He has my permission to work the store in the mornings before Judge Astor takes over in the afternoons. Why strike Deryn, but not Lachlan? Especially since they had already tasted blood, so to speak.”
“I mean, I am five ten, and he’s six seven, so the perp might’ve been scared?—”
“You’re also a witch, Deryn Lyn Crowhart, and the perp was not scared of you.”
For a moment, nobody spoke. Nobody even blinked. Then Ceridwen adjusted the flowers in the bouquet farthest from her with a wave of her hand, and Seren’s empty water bottle was immediately filled again. Victoria grimaced but passed an empty to Seren, who in a moment handed it back to her full.
Deryn feared her eyebrows would never return to their correct position, as she had lifted them way too high at the sights around her.
What is happening?
“Not important.” Seren pursed her lips. “What’s important is that I kinda agree with Paloma. Lachlan may be a big so-and-so, but Deryn could have turned whoever it was into a crisp.”
“Ooookay…” Deryn finally raised her hand and saw Paloma smile at the gesture. She lowered it quickly, realizing how ridiculous she must’ve looked. “I will admit to having zero idea you knew all along that I have the gift, but why are we assuming that whoever did this knows too? What am I missing?”
Deryn turned to Victoria, who squinted and focused on Paloma. Seren just took another swig from the bottle. Deryn wondered if Seren would need the bathroom soon.
“No, I’m fine.” Seren grinned. “Thank you for your concern, twin. Paloma, I think I know the answer to Deryn’s question, but could you…?”
Paloma just nodded. “I don’t think there is any kind of mystery behind this string of attacks. I mean, yes, we don’t know who, and we don’t really know the ultimate why. But there is zero reason to believe that someone who has been clearly stalking and causing issues for the entire Crowhart family has no idea what you all are. This level of fixation, from the incidents before the fire at Rhiannon’s to now, and this latest break-in? This whole thing feels fueled by obsession, which I don't believe for one second is unrelated to who you are.”
Paloma took Deryn’s hand again. Seren watched the motion and smirked. Deryn tried lifting an eyebrow at her fool of a twin.
Seren gave her the bird in true sisterly fashion, then turned to Paloma.
“I mean, that was my thought, too. Only Victoria and Crow House have been spared. For whatever reason, and not to jinx it, they’ve decided neither Victoria nor I has what they’re looking for.”
“So how do I fit in all of this?” Deryn asked. Then, before anyone could speak, she took over. “No, no, let me think out loud on purpose this time. If I am picking up what you are all dropping here, the story begins with the former Atelier. So, they started with the arson, which was almost a murder, but let’s say arson first. Purpose? Unknown. Either to destroy something or kill the whole family, since we were all there. Pru running back in wasn’t something anyone could’ve predicted. However, neither was Rhiannon’s return to the world of witches and her acceptance of the power, so who the hell really knows what the purpose was?” Deryn took a deep breath and licked her drying lips. “Now, fast-forward months, and they ransack Ceri’s store. Then the Phthalo Palace—which is what I’m calling it from now on—and then they came here? Only to go back to Rhiannon’s again? Also, I don’t live here, so why come here at all?”
“You’ve been spending a lot of time here. Everyone knows you, loves you and thinks you pretty much belong here. How many people had the two of you being fake girlfriends on their bingo card?” Ceridwen gestured between Paloma and Deryn.
“Fake girlfriends? What?” Victoria was off the bed in an instant, hands flying as she ranted. “I had such hopes! Why are the two of you doing this to me? Fake girlfriends? Oh my Goddess, Deryn Lyn Crowhart, I always knew you’d be the death of me. Out of the four of you!”
“And here I thought it was me. Or maybe Ceri?” Seren smiled and flicked Ceridwen’s hair off her forehead.
“Oh, you two will not escape my wrath. I can’t believe it, fake girlfriends? This means that only Rhiannon is settled. My Goddess, it’s the grave for me because of all of you and your inability to just be smart. Find someone intelligent and hot and tie her down. How hard could it be?”
“Well, depends on the rope. Some can snag, and if she’s moving around?—”
“Oh my god and all the saints, Deryn, you did not just go there!” Paloma’s tone was strict, but Deryn could see the little devils dancing in her eyes.
“Okay, okay, so sexual proclivities of women who are not even girlfriends are not my thing. Can we move on to the one big question that looms over everything?” Seren stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, drawing the heavy curtain open and letting sunshine in.
“Which is?” Deryn grimaced at the unexpected light as it cut across her eyes. Seeing her discomfort, Seren drew the drapes back together immediately.
“The Crow & Cat was not fully open and had basic security. Ceri’s store has a much better system, as does her house. Plus, knowing her, she has laid down as much magical protection as only a witch of her caliber can, and that’s a considerable amount.Am I right?” When Ceridwen nodded, Seren went on. “Now that Rhiannon is back among the practicing, she embraces her gift, so no way Pru’s flat wasn’t safeguarded, even if it was on the lower side of security. I could’ve picked that lock with a safety pin. So, here’s the question. I spoke to Redding, and while he can be cagey, nobody seems to have any idea how the bastard or bastards got into Astronomy. Because while Paloma here is no witch, she is a millionaire, and money can and did, in this instance, buy a lot of top-level security. Cameras, guards, card swipes, probably lasers and bazookas…” When everyone smiled or laughed, Seren sat back down in the chair and lifted her legs, she rested her elbows on her knees. “So, what does that tell us?”
