“Yeah, and he’s actually a super-nice guy, so I highly doubt he sent men to your freaking house to kidnap you.”
“Is he super-nice, though?” she questions. “I know he is on the surface, but deep down?”
“What are you trying to say?” I question. “That Holland is some kind of monster? I’ve been around him since I was a teenager. I think if he were evil, like you say, I’d know it.”
“People have a way of surprising us,” she says. “He came across as nice to me too, for a while. He wanted me to go to an event with him last Friday, and I thought I had the choice, but in reality, he was going to force me to go whether I wanted to or not.”
“Wait…he wanted you to go to the Choosing Mixer?” I laugh. “I highly doubt that. I mean, no offense. But that’s only for…specialwomen.”
“Special women who are of the right bloodline?Blood of the three, right?”
My jaw gapes open. “How do you know about that?”
“Because my mother wasblood of the three. And I am too.”
I narrow my eyes and look her up and down before I can stop myself. “But you’re not, like, rich. I mean, no offense, but it’s pretty clear in your choice of clothing.”
“No, I’m not rich.” She shrugs, completely unfazed by the dig. Her family must have blown all their dowries or something. “And technically, I didn’t even know vampires existed before Rook saved me.” She searches my face. “And Kane saved your life too. Even if you don’t realize that yet. He did.”
“You think Kane saved my life?” I scoff. “Do you even understand how insane that sounds? You’re talking about the man who killed two men in my driveway and dragged me into some cabin in the woods against my will.”
“Yeah, you’re right, but he stopped something worse.”
“There is no worse,” I retort. “He kept me from going to New York. I was supposed to spend time with an elite vampire there.An elite vampire who was probably going to choosemeover all the other women available.”
“The vampire elite are not what you think they are, Blair. My mother and father werekilledby the vampire elite. They’re rich, but they aren’t well-intentioned. Not even close.”
Her words hit like a slap, and I jerk my head back in shock. “Don’t lie about shit like that. It’s not funny.”
“I’m not lying.”
“My mom has prepared me my entire life to be chosen,” I say, my voice sharpening. “She would not do that if they were dangerous. The elite have been in my home since I was a child. They came to my birthday parties. They attended my parents’ yearly Christmas party. I know thempersonally. Just because they have money and power, that doesn’t make them monsters.”
Kylie doesn’t argue. She just watches me, which somehow feels worse.
“I’m one of the lucky ones,” I continue. “You don’t understand how this works. Being chosen is an honor.”
“I understand that’s what they’ve told you, but what if they lied? What if being chosen isn’t what you think it is, Blair?”
I shake my head. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. My father walks inside the inner circle. I’ve been around them my entire life. I know these men.”
“But do you reallyknowthem? Have you been around the women they’ve chosen previously? Do they parade them around and shower them with gifts?”
Her question pushes against something in my head, reminding me of the text conversation I had with Holland before I was supposed to go to New York and how secret and secluded it was all supposed to be. I’ve barely ever seen the men my dad knows with a woman, but it was business. Of course they wouldn’t be there.
“Yes. I do know them.”
She doesn’t press. She holds my gaze.
And suddenly, the cabin feels smaller.
“You know what? I think I’m done with this bullshit,” I say through gritted teeth. “Either help me get out of this ugly cabin,” I say coldly, “or get out of my prison room.”
The words hang between us for a good twenty seconds before Kylie nods once.
“Okay,” she says softly. “I’ll leave you to adapt on your own. But just know, I’m here if you need anything. I could help you if you let me. Believe it or not, I understand.”
After that, she turns and walks out the door. She wants to paint herself as a friend, but I don’t miss the fact that the outside lock clicks back into place after the door is closed.
