“Think he’ll show?” I ask.
“If he doesn’t, I’ll hunt him down and get answers.” Evan’s scowl is heavy as he looks around the room. There aren’t many places to hide things, but we check the rest of his room anyway, even the bathroom, before coming up empty-handed and heading down to the main ballroom.
“You think an hour was enough time for everyone to get here?” I muse. Considering it’s Saturday, many of the teachers and other staff go into town to hit the local bar.
“It better be,” Evan grumbles.
Some of the staff members are already gathered on the main level waiting for the meeting, which doesn’t really surprise me. I’m sure everyone wants to know what the hell is going on, since we’ve never called a meeting like this.
I draw some attention as we make our way through the hallway toward the double doors of the main ballroom. This place is only used a few times a year. I let the staff hold dances and holiday parties for the kids, but I haven’t passed the threshold in dozens of years.
While the west ballroom was my father’s play place, this one was my mother’s. She held countless parties here, all lavish and over the top. If a human staff member disappeared every so often, everyone looked the other way. It all felt more devious than my father’s blood parties. At least people signed up for what happened to them in those, even if they were too foolish to understand the consequences of their actions. This room was sheltered under the guise of civility and noble blood.
Evan’s footsteps echo on the parquet flooring. The vast space is empty except for the tall columns dappled around the chamber holding the airy ceiling aloft. I’d hidden behind one such pillar and witnessed my mother ravaging the neck of a simple human girl who had the nerve to be too pretty and draw too much attention from one of the many men she was entertaining at the time.
Another servant whisked the girl’s corpse away directly after, while my mother blotted her painted red lips with a handkerchief as if she’d just daintily eaten a slice of fruit. The girl’s family was sent away and compensated with riches that meant next to nothing compared to our wealth.
I haven’t thought of these things in ages, so why am I getting so many reminders all of a sudden?Quinn.Her name filters through my thoughts, and I know she’s the answer. I was content to go on existing before her, but she has irrevocably changed me. Made me remember I wasn’t always an unfeeling bastard who ignored almost everyone around him.
Evan closes the door behind us and prowls across the room, only stopping when he reaches the middle. “Are we going to confront him in front of everyone, or was this just to weed him out?” He crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for my answer.
I’m tempted to take a page from my parents’ book and make a show of his betrayal, but I still have too many questions that need answers, so I can’t make an example of him just yet. “No more secrets. We will allow everyone to see that we know what he’s been doing and make it clear that Rand will tell us about anyone else who may have been involved in his scheme.”
Evan nods slowly. “How deep do you think this goes? Do you think Quinn is safe here?”
“We won’t know that until we know where the money came from and what his ultimate plan was.” Knowing my singer may not be safe in my own home sets my beast on edge. When I said I would shut down this school and erase everyone’s presence, I wasn’t joking. I can erect another school, another dorm somewhere else, but I will not give up my home. I could have leveled this place after I ended my father’s reign, but I chose to stay, to claim Havenfall Manor as mine, and I will not allow anyone to threaten that, even though I know it’s the last thing Quinn would want.
“I…” Evan starts and then pauses. “I can’t believe this happened. On my watch.” His lips thin. “When did I become so complacent?”
“No need to absorb all the blame, brother. In case you didn’t notice, I’ve been somewhat distracted as well.” I know Evan takes this more personally than I do. He’s the one who hired Rand and put him in his position. Trusted him. “Tell me about him. How long has he been here, and when did he become a floor leader?” This serves two purposes. One, so I can help Evan see he’s not solely to blame, and two, so I can learn about the usurper who thought to undermine me.
“He’s been here at least five years. I’d need his file for more exact dates. His clan was annihilated by the Cyra.”
The slight reminder is all it takes to trigger my memory. The Cyra had not been in the United States long, and they thought taking out a few smaller clans would be a good way to build a name for themselves. Unfortunately, they were able to eradicate at least three clans that we know of before they met with their own demise.
“How did Rand escape?”
Evan’s eyes pinch at my question as if he’s thinking. “I just know he wasn’t there when it happened. He never shared the details, and I never asked when he came to us for a job. At the time, I felt like he was searching for a place he could belong and feel useful.”
Unfortunately, his story isn’t unique. The supernatural world is cruel for the most part and brutal at the worst.
“Let’s open the doors and allow them to enter,” I tell Evan. There’s no point in guessing why Rand did what he did, we may as well just go to the source. Evan unfolds his arms and steps forward, but I hold up my hand. “I’ve got it.”
The murmur of voices stops when I throw open both doors. Every eye is on me and the vacant room behind me. I step back, indicating they may enter, but hold my place in the center so they will have to walk around me to gain entrance. Many of the faces are familiar, yet I know very few of them by name or otherwise.
It takes a long moment before anyone accepts my invitation, but once one brave soul does, the others are soon to follow. I scan the crowd for Rand. I know his face, which is true for most of the security team. I often train with them, or Evan as it were.
Eventually, he ambles in with a small group of others. His face is relaxed, but the tension in his body tells another story. At least he didn’t run. That would have been an inconvenience. I keep my place so as not to alert him that I was awaiting his arrival.
Seconds later, a disheveled Quinn rounds the entrance. I blame the fact that I was so focused on everyone else that I didn’t even realize she was near. Evan stomps over to my side, proving he was more aware. “What are you doing here?” My voice is tight, which isn’t my intent.
“I got a text.” She looks between Evan and me. Her face is flushed, her hair is a little damp, and she’s wearing my shirt without a bra. This woman drives me to distraction.
My mind is already working on how to get her back up to the room safely. My cock thinks I should leave everyone here and take her myself—in so many ways—but my more pragmatic half says just to lock her in a room somewhere until this is done. She wouldn’t like that, but Quinn’s soft heart doesn’t belong anywhere near this place at the moment. Not that I plan on torturing Rand in front of everyone—well, it’s doubtful anyway. I’ll get more answers out of him alone.
“Is something wrong?” she asks when neither of us speak.
“Other than the fact you’re here?” The words slip out without thought. Quinn’s face goes from rosy pink to red in an instant.
