I snort. “Don’t remind me of that. I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me.”
“He will if he gets what he’s looking for.”
I pinch my eyebrows together. “And do you know what that is, because I’ll help him look if it’ll help my case.”
“I think he’s looking for the love of his life.”
I jerk back. “How did you get to that conclusion?”
She shrugs. “Just a hunch.”
Since there’s no longer a need to keep things from Sophie, I don’t see the harm in telling her about Lucca’s necklace. “Do you remember when I said the feather wasn’t the first feminine accessory Larsson was keen to get his hands on?”
“Yeah.”
“He was obsessed with stealing Lucca’s necklace, which used to belong to his mother.”
Sophie’s eyes widen. “Do you think Larsson was in love with a vampire?”
“If your theory is correct, then yeah. But she died many years ago.”
“Oh, then maybe I was wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought Larsson was collecting all those specific items so he could perform a location spell. But if she’s dead, that would be impossible.”
“Very much so, unless he wants to date a ghost.” I shiver.
“I’m done with ghosts for the rest of my life.”
“Same, babe. Same.”
Fifty-Five
SOPHIE
A WEEK LATER
Dean Davenport, the leader of the Red Guard, asked me if I wanted to see my father before his death sentence was carried out. I refused for two reasons. One, his mental state had deteriorated so much, the chances were he wouldn’t recognize me. Two, I was protecting my peace of mind. Seeing him would only hurt me. I still haven’t forgotten everything he’s done to me, and I’m not only talking about the events of last week.
I lived in a gilded cage my entire life, and I didn’t know any better to question it. I believed the lie that he was protecting me, but the biggest threat was never King Raphael or his followers. The danger was much closer to home. It took meeting Vaughn and learning about Lucca’s family to understand that everything I was taught had been a deception.
I decided to keep my apartment downtown until I can find a bigger place for Tish and me. As much as I love Vaughn, I’m not ready to move in with him yet, especially not while he’s living in Lucca’s mansion. Lucca’s inner circle is intense, and I like my privacy.
Vaughn woke up before I did, and when I find him in the living room, he’s staring at his phone with his brows pinched together.
“What’s wrong?”
He looks up, and I see the anguish swirling in his green eyes. “My sister thinks I should come clean to our mom about my new situation.”
I sit next to him, folding my legs under me. “But you don’t think you’re ready?”
He shakes his head. “Not in the least. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready. I’m terrified she’ll see me differently, that she won’t accept me.”
My heart feels heavy, breaking for him. Empathy wasn’t something I’d ever felt before. But Vaughn fixed what was broken in me, and now I’m susceptible to every emotion. I cover his hand with mine, squeezing it. “I seriously doubt that. From what you told me, she sounds lovely.”
He looks at me with pleading eyes. “Will you come with me?”
