Page 462 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

His heartbreak is wrapped in quiet devastation.

‘I really did love you,’ he tells her.

Blaire doesn’t react except to say, ‘I know.’

Vasily turns away. ‘I am done, I think.’

Riley feels a wild urge to put a hand on his shoulder, to offer some kind of solidarity or at least basic comfort, but of course he doesn’t. He would only ever do that with Kade.

‘I’ll be out soon.’

Vasily leaves.

Riley sighs.

‘Do what you must, nephew,’ Blaire says.

‘Oh, I’m your nephew now, am I?’

‘You always were.’

‘I suppose, in retrospect, I should be grateful I wasn’t your focus,’ he says, too tired for anything else, too drained and sad and alone. ‘I have no interest in making you pay, but I can’t say the same for Lachlan.’

‘I did not expect him to survive his ritual,’ she admits. ‘If I may ask, what is he now? What did he become?’

‘You may not ask,’ Riley tells her. ‘He’s not your business—’

The word dies in his throat as Blaire’s right cheek bursts open with blood, splitting into three neat lines. She gasps, eyes closing as blood pours down her face.

Nothing touched her.

Riley has to shake himself, forcing his mind into action.

‘Céliane.’

✴

At the bottom of the stairs, a wide circle surrounds Lachlan and Céliane as they stand opposite one another, her hand pressed to her cheek, blood pouring through her fingers. Around Lachlan, Céliane’s team keep their weapons trained on him.

Riley walks a little quicker down the stairs.

‘Bodyguard,’ he calls out sharply. ‘Back off.’

Lachlan raises his hand. The middle three talons are stained red.

‘I’m done,’ he says simply.

Céliane looks towards Riley, her expression subtly thunderous.

‘I have missed much, it seems.’

‘Let’s talk in here. Everyone else, focus on your tasks, please.’ They head towards the destroyed training area, Lachlan following. ‘Do you know about—’

‘Yes,’ she cuts in, saving him from having to say it. ‘I was told.’

‘Did you have problems getting away?’

‘Significant, but nothing my girls and I couldn’t neutralise.’ Céliane reaches out to touch him, but Riley steps away. Her gaze moves to his neck, though she makes no comment on it for now. ‘I had no idea what my sister was planning to do.’