Page 54 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

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For Julian’s birthday, Blaire got him a deck of tarot cards. They’re expensive, from what Lachlan gathers. Hand-painted. He’s only ever seen one kind of tarot deck in his life, and these are clearly a custom design. Each card is illustrated in the style of stained glass, with human figures and occult symbols burning in neon colour against deep black, numbers and titles at the top and bottom.

Jules absolutely adores them.

Lachlan sees him shuffling them often, laying them out at the breakfast table while Blaire patiently explains the meanings to him. Mimi watches with interest. Danya stands guard behind them in the shadows.

Lachlan sees a little family.

He sees how it’ll be when he’s gone, maybe.

It’s funny, though, because lately, any time he so much as thinks about the inevitability of his plan to get them out and take Penhalyx down with him, Jules looks up like he heard it, a line between his eyes, visibly angry in that way of his, fire underwater.

Lachlan knows it’s coming.

His boy will want the truth if he can’t get it from his beautiful cards.

Just two days after Penhalyx leaves, Jules confronts Lachlan.

‘Tell me what happened.’

They’re in Jules’ bedroom.

No kisses, no touching.

Lachlan feels like if they do… he’ll infect him somehow.

Like this sallow loss of self must be contained.

Besides, they can’t anymore.

My son requires a dose of reality.

‘I don’t know. I was drunk.’

Jules’ brow bunches together. ‘You never drink.’

‘Well, I did. I got drunk. I don’t remember it.’

‘Don’t remember what?’

‘It’s done now.’

‘What’s done? Did he stab you again?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘You don’t think so?’ Jules strides into Lachlan’s space, invading it with an entitled degree of confident familiarity. ‘Let me see.’

‘Jules—’

‘Let me see you, all of you.’

‘Stop.’

‘Let me see your body.’ Jules’ voice breaks as he fights to open Lachlan’s shirt. ‘I want to know what he did.’

‘I don’t know.’