Page 54 of Nocturn

I studied the raised eyebrows on the woman who had a similar skin-tone to mine.

As if rehearsed, they all curtsied again. “Yes, Lady Drusilla.”

“Lovely. Ensure you get her settled.” She didn’t specify it to anyone. Inclining her head the slightest bit, she turned and retreated the way we’d entered.

The doors shut with a resounding thud. Two guards had arrived at some point during her directions and now stood bracing those same doors.

I did not miss the way they watched Egan with certain interest. His officer’s suit hugged his body firmly.

“Keep them under lock. No one should be in or out without clearance from me,” Egan ordered the two impassive guards bracing the exit.

“Yes, sir,” they both intoned.

The woman who resembled me moved forward, stepping around the middle table where the tea rested.

“Welcome, Lady . . . "

“Miss Amara is fine,” I corrected. This woman knew well that I was no Elite.

Her smile seemed a bit too forced. This woman saw me as an enemy.

“I am Lady Ida.” She emphasized the title.

Oh, she certainly thought little of me. Lovely. I hoped she was not too much of a problem.

“I will escort you all to your wing, so Miss Amara can get situated,” Egan interrupted and waved a hand forward.

Lady Ida’s smile thinned, and she fluttered her lashes at Egan.

“Whatever you say, Officer Egan,” she practically purred. “Is that not right, Lady Branwen?”

Lady Branwen, the darker-complexioned woman’s eyes widened, and she rubbed her palms against the front of her dress.

Lady Ida turned on her slippers and strutted past Egan, keeping hold of his gaze, while Lady Branwen was already down the hall. She was incredibly quick.

I fell into step behind both and the other two women framed me.

“She can be a bit much,” the woman with the blonde hair winced in camaraderie. “I am Vera and this is Hester.” She motioned to the woman on my other side. She was the dark-haired woman who had been in Lord Draven’s arms the first time there was a feeder in his bed.

The lounging area turned into a curving hallway that eventually led to steps. The entire way up, I could see the garden as we ascended until the angle of the bushes no longer allowed it.

“I do not understand why Ida is behaving in such a way. It is not as if we do not know what will be happening to you.”

“A soul-transfer you mean?” I raised an eyebrow.

She winced. “I apologize. That was rather abrupt.”

“Bite your tongue, Vera,” Hester muttered.

“It is not lost on me what my fate will be.” I shrugged.

“It does not bother you?” Hester asked. She seemed especially observant. And much less stern than at our first encounter.

“It is not as if I can do anything to change it,” I said, lying. Hopefully none of them could sense lies. I held my breath, waiting for one of them to accuse me, but they did not. Then their blueblood gift lay elsewhere.

Small blessings.

We reached the top of the stone steps, and I stared through the window facing the garden.