Page 9 of Godless Saints

The Writ gave me every excuse I needed. Sawyer thought he’d handed me a knife. Cute. Practical. Thorn needed Favor. Aleksei needed the seat weakened. The Writ gave me both.

And the only person I wanted under it was the same one I already planned to keep. I’d use every inch of it until there was nowhere left for him to run that wasn’t already mine.

CHAPTER 3

MOON

Vivienne was speaking across the table about… something. She swept her long blonde hair over one shoulder, cool blue eyes narrowing when she realized I wasn’t listening. Black lace sat at her shoulders; gold rings caught the light every time she moved her hand. She looked effortless. The other girls at the table suddenly seemed as if they were trying too hard.

Crystal glasses caught the low chandelier light. The air smelled of roasted meat and expensive perfume.

My head was still looping the cathedral. Why didn’t I tell him to go away?

I reached for my champagne and drank it down. The bubbles turned sour on my tongue. The plate in front of me stayed untouched; the smell of rich food twisted my stomach.

Father’s opening week brief was due by six a.m. Favor trajectory, Black Chalice positioning, Patronage Seat viability, Aster donor alignment, projected liabilities. Every risk filed neatly before breakfast.

One photo of Cillian’s hand in my hair and I already heard it. Father’s cold, disappointed voice:

Don’t embarrass me.

“Hyun. Are you listening to a word I’m saying?” She snapped her fingers at me.

“I am.”

A waiter passed. I took another glass. My fingers tightened until the stem threatened to snap.

Vivienne’s hand closed over mine and removed it. “Put it down.”

Without looking at her, I reached for Sawyer’s untouched flute beside his empty seat and drank from that instead. The champagne slid down too easily.

“You have not touched your food.”

“Not hungry.”

“Is this about your father?”

“Don’t mention my father tonight.” The words came sharper than intended. My collar was suddenly too tight. One false accusation and it would reach House of Moon by morning.

Vivienne leaned back, one brow arched in that unimpressed way that meant she believed nothing. “Fine.”

What if someone already knew about Saint Lucia?

“He’s with the rest of Thorn, Hyun.”

“Who?”

She gave me the look. “Don’t insult me.”

“I’m not interested.”

“You haven’t looked once.”

“Because I’m not stupid,” I said. “He already pulled that stunt at initiation. I don’t need scandals on day one.”

Vivienne hummed. I hated that sound. It always carried judgment.

“He’s looking this way.”