Page 62

“This way.” I grabbed Vivienne’s hand and dragged her with me.

The Daughters of the Order shared a different kind of loyalty. One etched with blood, cruelty and secrets so dark they were terrifying. There was a savagery. One that drove a woman to bleed, fight and protect. The kind of love that never died.

I pulled her with me into the sitting room. Coffee, tea, plates of cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies waited.

“Tell me everything.” Vivienne demanded taking a seat.

Heat rose into my cheeks as I poured coffee. I knew just how she liked it. White. No sugar. I handed her the cup and glanced toward Guild.

“None for me, thank you. But I’ll take one of those cupcakes.”

“Really?” Vivienne chided.

He gave a shrug, taking not one but two from the plate I held toward him.

“It’s nice here. Quiet.” I answered carefully.

“Looks cold.” She muttered. “Too isolated. I didn’t like how it went down.”

Tea waited for me. I poured a cup, added sugar and milk, then stirred. A pear waited. Cut thick this time. A soft part, a tinge of brown. Not like it was at breakfast. Still, I grabbed a piece and turned.

Vivienne was waiting. “You want out? Say the word and I’ll take you from this place in a heartbeat.”

I lifted the cup to my lips.

You wanted this right?

Here is your chance.

One word.

One nod.

I swallowed the tea, breathed. “No. I don’t want out.”

“Really? Has he hurt you?”

I jerked my head up. “Hurt me? No. He’s not… like that.”

“Coulda fooled me.” She muttered and drank.

I clenched my jaw, biting hard into the pear. “Is that why you came, to see if I was being beaten?”

She flinched with my hard tone. “No, not really.” She glanced around again, like she was searching. “This place have security?”

The thud of locks.

The hum behind the walls.

The way this place felt guarded.

This house is old… and can be dangerous. Alaric’s warning filled me.

“Yes.” I answered.

“Good.” She drank.

“Why are you asking?”