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The way we stared at each other made me think of the first night we met, only now it all felt so distant.

“Bella?” he asked again, this time dropping his work probe and giving me his full attention. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“You had the painting all along, Arkane,” I said in a voice I didn’t recognize.

One look at his face, and I just knew that whatever he was going to say, I wasn’t going to like it.

“Bella,” he started in a soft tone, but I raised a shaky hand.

“Tell me the truth, Arkane,” I whispered. “Please,” I added in a somber tone.

He sighed. “As soon as I took over,” he admitted slowly. “The first thing I did was bring home the Sanctum Sollus.”

“But why lie?” I questioned, but he said nothing.

Trepidation flared up in my chest at the way his expression changed. It was a lost emotion for me. I didn’t know when the last time I feared anything, but right here, right now, I feared the words that would come out of this mouth. I admired Arkane for being a master strategist, for playing everyone like a fool, but somehow, I had a feeling all along I might’ve been on the receiving end of it.

“What’s all this really about, Arkane?” I whispered.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “You weren’t supposed to find that painting,” he muttered.

“But I did,” I said, desperately hiding the tremble in my voice. “Now tell me the real reason I’m here, Arkane.” I certainly wasn’t leaving until he told me everything.

For a second, he didn’t move or speak, and then slowly he lifted himself from his chair, his eyes fixed on mine as he made his way over to me. “Do you really want to know, Bella?” he asked, stopping just a foot away from me. “I would tell you everything if you want.” Something softened in his eyes as he spoke.

That softness held me captive for a second, melting my heart all over again, but I reminded myself to trust the truth staring right at my face.

“Yes, Arkane,” I replied, trying hard to maintain a calm tone. “I want to know everything.”

“What I told you about the Sanctum Sollus was true,” Arkane said. “The Covent did take it thirty years ago, and Kenny did find a way to decode the painting thirteen years ago. He threatened that if we tried to end the Covent or him, the codes would be out in the world. My father thought he had no choice and agreed. He gave them control over the business in the Lowers, and in return, they would keep the Sanctum Sollus and the codes a secret. I told my father time and time again that we shouldn’t trust Kenny, but he dismissed me as too young to know better,” Arkane gritted out. “For years, I waited. I knew the second I took over, I would do what my father didn’t and put an end to the Covent… no, the White Hand, once and for all.”

I frowned at the anger in his tone. But there was something else, too, an unrestrained agony. The kind you hide inside yourself for years. “Why are you so angry with the White Hand, Arkane?” My tone softened despite his lies.

Arkane’s eyes met mine. “They shot my mother right in front of my eyes, Bella. I could do nothing but watch. She’s been rotting in a bed for thirteen fucking years.”

My eyes widened. What did he just say? Thirteen years ago? “What about September thirteenth, then?” I whispered.

He shook his head, looking away. Except for the slight glaze in his eyes, his face was a complete mask. But he couldn’t fool me. I could feel his pain in every inch of me.

“There was never an attack on September thirteenth,” he mumbled, bringing his eyes back to me. “I set the whole thing up for you.”

“For me?” I breathed weakly. No wonder there weren’t any recent pictures of Victor and Cassandra Stormhold in the Twins Daily. The family had been keeping this a secret for years.

“Yes,” he confirmed without flinching. “I wanted a reason to bring you into my world.”

And at that instant, suddenly, everything started to make sense, like reels of a film falling perfectly into place. I didn’t want it to be true, but it was staring right at my face. He was staring right at my face.

“You set up Alan Dumfred,” I whispered.

“Yes.”

The flare in my chest tightened at the look in his eyes. He knew. He knew all along about Heath Glen’s existence, not just him but all five of them. He knew what they did to my family, and instead of doing what was right, he used that for his own gain.

For the first time in my life, I felt utterly betrayed. No, I let myself be utterly betrayed by this beautiful man. I had no one to blame but myself.

“You knew?” I accused, not being able to hide the pain in my voice.

“No,” he said quickly, taking a step forward. “I only knew Heath Glen sent five men to your house that night, but I didn’t know who they were. Except for Harvey Walters, which is why I used him as an opening to get to you.” His eyes asked me to believe him, but I don’t know if I can do that anymore.