“Oh, but I’ve been ready since the beginning. Or willing, at least. I’m just glad that this time, I don’t have to be afraid.”
My smile wavered, but she was right. This wedding was a definitive upgrade from the last one, seeing as how it didn’t involve me having to murder anybody.
She dropped her eyes and smoothed the white lace over her lap. “I do wish my mother were here, though.”
“Your mother? As in...Zephyrine?”
“No. Mymother. I wish... Well, I know this wedding doesn’t actually mean anything. But I wish she could’ve seen it, anyway. It would’ve brought her joy.”
My chest ached, and I gave her bony shoulders a squeeze. “I wish that, too. But...do you want the diary, maybe? You could read her letter again. Before we go downstairs.”
Her smile returned. “I’d like that.”
“Then I’ll go get it. It’s in my room.”
I moved to the door. When I opened it, there stood Olivian, his fist raised to knock. He turned his nose up and sniffed, as if my very existence offended his sensibilities. “Did you sign the annulment?”
I ironed out the sneer already taking shape on my face. “Of course. It’s there on the bed.”
“Good. Then find somewhere else to be for a minute. I need a moment with my daughter.”
I flashed him a cold smile and slipped past.
In my room, the bathroom door was closed. Most likely, Kai had already inhaled his morning allotment of bacon and returned to put on his wedding attire. I approached the closed door, regretting my caustic words from earlier.
I’d simply have to explain that we had no future. That my future had been decided the moment I’d met Amryssa.
I lifted my hand to knock, but a sound stayed my hand. Paper rustled behind me, like a page being flipped.
I turned. “I thought you were in?—”
My words died on my tongue. Because there was Vick, sitting on my bed, casual as can be. And he was reading the Lady Marche’s diary.
29.
Cold hit the back of my neck like an icy hand.
Vick smiled, as foxlike as ever. “Well, well. Isn’t this interesting? It turns out I was right about this house having secrets.”
When his eyes dropped to my belt, my heartbeat skipped. My hand found my dagger, as if I could shield it from the cut of those green eyes.
“You know,” he said, “magic like that would be useful in the swamp. Indispensable, even. What could I achieve, with Zephyrine at my disposal? How many people could I help?”
I shuddered. He sounded...hungry.
“This knife’s mine,” I said.
“Not for much longer.” Vick swung his legs off the bed and stood.
But his bearing wobbled. Clearly, the magic I’d zapped into him yesterday hadn’t left himentirelyunaffected.
Behind me, the bathroom door opened, and Kai appeared in my peripheral, clad in white. He inhaled sharply. “Vick.”
“Kai.” Vick’s tone was cold.
“Why’re you here? What do you want?”
Vick laughed. “Want? To leave this horrible house, mostly. But to do it with your girlfriend’s dagger.Andthis book. Imagine what everyone will think when I come back with these.”
