I paused in understanding. “What about Gregory?”
“Gregory would never ask such a thing of me. He—” Nora fell silent, looking over my shoulder toward the breakfast room.
My heart beat fiercely against my ribs. I knew what I would see before I even turned.
Collin walked into the room, holding a glass of amber liquid in his left hand. He was dressed in a black suit again, the image of Illum nobility, his midnight hair styled perfectly. His huge frame moved toward me with lethal grace. Power emanated from him, as if he were death incarnate.
“Sister,” Collin greeted. “Mate.” His eyes raked over me.
“Brother,” Nora responded, tipping her head toward him, her brows pinched. “I thought you said you were working late.”
“I was, but—”
“But Phillip is a dirty little snitch,” Nora interrupted.
“Phillip works for the Illum. He was obligated to tell me. You should know better than to change my Mate’s MIND,” Collin told Nora.
“I thought someone should check in onEmeline,” Nora replied, “which I believe I have told you every night.” She took another forkful of cake, smiling sweetly. Masking everything we had been talking about.
“I’d like a word with my Mate,” Collin stated, crossing his arms. “Alone.”
Nora looked at me like she wouldn’t leave unless I was okay, and my chest warmed at her protectiveness. I couldn’t avoid Collin forever. I nodded. She stood, tucking her book under her arm, and grabbed the cake stand and her fork, scrunching her nose at me. “Wouldn’t want this to go to waste. I’m here if you need me, Emeline.”
“And if I want more cake?” I challenged.
“Then you’re out of luck,” Nora remarked. “I’ll bully them into a weekly informal tea for us. No one should be alone. Good night.”
“Good night, Nora. Thank you for everything,” I told her, and meant it. She waltzed from the room, her tiny frame carrying the massive cake a sight.
“She’s always eaten desserts like that. I tell her she’s lucky she’s Elite, and our supplements make it so it doesn’t affect her,” Collin commented.
“Lucky, hmm?” I said mildly. I didn’t know if you could call it lucky after all the things Nora told me she had suffered as an Elite.
His eyes pierced straight to my core, as if piecing together what Nora and I might have discussed. He didn’t press further, though, and instead looked to Nora’s vacant seat before seemingly thinking better of it, perching on the edge of the table instead.
“She is right, though.” Collin stared into his glass of amber liquid. “I should have reached out. I should have checked in on you before now. I thought . . . given what you expressed the last time we were together, that perhaps you would want your space from me. Then I got the report that your levels are optimal.” Collin took a long drink. “I assumed that meant I had made the right choice. However, we do need to maintain our public appearances. The Press and Elite want to see you more. See who you are to me, to the Illum.”
“I think the Elite know what I am,” I said deliberately. He raised a brow at me. “They bowed to me after you told them I sent the man to his death.”
“Tabitha wanted to send the right message.”
“The right message,” I echoed incredulously, my anger clawing its way up my throat. “That what? I am subservient to you and the Illum?”
“Everyone below the Illum is subservient to them, including the Elite,” Collin shot back. “Well, everyone except you.” He stood, and I ground my teeth as my anger engulfed me. He shrugged off his jacket, tossing it aside as he slowly made his way to a bottle of brown liquid that sat on his bookshelf. He poured another glass, his back to me as he continued. “I got another report about you.”
Dread roared through me, my heart twisting viciously in my chest. Willing myself to calm, I grabbed my glass of bubbles and took a sip. Collin remained silent as he took a drink.
“I did tell you, very little happens in this city that I am not aware of.” His voice was pleasant, but terror pulsed through my veins. “I told you when it comes to you, I am aware of everything.”
“What report did you receive?” It was more breathless than I intended it to be.
“You took a run to the river the morning after the meeting,” he stated, a dangerous edge to his voice. “You stayed there for some time before returning to your living quarters.”
“The dinner was unsettling,” I retorted, clutching my glass to prevent it from shaking, from giving me away.
Collin turned slowly, finally looking at me. I couldn’t read his face. “Your heart rate was elevated several times.Afteryou stopped running.”
I worked to swallow, the feel of Hal’s lips on mine swarming me. Had my MIND registered that? Or was it from me hurtling myself off the edge? How much did those cuffs scramble?
