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“Not in the mood to bite today?” Davina asked, her voice almost bitter.

“She shouldn’t be,” Catalina said. “A mutt should know its place.”

“Don’t call me that,” I muttered through gritted teeth. It wasn’t the first time she used that stupid word on me. But it definitely was the first time it ignited my blood with a crackling rush.

The term was used to degrade half-humans. To classify us as nothing more than guinea pigs.

And right now, it hit home harder than usual.

“Ah! There’s that gleam we all favor!” Noah tilted his head, and a light smirk slipped through his red-stained lips. My hands tightened into fists on my sides, sharpened tips clawing through my skin.

Tristan breezed into the dining room before I could spout all the profanities that came to mind.

“Pardon my intrusion,” he said as he raised from his bow.

“What do you require, Mr. Amelle?” Christopher asked, his blank expression suddenly soothing.

“We require Ms. Eli’s presence, sir. It’s time for the routine search across the grounds.”

“One day won’t do no harm,” Davina said, her eyes steady on mine.

Tristan pressed his lips together. “I’m afraid that the request is coming from the Senior Guardian. I’m only the transmitter, Ms. Ambrogio.”

“Oh, no fun!” Noah chimed. “It was just growing interesting.”

Christopher nodded, Tristan swift as he exited while I forced myself to follow behind him. He steered away from the dining room, through the kitchen, into the living room, and up the side stairs.

The more I explored the house, the more it became a labyrinth of doors and stairs. It was as if they sprouted from thin air every time I thought I had mapped out the mansion to a T.

Tristan turned to a door across from mine and pulled me inside. I froze in place as I turned my head. Holy shit. This room was huge.

A second floor loomed over the first, with high ceilings held up by pillars at the ends of the room by the staircases. It was the opposite of mine; while mine was cluttered and small, this one was quadruple the size, with a large piano, long chaises, and bookshelves.

Not fair that I didn’t get a loft.

“Whose room is this?”

“Alek’s,” Tristan stated as he climbed the stairs; beneath each one, a door that probably led to more rooms and stairs. I followed him, but my body craved to dart to my room. Something wasn’t right— me.

The second floor had two large dressers on both ends, and in the middle, an enormous bed put the one my cousin and I used to share in shame. In front of it were two armchairs with a table between them, sitting near the railing that overlooked the first floor. They matched the bed’s comforters and pillows with a deep violet fabric and paired nicely with the dark walnut Victorian-style furniture.

“These aren’t the grounds.” It was supposed to be a joke. But it sure didn’t come out that way.

“All guardians are on duty due to the Ambrogio’s visit. There’s no place to speak privately besides here.”

“There’s my room,” I said without a second thought. I really wanted my fucking bed.

He grinned. “Sure, but your room isn’t as secure as Alek’s nor as big.”

“What do you mean secured?”

“Well, while it is soundproofed like the rest of the rooms, it isn’t as insulated,” he said as he unbuttoned his jacket and rested on the cushion. “Anyone can barge into your room without permission.”

“No one’s done that.”

“Yes, but you’re still under the Sephtis’ roof. Even if they ignore a private guardian’s presence, we can’t risk anything with visitors.”

Tristan cleared his throat and motioned to the empty chair. After a fight with myself —which didn’t last long— I sat down. My muscles were throbbing. I’d be an idiot if I didn’t rest. It also helped the clawing burn in my throat.