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“Jesus Christ!” Lavinia shouts. “What did I just say?”

“You said treat her like family.” Kathleen shrugs. “And in this family, we ask a lot of questions about cock.”

“She’s right,” I agree, unwinding a little. “They really do.”

“And our girl, Verity–the last virgin in West End–finally popped her cherry.” I can’t tell if Jaden’s wicked grin is good-natured or cruel. “It would be rude not to ask.“

Lavinia sighs, eyes rolling heavenward. “Fair, but not now. Mama is about to pitch a fit that no one’s helping. Get your asses out there and set those tables up. You can interrogate Verity about her bouquet of cocks after dinner.”

As they file out, it’s obvious not everyone is on board with Lavinia’s little speech. I’m not surprised. It took months for them to accept her as their Duchess, and even then, it wasn’t easy. She had to fight tooth and nail–literally–before she proved herself. Lavinia grabs my arm once they’ve all gone and spins me toward her.

“Thank god you’re okay.” She throws her arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug. “Wait,” she releases me, and looks me in the eye, “you are okay, aren’t you?”

I’ve been so busy surviving the last week that I haven’t thought much about Lavinia’s early days with the Dukes, but from the dread in her eyes, she endured… something. Was it as bad for her as it was for me? Part of me thinks it couldn’t have been. Remy and Sy–they were always good to me.

But I know now that the men of Forsyth aren’t always what they seem on the outside.

We’re both quiet for a moment, but I ultimately answer, “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?” Her gray eyes assess me carefully. “Because I can—”

She can’t do anything, and we both know it. I offer her a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s all just an adjustment, you know?”

A shadow passes over her features. “Yeah, I know a thing or two about that.”

I glance at the door, knowing Danner is on the other side, waiting and watching. “We only have a few minutes, but here’s what I can tell you.” Taking a breath, I start with the ceremony. I tell Lavinia about the throning–about the covenants–about having the illusion of a choice, but it being a lie.

The more I say, however, the darker that shadow in her eyes gets. The paler her cheeks become. I quickly suspect Lavinia doesn’t have the stomach to hear it all, and since I’d rather not waste my time here dressing up the last five days of abuse into something more pretty, I switch gears.

“But that’s not important,” I say before Lavinia can put voice to the horror in her expression. “What’s important is that the Princes are nervous–like, seriously not happy about the appointment whatsoever.”

Her head snaps back in surprise. “They’re not?”

I pitch closer, darting a glance at the door. “Wicker was furious, going on about his father ruining his life. Pace is paranoid, like all the time, and as far as I can tell seems to think this is his father’s revenge for him being in jail. And Lex… he might have it worst of all. From what I can tell, he’s totally Ashby’s beast of burden. Overscheduled, overworked. He barely seems stable.”

None of them do.

Lavinia absorbs this information pensively. “I know they picked up Bruce from the Hideaway. Have they said anything about that?”

Shaking my head, I confess, “Wicker just asked me some questions about why he got kicked out.” Wringing my hands, I add, “I told him.”

She snorts, nudging my shoulder. “Bruce being a shithead is no secret, Ver. Anything else?”

I think about it, trying to clear my mind on everything that’s happened over the past few days. I’m tired. I’ve had too little sleep on too much vigilance, always looking over my shoulder to find out who and what’s coming next.

There is one thing that stands out in my mind, though.

“Pace has an elaborate security system set up. He watches all of Ashby’s properties and assets. When I was in his room, he had the Gentlemen’s Chamber pulled up.”

Her brows knit together. “The strip club?”

“Yes. Ashby was there, and—” I pause to lower my voice. “He was meeting with Remy’s dad.”

Her eyebrow raises. “Oh, really?”

“Pace seemed curious about the meeting too,” I note. “Anything I’m missing?”

Sighing, she shakes her head. “No, but when two—” she pauses, “richpeople meet up, it’s good to know.”