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Spill. I leaned around Cy, hoping this was some juicy information.

Sloane sighed, then chuckled. “I was offered Lucinda’s old position. Thanks to my work under Odie, taking over this last year in her absence, then this… they felt I was the right man for the job since they knew neither of you,” he paused and pointedly looked at Cy and Odie, “would take the position yourselves.”

“Congratulations, Sloane!” Odie beamed from the head of the table as Cy slapped Sloane on the back.

“Looks like we have more to celebrate. Champagne anyone?” Gerard asked, then looked at Ellie who was raising her hand. “Not you.”

The table fell into boisterous laughter, then we were all served champagne to toast all the good that had come despite the horrible things in the mix. Gerard gave a small speech about the future and his hopes that we would come together like this more often with the promise that he now saw the past for what it was, disappointing.

“Looking back, I made many mistakes, but I want that time to end. My family, even though it never appeared this way, is the most important thing to me. I did what I thought was best, but everyone is wrong at times, and I much more than most.” He raised his glass, and we all copied his actions. “To the future, to family, and to learning and changing. Cheers.”

“Cheers!” everyone repeated, and glasses clinked around the room.

The champagne was bubbly but dry, making me scrunch my nose.

“Not your favorite?” Odie asked, leaning in.

No, not at all.

“I’ll drink it if you don’t want—”

“Ellie Lorey!” Gerard admonished with humor in his voice.

Ellie’s shoulders tensed but quickly released. I assumed it had more to do with expecting him to say Ellery and not the loudness of his voice.

Things quickly went back to a normal meal with small conversations happening here and there, except for Oliver who stayed noticeably silent and eyed the three of us periodically. I made sure he saw me catching him a few times. I had no doubt that Odie and Cy noticed as well, but they didn’t make it obvious, at least to me.

By the end, I was stuffed, but my body felt lighter. The joy and laughter in the room brought back some fond memories I had of my family, but I didn’t dwell on the past. I looked toward the future with all of them and the new friends we found along the way. We were going to need a much bigger table.

The plates were cleared, and dessert was brought out. Along with the apple pie and vanilla ice cream that Gerard had picked, we were also given coffee. I chose decaf so I wouldn’t be up all night, but Ellie apparently didn’t have the same issue as she went for the strongest pot available, dousing it with cream and more sugar than I even added.

She caught me watching her but gave a shrug, knowing I wouldn’t stop her. In a few weeks, I’d put my foot down about the poor choices, but it had only been a week, and drinking a large cup of caffeine wasn’t the worst thing she could do.

What time is it? I asked Odie. I had left my phone somewhere. I wasn’t used to having it again and only paid attention to its location when I wasn’t with Cy or Odie.

“A little before eight.”

I smiled and asked, Game night?

Ellie gasped with excitement. “Game night! I can—” She was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

We all paused and looked at the archway that led into the hall as a servant walked by, heading for the door.

“That can’t be good,” Odie said under her breath as she stood up.

No, it definitely wasn’t good. It never was.

Chapter 44

Mine

Anxiety coursed through my veins as we waited. Everyone I knew in this world besides Vaila and Lucinda were in this room. No one else knew about me or my situation. No one had reached out to check on Ellie either. As far as I knew, Odie and Cy had no one else in their lives that would simply pop by.

That left Gerard and Oliver.

My muscles tightened as footsteps came down the hall. First, the maidservant stepped into view, then another well-dressed woman with long black hair and a pinched look to her face walked in.

“Carmilla Vohn is—”