Page 8

8

A Little Power of Your Own

Annalise

The sun’s beating down on our heads, my hands are covered in dirt, and I couldn’t be happier. It took Tabitha and Guinevere a while to see the beauty in being out in the garden for hours at a time, but even they seem to have taken a liking to it.

Tabitha stuffs a cluster of weeds into the compost bag, then rears back on her shins. She wipes her brow with the back of her gloved hand, glancing toward the estate.

“It’s been rather lively in there today, hasn’t it?”

I cast a fleeting look toward the house, then focus on the garden again. “It has.”

“They’re preparing for the alpha to receive his award tonight. You wouldn’t think so much went into it with the estate not hosting the event, but there are a lot of moving pieces.”

I don’t engage in the conversation, because I don’t want to talk about Cas at the moment. In my peripheral vision, I catch Tabitha and Guinevere exchanging a look, which usually means Guinevere has just silently scolded Tabitha for having said too much.

“I, um… have you given any further thought to meeting with the Laurel Guild?” Tabatha stammers, clearly aiming to change the subject.

I consider her question, and then shrug. “I can’t say that I have. The idea of cozying up to a bunch of snobs while they gossip and trade recipes sounds like hell, actually.”

She laughs, and I pull my hands from the dirt to glance toward her.

“Do you really think that’s what they’re about?”

I stare at her, but don’t respond.

“They’re quite influential from what I’ve heard,” she adds. “It’s somewhat of an honor that they’ve taken an interest in you.”

I lean forward again, pulling a particularly stubborn weed out by the roots, effectively ignoring Tabatha’s attempt at making me bend on this.

“I don’t mean to pry.” She pauses and reaches for the small shovel beside her. “I only mean to point out that Guinevere and I have noticed how you’ve changed, how you’ve taken a stand on the way things flow here. So, I just thought maybe a little power of your own wouldn’t hurt.”

She falls silent after that, and despite trying to tune her out, I’ve heard her loud and clear.

I zone out again, focusing on the task at hand, still thinking on what Tabatha’s just presented when a shadow approaches, looming over me.

“Have I heard correctly? You’ve declined yet another significant invitation? This time, it was an invitation from the alpha, no less.”

A deep sigh leaves me, and I rear back on my shins, squinting through the sunlight to meet Lady Radcliffe’s gaze.

“To be clear, I haven’t received an invitation from the alpha, but if you’re speaking of tonight’s ceremony, then, the answer is no. I will not be attending.”

I scoot down the row a few feet, tugging more weeds from the ground. Tabatha and Guinevere haven’t said a word, but their discomfort from being interjected into this awkward conversation is palpable.

“Well, perhaps he hasn’t had the chance to invite you, because you’re on some incredibly stupid, childish mission to give him the cold shoulder. Which, by the way, has already become the talk of the entire estate. And soon, I’m certain it will spread across the entire city of New Eden.”

Her words cause my blood to boil. She—a woman who has no doubt personally experienced the disparity between the sexes in our beloved capital—has chosen to take Cas’s side. For no other reason than the title he holds.

Un-fucking-believable.

However, now that I’m aware of how closely Tabatha and Guinevere are monitoring my behavior, I’m careful when I respond to Lady Radcliffe.

“I appreciate you checking in to make sure I’m aware of the upcoming event, but I’ve decided to stay behind,” I say. “There’s a meteor shower tonight, and I intend to watch it from this very spot, so…”

“A meteor sh…” Her words cut off there. I can only guess she’s fuming even more than a moment ago. “Do you have any idea how fortunate you are? The sheer audacity of turning your nose up at an opportunity of this magnitude is sickening! In all my years, I have never crossed paths with someone more ungrateful, someone more unworthy, of the blessing you’ve been given. Shame on you for wasting this gift. And shame on you for not showing the alpha the respect he’s due.”

I’m still on my knees, but I’ve lost sight of my actions. Instead of pulling weeds, I’ve simply gathered fistfuls of dirt in my gloved hands, trying my best to remain calm. But the storm raging inside me is proof that calm is no longer an option.

Lady Radcliffe holds her ground when I rise to my feet, staring her directly in her eyes. I’m still mindful of having Tabatha and Guinevere’s undivided attention, but this is a teachable moment. Not one in which they need to see me being meek and quiet. Lady Radcliffe has crossed a line, and it’s time she realizes that.

“This was the absolute last time,” I say, speaking through gritted teeth, because it’s all the tension in my jaw will allow. “It ends here—the disrespect, the disregard. You’re all out of warnings.”

Her eyes narrow when I step closer, feeling my wolf beginning to rise within me.

“You’ve gotten rather high and mighty, haven’t you?” she shoots back, but I smell her perspiration, see the fear in her eyes.

“What I’ve gotten is sick and tired of your shit,” I hiss. “This is the last time I will ever tolerate being spoken to in this manner. By you. By anyone. So, since news travels so quickly within the estate’s gossip wire, make sure to put the rest of the staff on notice. Let them know that if I’m crossed again, the least they stand to lose is their job.”

She cocks her head back in offense, scanning me with a quick look of disbelief. But the next second, she huffs, then crosses the courtyard. I keep my eyes trained on her until she’s back inside and without another word, I lower back down to my knees, intent on finishing my work. I’ll relax tonight, doing exactly what I shared with Lady Radcliffe.

Watching the meteor shower in peace.

Alone.

Just as I like it.