Page 80 of On Edge

Eight for the wolf who loves to lie,

Nine for the ghosts who walk at night,

Ten for the heir who claims his right.

But there’s only one swan on the dock. As Troy watches the bird, arching its wings and neck, seeming larger and more intimidating, there are a few minutes of painful silence, and then it flaps into the lake and swims away. He sighs and looks at me. I can’t see his expression clearly. It’s too dark for that.

“I like swans. Do you know why?”

I shake my head, icy wind caressing up my spine under his jacket.

“They never lie. If they don’t like you, you’ll know about it. I hate liars with a damn passion. And I hate being manipulated even more.”

“I d-don’t understand.” My teeth chatter.Okay, now I’m frozen to the bone.

The moon must have passed a cloud because his face is all of a sudden visible, his eyes locked on mine. The intensity in them makes me want to crawl under a rock. “Have you really forgotten, or are you just playing games?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He cocks his head. “Really? Because this is really getting old.”

I purse my lips.He knows I’m here to kill him.

“You truly are a piece of work.” Then he turns away in disgust, looking to the dock. His green eyes are still full ofintense loathing, like he’s hated me for a long time, not just a few days.

If he hates my family that much, why did he agree to marry me? It doesn’t make sense.

When his gaze spears me again, he’s reaching into his pocket, and I know what he’s going to pull out. The vial. He’s going to do it here.

He’s going to kill me.

It’s so cold now that I can’t feel my legs, but I stand up anyway. The dock is so close….

“Wait—!” He reaches towards me, the boat rocks, making my nerves jar and my body rigid. I let out a cry, grabbing one side of the boat with both hands.

Troy stops moving. “Are you trying to tip the boat over?”

“No. I can’t swim!” My breath has quickened, making my lungs feel like they might burst. I stare at the black water all around us, as though it might rear up and drag me under.

His eyes narrow. “Of course you can bloody swim.” He leans toward me again.“Come here. I’ll?—”

“No, I can’t. Stop it!” I white knuckle the edge of the boat as much as my numb fingers will let me. My fear of drowning worsened when Nell died, and the dreams started, but I didn’t know just how bad until now. I guess I haven’t been in a situation where I’mthisclose to falling in the water.

Troy lets out a sharp laugh. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding.”

Why is he finding this amusing?

Because he’s a monster, though you keep forgetting, dear Sis.

“Please, can we get on the island now?”

“You’re taking it this far, really?”

“I just want to get off this dinghy!”

“It’s a skiff. And what do you think I’m trying to do?”

I look at him in wild panic. I don’t know what he’s trying to do.