Page 38 of Rule the Night

“Not unless you count the gun she registered a little over a year ago,” I said.

“Should we take it while she’s here?” Remy asked.

I leaned back in my chair, thought about it. Maeve Haver would put up a fight if we tried to take her gun — she’d proven that at the Hunt — but that wasn’t reason enough not to take it.

She was in our kingdom now. She would do what we ordered her to do.

But letting her keep the gun would be more interesting, and despite every instinct, I couldn’t help being interested in the dark-haired girl who’d tried to bring a gun into the Hunt.

What was her story? How did a normie like her end up at the Hunt? And if her sister’s murderer was doing a twenty-year stint in the clink, who did she want dead?

24

MAEVE

I wokeup to pale blue light leaking in from a crack in the curtains I’d closed before crashing into bed the night before. The house was quiet as a mausoleum, the bed huge and a little firm, just the way I liked it.

I stretched with a sigh before sinking back into the mattress. I wasn’t a design aficionado, but the loft was nice. Definitely a little sterile, but sterile like a house featured inArchitectural Digest,not like a hospital ward. There were no knickknacks, no mementos, but the sheets were crisp and smooth, the towels I’d used after my shower thick, heated on an electric warmer disguised as a towel rack.

I reached for my phone and checked the time: 6:03 a.m. It was early for me, but I’d been asleep for twelve hours. I had a vague memory of Remy knocking on the bedroom door, handing me a tray of food. Half-asleep, I’d wolfed down the wrap and broth, guzzled the bottle of water, and fallen back into bed.

I had one text from Bailey, acknowledging the pin I’d dropped for her with my location, and one from my dad.

Made the apricot galette tonight. Come by for a piece?

My dad’s apricot galette was heaven on a plate: light, buttery pastry filled with juicy peaches.

I hesitated. I didn’t know what my new life was going to look like.

Busy at work this week. Save me a piece in the freezer?

Three dots appeared at the bottom of the screen. I wasn’t surprised my dad was awake. He was always up early preparing desserts for the restaurant where he worked.

Not the same.

I’m sorry. I’ll come soon! Ily.

Love you too, kid.

I stretched out and looked around the room. I missed Bailey already. Missed our comfortable routine of shuffling, bleary-eyed, into the kitchen in the morning, sitting on the couch with coffee and sharing memes and gossip from our phones.

Somehow I didn’t think I’d be engaging in lighthearted chat with my three new roommates.

I had a flash of Poe, leaning against the brick wall on the balcony. Heat rushed between my thighs as I remembered the way his sapphire eyes had seemed to see right through me, the subtle smirk on his full lips.

I slipped my hand under the sheet, more than happy to put off emerging from my room with a little self-pleasure, then froze when something near the ceiling caught my eye.

A tiny red light blinked in the corner.

A camera.

I sat up fast. Were they fucking kidding me?

I stomped to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth. Then I took off my pajamas and threw on jeans and a T-shirt from the clothes I’d unpacked the night before.

I slipped my phone in my pocket and hesitated over Rose, still on the nightstand where I’d left her the night before. Wouldthe Butchers search me in the house? See the gun and demand I hand it over?

Let them try.