Page 115 of Twisted Truths

I hate that we’re going in blind. Isaac was supposed to meet us at the back door. How do we know he hasn’t double crossed us and someone’s waiting for us on the other side? I don’t want to put her in danger.

“Take my phone,” I whisper, trying to press it into her hand. “Go hide and message Gabriel. Tell him to get you out of here.”

“No,” she hisses, pushing the device back at me.

“Hadley—”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“You promised me?—”

“I promised you I’d get Franklin to safety no matter what, and I will keep that promise. But as far as we know, your nephew is behind that door and we need to get him out of here, so I am not leaving you until we have him.”

Knowing there’s no point arguing with her, I nod and push the door open slowly and step inside. Panic clutches at my chest as I take in the flickering light of all the candles that have been placed around the room. There is a circle of them around the bassinet and more lining the windowsill and the chest of drawers.

A woman sits in a rocking chair by the window, dark hair spilling around her face in waves, her expression somehow both serene and unhinged. She’s cradling a sleeping baby. Franklin. My nephew. Gabriel’s brother is slumped on the ground beside her—unconscious … or worse.

I don’t recognise the woman, but Hadley does.

“Ascendant Sierra?” she whispers beside me.

The woman smiles, but there’s something twisted about it. “Where’s Gabriel? He should be here.” Her voice is soft, melodious, and it sends a shiver down my spine. She pushes back in the chair, rocking my nephew gently as her brown eyes lock on me. “I don’t know you.”

I edge forward instinctively, but Hadley grips my arm, stopping me. Her body is stiff with tension.

Sierra doesn’t seem to notice.

“Look at him,” she coos, gazing down at Franklin. “They think he’s special, but they’re wrong. That imposter was not a true believer of the Circle. I should have been his mother, not her. I was the perfect match for Gabriel. I would have been the ultimate vessel for the divine child, but he refused to touch me.” She sneers, “He was too hung up on Madeline and her pathetic little foetus.”

My stomach turns, but Hadley speaks up before I can.

“You’re sick.”

Sierra looks up, her eyes wide with mock innocence. “Am I? Your sister was no one but a whore who tricked Gabriel into being her saviour. She wasn’t special which is why she and her demon spawn didn’t survive my ultimate test.”

“No!” Hadley gasps, taking a step forward, but it’s my turn to put an arm out to stop her.

“Oh, please.” Sierra’s voice hardens. “It was so easy. Just a little poison. Not even enough to raise suspicion. I told her it would help with the contractions.”

Hadley staggers like she’s been punched, and I pull her into my body. Her breath hitches against my chest, and I feel her knees buckle. Swirling nausea settles in my gut. Finding out her sister’s death wasn’t an accident is another blow she doesn’t deserve.

“No, no, no, no,” she whimpers, burying her head in my chest.

“Aww, how cute,” Sierra mocks. “Madeline’s mini-me has found her own Prince Charming.” Her face twists into a scowl as she snaps at Hadley, “What are you even doing here? You’re the reason my guardian was exiled. You shouldn’t be here. Where’s Gabriel?”

Franklin stirs as her voice rises.

Fuck.

I need to keep her calm.

Raising one hand to placate her, I use Hadley’s body as a shield to slide my phone from my pocket and shoot off a text to Gabriel.

Nash: SOS. Nursery. Sierra. Isaac down.

I hit send before she can notice and pocket my phone.

“Gabriel’s on his way,” I tell her. “He had to take care of something first.”