Page 28

Marin

I was going to get caught.

My whole body shook as I rushed blindly through the dimly lit halls inside Atticus’s manor. There was no finesse, no checking for servants. No idea where I even was.

Gavin Blackwood was going to be the death of me before I’d even started.

I bottled up my ocean of bitterness and pushed my back against the wall, forcing myself to calm the thundering in my chest.

Deep breath in, then out… over and over.

There were no stars to count here. No twinkling anemones. So I focused on the ghastly floral pattern splashed across the wallpaper and counted the peonies.

It was the kind of print only Cass could love. And she was going to be furious that I was late. I was already furious with myself.

But Cass would understand once I explained what happened. Technically, this was her fault. I may have left an identifiable dagger lodged in the wall, but she didn’t have to spill my entire life story to my enemy.

Nope. This was fine. It was necessary. That confrontation with Gavin needed to happen, and better to get it out of the way now. It was cathartic. Rage-inducing, but cathartic.

No need to dwell on the fact that I’d experienced my first real laugh since Saltgrave while dancing in his arms. Or that I nearly melted to the ground when he kissed my palm.

Ugh. Who does that?

Just rip my dress off like the rest of them. Don’t be bloody mesmerizing with a smooth touch and devastating eye contact.

I should’ve dumped his body in the bushes like he expected. Saved another unsuspecting woman from falling for that irresistible facade. Because that’s exactly what it was—an illusion. A game. And his quiet declaration that he hadn’t betrayed me? That had to be a lie.

But… why follow me here? He had nothing to gain. My daggered threat to reclaim my house was a vicious taunt. He knew I had no real claim. Not on paper. And even though I hated what he’d done to me, Gavin wasn’t a cruel man. He didn’t torture his victims. At least he didn’t used to.

I pressed the heels of my palms into my eyes and slid down the wall. My head dropped forward on a jagged breath. How was I supposed to reconcile the truth as I knew it with the doubts chipping away at my resolve? Wanting to believe didn’t equal certainty. And anything less put me at risk.

Which was why, no matter what happened, no matter how many cracks he hammered into my walls, I wouldn't let him in. That thief wasn't stealing anything else from me. Not ever.

I waited a few more moments. My heart had finally slowed, and I was ready to focus on the vault when that blasted, traitorous organ launched right into my throat.

I’d been so distracted. So overwhelmed by emotions. Was that part of his plan? The real reason he was here? Gavin saw me steal the monocle. Then led me to a secluded alcove, leaving me a heartbeat away from a thief.

My trembling hand slid to the satin seam at my waist.

The monocle was still there.

I dropped my head against the wall, dizzy with relief.

He’s got you so twisted up. No more careless mistakes. Get the seeds and get out.

Pushing to my feet, I followed the directions Cass and I had gone over during our planning and made it to the vault without being spotted.

The wallpaper had changed. Instead of peonies, there were swaths of purple wisteria intertwined with leafy vines. Wall sconces lit the space around an iron door, with a horizontal locking bar welded across it. The hallway ended just beyond the vault. No other way in or out.

I squinted into the shadows. Two of the sconces near the end were extinguished, leaving that stretch in darkness. Cass swooped from the cavity like a ghost with an axe to grind, and I flinched back on my heels.

“Where have you been?” she hissed. “I’ve been hiding in the dark for almost an hour.”

I kept my grim retort to myself. What’s an hour in the dark compared to three years? I folded my arms.

“Sorry,” I said, voice dripping sarcasm. “I stopped to share a dance with an old friend. That led to an illicit moment in the garden. Followed by a dagger-wielding confrontation. Don’t worry. He’s still breathing.”

Cass made a face, pulling back her lips like she’d bitten something sour. “Yikes. I probably should have seen that one coming.”

“You think? Why didn’t you tell me you spoke to Gavin?”

“Because I knew it would upset you. And you already have so much to deal with.”

I sighed and rubbed my face. “Don’t keep things from me, Cass. I’m not porcelain.”

She put her hand on my shoulder. “You’re steel, Marin. I know that. But even steel can shatter. We’re—” She cleared her throat. “ I’m just worried about you.”

Her slip gave me pause. “Worry in three weeks. Or less, now. We need to keep moving. Forget about Gavin. He’s not…”

I searched for the right words.

He’s not getting under my skin. Making me feel. Making me question my conviction.

“He’s not important.”

Cass looked like she wanted to say more, but let it go. She held up the bell-shaped flower instead.

“You’re right. This is what matters. Did you get the monocle?”

I pulled it from the hidden seam and handed it to her.

She held it in her palm, then squeezed the flower in her fist.

Nothing happened.

“Did it work?” I asked.

Cass frowned. “I don't know. I can't see air. Maybe if the monocle was activated by tears, we'd have a confirmation.” She tapped her fingernail against the glass.

“Stop. You're going to make it angry.”

“I am not! It's sentient, not sensitive.”

The monocle glowed to life, and a golden eye blinked open in its center. It glared at Cass. If sentient eyeballs could kill.

“No feelings, huh? That is so creepy,” I muttered.

“It really is.” She shrugged. “But the infusion worked. I’m going to make a killing.”

I nudged her toward the vault. “Hurry. Before it disappears… or hypnotizes us into becoming its creepy little minions.”

Cass held the monocle to a small glass plate embedded in the wall. The eye blinked again, and the plate flashed green, then the bar slid aside.

“We’re in!” she whispered.

I looked over my shoulder, making sure the hallway was still clear, before following her into the vault.

Atticus’s botanical collection was vast. The room was larger than I’d expected and filled floor to ceiling with fascinating artifacts.

Glazed pots and strange tools lined a glass cabinet.

Dried flowers and exotic plants were pinned to charts on the wall, their names and descriptions written beneath.

Silver cages, similar to the one holding the Noctis Pearls, were congregated in the center of the room.

Each one contained a rare plant. The tops of the cages were hinged back, and small holes in the ceiling funneled artificial sunlight directly on them.

“Isn’t it incredible?” Cass marveled. “Atticus built a self-contained garden with everything the plants need.” She pointed above her head.

“There are misting jets in the ceiling. This setup is a clever mix of magic and engineering.

The first time I saw it, I nearly fainted.

If he weren't twice my age, I would've married him just for the vault.”

She brushed her fingers over a massive orchid and smirked. “Still kind of thinking about it. Imagine the inheritance.”

“And they say romance is dead.” I wandered toward a wooden cabinet with dozens of drawers.

Cass followed behind me. “Atticus keeps his seeds in there.”

We scanned the drawers. My gaze landed on a small brass plate beneath one labeled:

Aetheryal .

“That’s it,” I breathed.

My heart thudded. Against all odds, something was finally going right. I slid open the drawer and peered inside, and my stomach dropped.

It was empty.

Wait—no, not empty. A single slip of paper lay at the bottom.

Cass gasped. “What does it say?”

I unfolded it and read:

Too slow! If you want the seeds, you’ll have to take me with you. You know where to find me. -G

The paper crumpled in my fist and hit the floor.

“That scheming thief!”

Cass’s shoulders shook, and I whipped my head around to catch her laughing.

“This isn’t funny,” I grated between my teeth.

“It’s kind of funny. You left him a note. He left you a note. It’s—”

I shot her a glare that rivaled the monocle. She coughed delicately.

“You’re right. It's heinous. We should kill him.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Yours! I swear I didn’t know he planned this. In fact…” She scanned the room, planting her hands on her hips. “How the heck did he do it? There’s no other way in here without the monocle. Honestly, Marin, the world lost a great thief wh en—” She faltered. “Never mind. Gavin is not important.”

“What am I supposed to do now?” I groaned while Cass dropped our decoy seeds into the drawer and slid it closed.

Every fragile kernel of hope I’d allowed to take shape had been smashed beneath Gavin Blackwood’s devious, infuriatingly smug boots.

He’d tracked me down. Seduced me. Then beat me at my own game, all without letting me know we were even playing.

What a snake.

Cass retrieved the note and handed it to me with a sheepish smile. “Looks like you’ll have to take him with you.”