Page 148 of Caging Darling

She’s just as she was the night I caught Peter communing with her, bowing naked before her. The night I’d seen the Mating Mark on Peter’s back, when I’d learned the depths of what a slave he was to the Middle Sister.

I know he’s been in contact with her since that night. She’s the one who provides us with our targets. And he’s been begging her to bring John back.

A thrill races through me at the thought, but I stifle it. This Fate is not one to make bargains with.

“You said you went to the Eldest Sister,” I say sideways toward Astor. “You lied.”

He shakes his head. “Not a lie. I did go to the Eldest Sister initially.”

“I can confirm that,” says the Nomad, not taking his eyes off the Fate roaming toward us. “What this one’s doing here… Well, I’ll be needing a swift explanation for that.”

“Oh, hello there,” the Middle Sister croons to the Nomad. “I almost didn’t notice you over there. I see you’re still playing your little game of hide and seek.”

Tink tenses, but there’s the wildness of confusion in her eyes.

What is happening?

The Sister extends a dark, draped hand toward Astor, her sleeve falling like an upside sail, dragging through the grass. He doesn’t take it.

“What are you waiting for? A bargain is a bargain, need I remind you?”

Astor swallows. “Give me a moment to explain to her.”

The Fate tsks. “I’ve waited long enough. I shan’t wait any longer.”

“Life will be much more pleasant for you if you do,” says Astor through a sharp grin. The Fate, to her credit, takes his threat seriously and drops her hand.

“Very well. Though I doubt an explanation will be of much use to the girl.”

Astor stares at her with such bite that the Fate backs away.

When he turns to me, he takes my hand in his, fumbling with his hook so that it’s gentle and cold against my fingers.

“When I went to the Eldest Sister and she showed me my tapestry, there was more to the story than I told you.”

I feel like a child with the way my lip begins to quiver.

“Darling, listen to me.” He cups my ear with his hook, grits his teeth when he realizes what he’s done, and goes for the other ear with his hand instead. “I didn’t lie to you.”

“Tell me what exactly you left out, and I’ll be the one to determine that,” I say, my voice warbling.

A glimmer of pride hints at the sheen in his eyes. “You’re growing bold.”

I fight the urge to wrap my chest in my arms. I glance at Peter, worried he’ll ruin this. Attack Astor and take him away from me, but Peter’s eyes are on the Middle Sister, begging her silently not to force him into whatever submission he senses coming his way.

“Tell me everything,” I say.

Astor nods apologetically. “I’ll hold nothing back. My tapestry was woven according to a pattern. One that had been woven before, for my father, for my father’s father. Darling, do you know the story of the Sisters?”

I nod. “I used to tell it to my brothers. To the Lost Boys.”

Astor narrows his brow. “Then you know that the Middle Sister was cursed by the Eldest.”

I nod, recalling the story. “The Eldest was so distraught that the Middle Sister had inadvertently caused the death of her lover, she wanted the Middle Sister to feel the same sort of pain. She—” I glance over to the Middle Sister, who is circling the flowers, trailing her shadowy hands through them as if she isn’t listening to us. As if she’s giving us privacy. “The Middle Sister was cursed to forever love a man who would love another. The Eldest Sister mated the Middle Sister’s lover to another woman.”

“But that wasn’t cruel enough, was it?” cackles the Middle Sister from across the garden.

I feel my face blanch.

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