Page 22 of Maddie

“Whatever, man.” Ferris focused on Maddie. “Well?”

“There could’ve been a lovelier circumstance,” she started. “But alas, it wasn’t intentional. I promise. Imogen and Rav came asking questions at the cottage, parading a photograph of Alice and offering a reward for her. Then I had to deliver Osanna her hat and that bitch nearly killed him.”

“Wait, Rav and Imogen came to your house?” Ferris’s throat bobbed, and for the first time since he’d escaped the palace, he truly looked worried. “Do they know anything? If they know we’re connected, they’ll hurt Mouse.Killher.”

Maddie blocked out the images of her sister bloodied and broken, her head lolled to the side, eyes blank. “I don’t think they suspect anything. They only came to see me since I was at the palace the day before. However, they didn’t leave without threats.”

“Fuck!” Ferris hit his fist against his leg.

“Where’s Alice?” Noah asked, searching around the room, his gaze settling on the velvet settee.

Ferris rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s what I needed to talk to you two about. I’ve been giving her blood, but she’s rejecting it.”

“What does that mean?” Noah stiffened. “If I’m walking about and feeling stronger than I ever have, then she should’ve been fine days ago.”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Maddie said softly. “Some don’t make it. Some die the night of transition. Others, days or weeks later.”

Noah ran a hand down the side of his face. “I need to see her.”

Ferris nodded and opened the door to a guest room for Maddie and Noah to go inside. Boxes of powdered blood took up most of the space in a corner, a stack of books in another, and a small mattress holding a frail Alice was against the opposite wall. She lay in bed curled on her side, her skin pale and sweat slicking her brow. The blankets rested in a rumpled heap on the floor beside her.

“Alice.” Concern filled Noah’s voice as he rushed to his sister’s side and knelt beside her.

“Noah,” Alice whispered, peeling open her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to attack you.”

“You didn’t.” He smiled warmly. “You only tried to.”

“What’s wrong with your eyes?” Her gaze widened and she clenched his shirt. “You’re not human anymore? Whathappened?”

He blew out a breath. “It’s a long story.”

This was a moment that Maddie needed to bow out from. A moment between family. “I’ll leave you two alone for now.” She shut the door behind her before Noah could respond.

Alice was going to die. Maddie had seen this time and time again. There had been numerous instances where she’d changed mortals over the years—some made it, some didn’t. There wouldn’t be any saving Alice. Not without a cure, and the cure was nearly impossible to get. Yet… A dark thought slipped into her mind. One that wouldn’t make her feel guilty. It could possibly get her sister released. And Rav had mentioned a reward for Alice. Mouse had wanted Alice saved, but if the female was dying, then what would it matter?

“What are you planning?” Ferris asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Oh, nothing.” She rocked back and forth on her heels.

“Bullshit.”

“It’s going to help Mouse, so don’t you dare try to stop me.” She knelt to draw out a cold blood bag from the ice chest then held it up to him and smiled. “Here, I brought you this. I know the powder is hard to swallow.”

Ferris’s gaze softened and he reluctantly took the blood bag. “Thanks, Maddie.”

“No, thankyou.” Her shoulders hunched forward as she stood. “You’re in this position because of me.” Because of the foolish mistake she’d made with Rav all those years ago. Mouse, Ferris, Noah—all except Alice led back to that mistake. So Maddie wouldn’t let herself feel guilty about what she was going to do.

Ferris sighed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his side. “Mouse saved me when I overdosed. The both of you are what kept me going after that. I would do anything for her—you know that.” That included him giving up his humanity for only a small chance of saving Mouse. Which hadn’t worked. But if Maddie gave Alice to Rav and Imogen, she could get Mouse back. It would not only help her sister, but would make everything Ferris went through worth it. She didn’t know everything he’d done in the palace, what all was done to him, but she did know he had to fuck Imogen before his change and clean palace rooms with his tongue. His sacrifices wouldn’t be for nothing. Maddie loved him like a brother, almost as much as she loved her sister. Once Mouse was out, she would need to figure out a way to help him find somewhere safer to stay. He couldn’t remain hiding in this safe house forever. But, for now, one step at a time.

The night had already lifted and after everyone was asleep, Maddie would sneak Alice out and take her back to the Ruby Heart Palace.

Chapter Ten

Noah

Water dripped against stone, the only sound in the empty room. Noah walked from corner to corner, seeing perfectly through the darkness, yet unable to find a way in or out. No windows, no doors, no air ducts.

Drip, drip, drip.

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