Page 98 of Shift of Morals
“I had to,” she snapped.
“Had to what?”
Simone’s delicate nostrils flared. “Will you stop being an ass and invite me in? I can smell the wine on your breath.”
“Why should I?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t grovel.”
“I’m not expecting you to grovel.”
“Fine. I’m sorry.”
I grinned. “Sorry for what?”
“I swear. How Caelan tolerates you is one of the world’s greatest mysteries.”
“I am a mysterious person,” I agreed.
Simone’s nails tapped on the back of her iPad case. “I’m sorry for ghosting you. Things have been…difficult in the Keep since Gianna arrived.”
I opened the door. “I might have some extra wine.”
“Thank the gods,” Simone breathed as she breezed past me.
It wasn’t until after a few glasses of wine that Simone brought up the reason she came by. Part of the reason was the flowers, but part of it was something more.
“There’s something off about her,” Simone said, her eyes focused on the old coffee table I used to replace the broken one.
“Off how?”
Our eyes met. “She’s always been cold, even when I knew her from a few years ago. But she’s never been such a…”
“Bitch?” I supplied.
Simone snorted. “Yes, but she’s also borderline cruel, too. I’m worried about what might happen if she becomes the Lady.”
“Is there any way you can stop it?” I plucked an olive off the small snack board I’d made after she’d arrived.
“Not if I want to keep my job,” she muttered gloomily.
“Then this is a venting session?”
She shifted and took a long sip of her wine. “There’s someone else who could stop it, though.”
“Like the Council?” They were the ones who put the order in place. Surely they were the ones who could halt the entire thing. But there were people flying in from all over, some who’d already arrived. If they had any plans to put a stop to this madness, they’d better do it soon.
“Not quite,” Simone murmured, picking up another cracker to munch.
I stared at her for a long moment before starting to laugh. “You cannot mean me. Are you insane?”
“I’m going to tell you something that can go no further than this couch. Do you understand?”
I straightened, my stomach twisting in knots. “Yes.”
“I’m serious. My job and my life will be on the line if you repeat this.”
“Understood. I’m a vault.”
