Page 145 of House of Roots and Ruin
“Of course he can’t,” Viktor snapped. “I’m one of a kind.Hesenses what others around him are thinking. A mind reader.”
Julien’s eyes narrowed, clearly peeved to be so easily reduced to a title. “It’s admittedly not as impressive as being able to set the world aflame, but it’s quite a useful trait to have. I must confess, I find myself most curious about you, Alexander. About what sort of gift you possess.”
Alex looked stricken. “I can’t do either of those things…nothing like that.”
“Your talent might not be as flashy but there’s something there, all the same. Miss Thaumas’s presence confirms it.”
“Miss Thaumas?” Alex’s eyes darted over, pinning me in place with his stare. “Verity, what is he talking about?”
My hands knotted together. “Julien thinks—”
“Julienknows,” he said, cutting me off through clenched teeth. “Papa somehow learned of Miss Thaumas’s abilities to communicate with the dead. He brought her here to pair with you. Whatever you can do must be quite impressive for him to have done all this for.”
“Pair?” Alex echoed dully.
Viktor sighed. “Surely we don’t have to explain the birds and bees to you, do we?”
“No!” Alex’s cheeks burned. “But you make it sound as if Verity was a mail-order bride. It’s not like that. None of it is like that. We…we love each other.”
Julien stifled back a sigh. “Of course. Yes. How fortunate you must be, falling in love with the one other animal in your cage.”
“Julien!” I snapped, aghast.
He raked his fingers through his hair, mussing it. “You’ve no idea how exhausting I find his thoughts, Miss Thaumas.”
“Then why don’t you leave us for a moment,” I said, keeping my voice firm. It was not a question.
With a groan, Julien walked away, taking the boardwalk toward the water’s edge. Viktor followed, snickering. Alex waited until he was out of range before speaking.
“I don’t understand what’s happening, Verity.” His eyes were fixed on something in the distance. “I have brothers? And Father…Those things they’re saying…thatyou’resaying…those horrible things…”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ve wanted to tell you—for days I’ve wanted to tell you but…you’ve heard everything now. It sounds mad. And then they showed up…” I paused, my stomach churning.
Fat tears of gratitude fell down my cheeks as he slipped one hand around mine.
“I want to say I don’t believe it, but there they are, proof that something isn’t right, proof Father is hiding something.” He glanced at Viktor and Julien, who now sat on a fallen log, studiously trying to appear as though they weren’t watching us. A slow hiss escaped through his teeth. “And Mother…those are her sons. She couldn’t not know of them.”
“Just because she knows part of the story doesn’t mean she knows it all,” I said, trying to salvage any hope of finding a silver lining in this storm breaking over us.
Alex let out a painful laugh.
“Julien and Viktor want to go to the authorities. With everything we found in the study last night, they’ll have to imprison him.” I wasn’t sure if I meant it as a piece of information or a warning.
Reluctantly, he nodded.
“I’m so sorry,” I said in a rush. “I…I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now.”
“Disgusted,” he allowed. “Heartsick. Betrayed. I…” He ran his fingers over his face. “I don’t know what to think. What to feel. Who to trust.” He stared at his brothers for a long moment. “I don’t…I don’t think Mother knew about…about the others.”
I bit my lip. “I’m sure the police will—”
“No,” he said firmly. “I don’t want her finding out like that. From strangers. Strangers who think her guilty of all…of allthat.Verity, you can’t truly believe she would have stayed here, stayed with Father, if she’d known.”
“No,” I admitted, pushing back the memory that I’d feared she’d killed Constance herself.
He nodded, relieved.
“So what do you want to do?”
