Page 9 of Reap the Night
She staggered to her feet, eyes wide. “You’re leaving?”
“I have to. But I’ll check in on you, I promise. You are safe here, Ariella.” I looked to the door, to Ingrid who hovered in the shadows outside. “There is kindness in these walls. The kitchens are Ingrid’s domain. She’s a good friend of mine, and she’ll take care of you.” I beckoned Ingrid, and she glided forward.
Ariella’s shoulders dropped in relief. “You live here?”
“I do,” Ingrid said softly. “You can come to me for anything.” The way she studied Ariella with such hope and intensity made my chest hurt because hadn’t she looked at me that way once?
It was time for me to leave. “Take care, Ariella.”
I made my way back to the upper floors, back to my room where my small case waited for me to fill it and be gone. I packed through a sheen of tears, each item placed in the case adding to the weight sitting on my chest.
My time at Branwood was at an end.
Chapter 4
Going back to the office felt like the first day back at school, except my twin buffers, Nyx and Quinn, wouldn’t be waiting for me on the front steps ready to help me through the term.
Ordell brought Betsy to a smooth halt outside the building but didn’t release the locks to let me out. Instead, we sat with the engine idling, silence stretching between us waiting eagerly to be filled with words.
It was early. Too early for anyone to be here, but the Order van was parked outside the building, which meant the team was already here. I’d hoped for a little time to myself before they arrived, but it looked like it wasn’t meant to be.
“Nothing will change,” Ordell said. “Not really. Hem and I will still be at the chapter house most nights, at least one of us will. The only thing that will change is your part in Ezekiel’s reformation.” Who was he trying to convince? Me or himself?
The bitter thought floated across my mind, leaving me irritated with myself for entertaining it. None of this was his fault, nor was it Hem’s. This was all Loviator, the bitch. Her and fate.
So I fixed a convincing smile on my face, forced it to light up my eyes, and aimed it at him like a weapon. “I know, and I’m fine. Really.” I reached for the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”
The look he gave me said he saw straight through me, and for a moment, I thought he’d refuse to let me out and hold me hostage until I confessed how much this fucking hurt, but he took mercy on me, disengaging the central locking with a weary smile.
“I’ll see you back at the house later,” he said.
“Later.”
I hopped out and hurried through the doors, making sure that I didn’t look back because I didn’t want to see him driving away.
The tinkle of the bell announced my arrival, and I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t the sound of raised voices coming from the office, namely Padma’s voice irate and bordering on angry.
“I’m not making this up. It happened,” Padma said.
“But you said it broke the teapot,” Edwin said. “But it’s fine. Look.”
The teapot? My teapot? I hurried into the room.
“You’re back!” Merry rushed over to envelop me in a hug. I hugged her back, my gaze traveling across the occupants of the room, noting the tension in everyone’s faces until I settled on Padma. She stood behind her desk, fingertips pressed to the wood, body stiff as a board, while Edwin stood across from her holding up my teapot.
My clean and shiny teapot.
“What the heck is going on here?”
“Padma was attacked last night,” Merry said. “By something that came out of the teapot.”
Holly appeared in the doorway behind us. “I’ve got it.” She held up her wrist to show us her copper bracelet. “It’s all charged and ready.”
“Ready for what?” I was so confused.
“Holly’s going to check for arcane influences in the room,” Merry said.
“What Padma described would leave an arcane imprint,” Holly said. “This should detect it by vibrating.” She entered the room, arm held up. “Where was the purple smoke?”
