Page 84 of House of Crimson Hearts
“And what? You think she might cheat?”
Octavia shrugs and takes another sip of her drink. “My relationship with my siblings is complex. We are all hungry to win in our own ways and each of us is as vindictive as the other.”
“You seem to get on with Xavier well enough.”
She nods. “I favour him over the others. But Mother chose her children. And for very specific reasons. We all have something she wants. A skill, a value, an ability. But the thing we all share is our ruthless competitive vision. Each of us is desperate to get the thing we crave most.”
“And what is that?”
She smiles. “Different for all of us, but I’d take a guess that the thing Dahlia values most is strength. Gabriel values our history and knowledge.”
“The one always carrying books and wearing crisp-cut red suits?” I ask, still staring at my sketchbook.
“That’s the one. As for Sadie, I think for her, she values religion, spirituality. That’s why she’s head of the Church. There’s something about magic and the gods that calls to her, and honestly, I think it’s been healing for her.”
“And Xavier?”
She laughs. “Beauty. That man is the vainest son of a bitch I’ve ever met. Shiny things, wealth, beauty, popularity, tits. He wants them all. The most delicious, exquisite things you can find. That’s the key to his heart.”
“Which just leaves you,” I say.
“Which just leaves me.” Her voice drops, it’s smooth and melodic. The kind of tone that leads to compulsion. I want to look away but there’s nothing to compel me over right now anyway. So instead, I just enjoy the sound of her voice and the conversation.
“What do you value most, Octavia?” I say. When her lips close and she glances away from me, I realise she’s uncomfortable. She’s sharing a piece of herself she must usually keep private, though I’m sure if I spent enough time with her, I’d figure it out, and honestly, I have my suspicions given she’s hell-bent on winning the title of heir.
I want to know though, so I return to my sketch pad and continue drawing. The minute I take my eyes off her, the tension in the air eases.
“I suppose I value power.”
I was right. But the thing I really want to know is why. “Why do you want power when this city has vilified you? When they’ve discriminated against you and pushed you aside.”
She exhales a sharp huff. “That’s exactly why.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, adding some darker lines, and then moving to etch wisps of hair on the edge of the page. But she doesn’t respond, so I look her in the eye once again. “Tell me the truth.”
“I can’t,” she says, looking away.
“Why?”
“Because… because I’d have to let you in. Tell you something that makes me vulnerable. I’d have to trust you—someone who hates me—with a piece of me that I keep locked away.”
“Then what if I make a deal with you?” I say, an idea forming. As ridiculous as it is, I really do want to know. I want to understand her. Understand what makes her tick. Maybe I’ll never be able to fully forgive her for what she did to my sister, but I can certainly understand her. That might at least give us enough of a working relationship to get through these sodding trials. Because right now, nothing is more important than getting the cure for my sister.
“Tell me this one truth about you, let me sketch you, and I’ll agree to move in.”
I know I’ve won because her jaw flexes and her eyes flash at me. A second later, her expression relaxes, she smiles so broadly the tips of her fangs poke out from the curve of her lips.
“Devious little cunt, aren’t you?”
That makes me laugh. “I do try.”
“That’s two things for you and only one for me.”
“No, the sketch is for you.”
“And yet, you’re the one who wants to do it.”
“So you agree?”
