Page 34 of Firethorne
“Oh that, yes.” She peered over her shoulder then moved a step closer to me and said, “We’re having a party next week, and youhaveto come.”
“Lysander already invited me,” I replied, and instantly, her face dropped. A look of utter defeat and disappointment shone back at me, and in that moment, I felt a little guilty for bursting her bubble of excitement. “I’m not gonna be able to make it,though,” I added. “I don’t think it’s right for me to attend a party thrown by my employers.”
“Oh, Maya, will you stop! That’s nonsense,” she said, determination burning in her eyes now. “You’re my friend. And if you don’t come, then... then... I’ll call the whole thing off.”
“That’s what Lysander said,” I couldn’t help blurting out, and she narrowed her eyes at me.
“And Damien?” she asked.
“Hasn’t said a thing,” I replied honestly.
But from the way she maintained her glare, I don’t think she believed me.
“Well... anyway...” she went on. “I want you there as my plus one. I need you there. It’s hard being the only girl in this house.”
“I don’t have anything to wear, and I can’t afford to buy anything new, so?—”
“I’ll lend you something,” she announced. “I have too many clothes. Honestly, Maya, you’re not getting out of this that easily.”
That was becoming painfully clear.
“I’ll think about it,” I told her, and she folded her arms, popped her hip and gave a little huff like a spoilt child.
“Is that the best you can do? Think about it?”
I nodded and she gave another huff.
“Fine. But I will get you there.” Then a little brighter, she added, “Maybe we could get ready for the party together? I could do your make-up for you.”
“Maybe.” I kept my smile in place and stepped towards my cart to push it down the hallway. But as I went to walk past, Miriam put her arm out to stop me.
I gasped, standing still, and she reached up and stroked her finger down a stray whisp of hair that’d fallen from my messy bun, and then, gently, she tucked it behind my ear, a move that felt way too intimate.
“I have the perfect white dress for you,” she said on a whisper, as if she was imagining me in it. “You’ll be the prettiest angel.”
I wanted to tell her that Lysander had said that, too, but I didn’t. I swallowed, nodded politely, and walked away, trying to ignore the boulder of dread that hit my stomach in reaction to how she was acting. I had no intention of going to their party, or being the angel they thought I was, of being anything for them.
The sooner I got out of here, the better.
After a long day, I trudged back through the grounds on weary legs, heading towards our cabin. When I got to the clearing and saw something sitting on the door mat, I stopped dead. I peered around me, listening for any noises, but all I heard were the tweets of the birds overhead and the rustling of the leaves in the trees blowing in the breeze. I couldn’t sense anyone watching, but I still took slow, careful steps as I made my way to the porch.
Once closer, I saw the brown cardboard box that was sitting on the mat had no name or address on it, and a cautionary shiver ran down my spine. I took the last few steps up to the porch, stood over the package and then crouched down.
Cautiously, I pulled the parcel tape off the top, and with bated breath and my heart pounding in my ears, I slowly opened the box. What lay inside was the last thing I’d expected to find.
Books.
Leather bound books that made me quietly gasp as I reached in to pick the first one out.
I opened the cover to see it was a first edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy. Underneath that, was a copy of Wuthering Heights, and then, at the very bottom, sat the editionof Sons and Lovers that I’d picked out in the library earlier today. No note. No message, but it wasn’t necessary. I knew who’d sent this.
But the question I had to ask myself was, why?
Chapter Fifteen
The Firethornes
“Ido love our little catch ups,” Miriam remarked as she sat with Damien and Lysander in the dining room, having breakfast. “Although, I’m surprised to see you here, Damien. I thought you only came out at night, you know, with the rest of the vampires.”
