Page 15 of House of Pawns
Rath hands the newspaper to Ian. “The timing of the article is peculiar.”
“It’s nothing more than a power move!” I nearly shout. “I’d expect something like this if it were the hundred year anniversary, but that was like, forty-five years ago. It’s not even a one hundred and fifty year anniversary. Besides, this is December. That happened in October.”
“I don’t think you are mistaken in this, Alivia,” Rath says. “She has something up her sleeve with this.
“She’s trying to make the town remember how much they hate the Conraths, how much they’re afraid of your family,” Ian says as he finishes reading the article. “She’s trying to turn the town against you.”
“Like they needed any more effort put into that,” I growl. “They’re already afraid of me.”
“It may be true, and that might be Jasmine’s objective,” Rath says as he folds his hands on the table. It doesn’t have quite the normal regal effect since he’s wearing that robe. “But it isn’t a particularly logical move. By doing this, she is essentially declaring war against you, Alivia. But she still needs you if she wants to return honor to the House. Without you, she gains no connections.”
“Rath is right,” Ian agrees. Beth suddenly appears, bringing mugs and a pot of coffee. “What does she have to gain by isolating you from the rest of the town?”
And suddenly, it clicks.
“The night I went to the House to die,” I start. “I talked toAnna, one of the House members. She used to be a rouge, off on her own. She said it was the loneliness she couldn’t stand. She told me that she had a theory that I’d only keep myself apart from the House for so long. That eventually, I would need someone who understood what it was like to be a Born.”
“Jasmine is isolating you from other humans,” Rath says.
“So that you’ll turn to the House for companionship.” Ian says it with spite.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Beth offers as she finishes pouring all the coffee. Really, it seems like an escape route to get away from us.
Ian’s eyes flash red for a brief moment as all our attention is turned toward the door. Rath’s shoulders tense, Ian stands. Even I grab for a stake that I hid in the potted plant on the buffet table.
Beth lets out a little noise of fear, and we hear her scuttle off.
A collective breath is let out when it’s Lillian who steps through the door.
“Well,” she says, looking perplexed when she steps through. “We’re all just a little on edge today.” She literally takes a step back when she sees Ian. “And alive?”
He doesn’t say anything in return, but his eyes are glowing and fading like embers at the bottom of the fire. He’s ready for a fight if that’s what is needed.
But this is Lillian.
“Now, this is a surprise,” she says, raising an eyebrow at him and then turning to me. “Interesting turn of events.”
I offer her a small smile, but I’m really not sure what to be right now. I’m on edge, angry, but also extremely happy to see her. “You’re here.”
“I am,” she offers as she takes a seat at the table. “I feel the world beginning to shift and I slide to who I think holds the most weight and right.”
“I appreciate you coming here,” I say. My head is spinning. There are a million things going on, a million landmines to carefully toe around. My first move to gain my first House member must be made with caution. “I’m really happy to see you, Lillian.”
A warm smile pulls at her lips. “Well, it certainly has been an interesting couple of days. Jasmine has told us some disquieting news—that you’ve declared war on her.”
None of us says anything. We hold our breath, waiting to see what her reaction is going to be to me saying I will take the House from Jasmine.
“My car is out front and I’m hoping you have a room for me in this big house.” The smile on her face grows as mischief brightens her eyes.
A relieved and slightly disbelieving chuckle escapes my lips. I cross the space and wrap my arms around her shoulders in a hug. “Thank you,” I say.
“I told you before that I thought you were born to do this,” she says as she squeezes me back.
I smile again, but when I open my eyes, they meet Ian’s.
And all I see there is trepidation and disappointment.
