Chapter One

Maureen

T he Graves Estate makes Nocturnus look tiny in comparison. I can smell the hemlock even before we approach the thick iron gates. The fumes stick to my throat like sludge, burning my nostrils and making my head pound.

The tension builds between us the closer we get to the main house. I peer out the window, straining my eyes to see what lies beyond the darkness, searching for any flicker of light or life. A deep sense of dread settles into my bones. There is something not right about this place. And I thought Tenebrose gave me the creeps.

Atlas squeezes my shoulder. "Don't be afraid, love."

"Understatement of the year," Valentin mutters from behind the wheel.

A chill snakes up my back. If fear were a living, breathing entity, then this is where it lives. "How angry is he?" I murmur.

"I don't remember a time when my father wasn't angry," Riot hisses. "We killed Zeke. Bastard or not, he was still his son. There will be consequences."

Fuck. " I killed his son… I'll accept the punishment."

The three of them collectively tense. Valentin jerks his head, finally looking at me for the first time since we embarked on this journey. "If Holden Graves touches a fucking hair on your head—"

"He won't," Riot snaps. "I promise you… he won't."

Atlas rubs both my shoulders as if he could miraculously massage the anxiety right out of me. "We stand together. Zeke tried to take our coven and our girl. According to the Nocturnus bi-laws, we did nothing wrong."

I clasp my neck as my freshly carved sigil starts to burn. The stench of hemlock thickens, and I can barely breathe. " Fuck ."

"You'll get used to it," Valentin quips.

His body is rigid, his tone icy. If I didn't already know him, I'd be downright terrified. "Get used to parts of my flesh randomly catching on fire? No, I don't think so."

Atlas kneads his fingers deeper into my muscles. "Pain reminds us we're alive, Maur. It connects us. Here, dab this on your neck and thigh."

I take the vial of poison from him and nearly pass out from the scent. "What the fuck is this?"

"Nightshade. It will temporarily deaden the nerves around your sigils." Even Atlas's tone is darker than usual. He's usually the most cheerful of the three. I guess no one is safe from the ominous vibes of Riot's family home. I can't believe anyone grew up here . But it's starting to make more sense as to why he is the way he is. I imagine hell would feel more welcoming than this place.

The ravens squawk alongside the car, bound to us by an unseen cord. Their power over us has weakened, but it still hangs by a delicate thread. Valentin says that once I get more sigils, we'll be able to overtake them completely. But the curse my family has placed on Nocturnus still clings to our souls like a whisper.

It's the middle of the day, but the darkness hanging over this property threatens to engulf us. Through the beam of the headlights, particles of dirt and dust swirl in the wind. Dead leaves rustle and crunch under the tires as we race toward the house. I'm on edge as we finally cross the long stretch and pull into the front drive, not knowing what we're about to face.

Two gargoyles perch atop the large stone fountain in the center. I shiver under their glare. "Well, that's not creepy at all," I snicker.

Riot sighs before sliding out from the back seat. He stalks around the car to open my door for me, offering me his hand. "My father has a tendency for drama. But it's not all smoke and mirrors. Don't ever let your guard down here."

I swallow hard, nodding as I slip my fingers inside his. An instant surge of heat transfers between us. Ever since they marked me, our connection has grown stronger. Every touch drives me wild with lust and ache. But it also pushes me further down into the darkness that surrounds them. It's like having invisible hands around my neck, their grip firm, reminding me they could crush my lungs at any moment. Or send me into the most primal state of pleasure that I've ever felt. It's divine torture. A constant state of pain and ecstasy.

There's an electricity in the air as the four of us approach the monstrous house. Every inch of it is cold, made of stone and iron with barred windows, covered in emerald-green ivy—the only pop of color that I can see. It hugs the walls, plastered to it like it's been there for a thousand years.

I don't let go of Riot's hand when the door swings open. A pale old man in a crisp black suit glares back at us. His eyes harden even more when they land on me.

"Romulus," Riot greets him, his tone devoid of any emotion.

"Mr. Graves," he replies. "You are looking well."

"Call me Riot, old man. Mr. Graves is my father."

The tension thickens, and I don't even realize I'm holding my breath until I feel Atlas's hand on my lower back. I exhale and lick my lips, willing moisture back into my mouth. I look past Romulus to see a tiny woman leaning on a cane in the foyer. Her blonde hair is cropped short and styled in finger waves like the flapper girls of the 1920s. She wears a plain black dress and black pumps, elegant but as cold as this house.

Romulus steps aside and motions for us to come in. "Mr. Graves is occupied at the moment. He'll join all of you in the library for cocktails before dinner. Do not be late."

Riot snorts. "Wouldn't dream of it." He pulls me into the foyer, coming face-to-face with the woman. "Mother."

She's a pretty woman with very few wrinkles on her pale face. But it's the absence of joy in her eyes that makes her look aged and hardened. Like someone snuffed the light out of her.

"Welcome home." Her voice matches her blank expression. She turns to the rest of us and forces a tightlipped smile. "Atlas, Valentin. How is Tenebrose treating you?"

Valentin snickers. "I'm sure you—"

"Fine," Atlas cuts him off, giving him a warning look. "Everything is fine at Tenebrose, Mrs. Graves."

Riot's grip on my hand tightens when his mother's gaze locks onto me. "This is Maureen. I expect she will be welcome here."

She sticks her free hand toward me. "Clover Graves. Nice to meet you, Miss Blackwell."

My stomach turns. She cannot mask the disappointment in her voice. "Thank you for having me. You have a lovely home."

Clover Graves smirks at Riot. "Your father wants to speak with you. Alone. He's waiting for you in his office. The rest of you know where your rooms are. Go clean up and meet us in the library in an hour."

Riot clenches his jaw. "Whatever you say, Mother." He lets go of my hand, and I almost snatch it back. There is nothing tethering me to this house but him.

I start to follow Atlas and Valentin up the stairs when Mrs. Graves sticks her cane out to block my path. "Not you. This is a house of decency. You will not be staying with the boys. I have prepared you your own room."

My stomach sinks even deeper. Fuck. I understand respecting their rules, but I'm not a fucking child. Does she even know I'm with all three of them? She's looking at me like she thinks I'm the biggest joke she's ever laid eyes on.

Valentin steps in front of me. "With all due respect, Mrs. Graves, Maureen should stay with us."

Her eyes narrow, and I swear I hear her hiss under her breath. She raises her hand, and I think she's going to slap him, but instead, she caresses his cheek. "We have rules in this house, Val. Rules you have always obeyed. Don't start breaking them now. I would hate to have to call your father and tell him of your defiance."

Atlas sighs and places a hand on Val's shoulder. "It's all good, Mrs. Graves. It's just been a long drive." He whispers in Val's ear, " Let it go ."

I kiss them each on the cheek, much to Mrs. Graves's displeasure, and step away from them. "It's fine. I'll see you all in the library later, okay?"

Atlas nods, but he has to physically drag Valentin toward the large marble staircase.

"This way," she quips. I follow her down a long corridor, amazed at how fast she moves with a limp.

I can't believe she used Val's father as a threat. Their families are fucking crazy . She doesn't speak to me again until we reach my room. She turns an antique skeleton key into the ivory doorknob before spinning back around. She studies my face for an uncomfortable amount of time.

"You will not behave like a slut in this house, Miss Blackwell. I won't tolerate it. Especially when it comes to my son."

My mouth drops open. "You don't even know me. I… I am not a slut." Every ounce of shame and rage that I've felt since last Halloween comes rushing back.

She chuckles. "Well, you're certainly no saint. I've seen your type before, my dear. You have those boys wrapped around your traitorous finger like a snake in the grass." She slams her cane down hard against the marble floor as she takes another step toward me. "You don't want to know what we do to snakes around here, Miss Blackwell. I urge you to heed my warning… or you'll find out."

I want to cry, but I won't give her the satisfaction. So I bite my tongue and nod. "Yes, Mrs. Graves."

She backs off and motions for me to enter the room. "Romulus will fetch you in an hour for drinks." She starts to leave but pauses at the door. "There are dresses in the closet. Decent dresses . Make sure you wear one of them."

She eyes me up and down one last time before leaving, taking stock of my short skirt and crop top. When the door closes behind her, I hear the click of the key slide into place and turn.

My stomach drops as I bolt to the door and turn the knob. I can feel all the blood rushing to my feet. It's fucking locked.

Fuck.

My heart sinks. I knew the Graves were not going to roll out the red carpet for me. Riot's hatred for my family wasn't born out of thin air. His parents probably poisoned him against us from the moment he took his first breath. But locking me in my room like a child… Clover Graves has managed to make my own mother look like a fucking saint.

As I sift through the elegant closet, my mind races. What has Riot told them about me? How did she get that cane? Are they going to murder me in my sleep tonight? Why do they have a closet full of plain as fuck dresses all in my size?

Ugh.

I pick the least revolting one—a black knee-length sweater dress splashed with red roses. I step into a pair of black pumps, also in my size, and smirk as I admire myself in the mirror. She can force me to wear her clothes all night long, but it doesn't change the fact that there's nothing decent about me. I'm still their little slut.

I was going to be respectful, but suddenly, the thought of the three of them defiling me in his parent's home, in his mother's dress, makes me feel so hot and depraved that I'm tempted to finger myself right now.

I'd love to see the look on her face when she spots cum stains on her decent dress .

I take a deep breath as my clit starts to spasm. I wonder if they have cameras in here…

I'm tempted but think better of it. I don't know what their powers are. And until mine are stronger, I need to try to be on my best behavior. I have no idea what the Graves family is capable of.

A knock on the door interrupts my plans of masturbation, further sealing my decision to act like a well-behaved lady.

I take one last look in the mirror, fluffing my waves out around my shoulders, and start for the door.

"I'm ready. You can let me out now," I grumble.

The key creaks as it unlocks the door, and I'm once again face-to-face with the creepy butler. His lips curl up in annoyance. "There are initiates in this house. Ones who may have impure thoughts. The lock is to keep others out for your own safety."

I snicker. "Well, then she should just let me stay with Atlas or Valentin. They can protect me."

Romulus is careful to keep his gaze on my face, but I know he's already stolen glances at my body by the way he sneers. "We have rules about fornication in this house, madam. You will learn them soon enough."

A chill trickles up my spine. His tone isn't threatening, yet it's still ominous and foreboding. I can't imagine the horrors he's seen, and may have even been a part of, in this house. I'm not na?ve to what Nocturnus is. I tried to run from it myself. But my dumb ass had to go and fall for the three of them.

I nod while trying to swallow down my apprehension. "Fair enough."

He locks the door behind us before spinning on his heel. "Follow me. I'll show you to the library."

The only thing I'm looking forward to now is the many cocktails I'm about to imbibe. Lord knows I'm going to need them to get through this night.