CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Dinner was an unusually quiet affair. Oliver, who was typically buoyant and talkative during most meals, had grown somber and pensive the last few days. He barely ate his food but stared at the plate as if not seeing it.

I tried pulling him into the conversation, and it would work for a few minutes before he'd fall silent once more.

A glance in Thoran's direction assured me I wasn't imagining things.

"Everything all right, Oliver?" he asked finally.

Oliver raised his head and nodded. "Just a lot of things on my plate."

"Can we help you with anything?" I asked softly.

I truly adored Oliver. From the very beginning, he'd been such a beacon of light and warmth. He never made me feel like I didn't belong and went out of his way to welcome me, even if I didn't really know him very well beyond dinner conversation. I had no idea what he did or where he went during the day. I never ran into him during my wanderings of the house, so I assumed he went out. But if something was wrong, I wanted to help.

His round face lit up with his familiar smile. "You are very sweet, but I have it handled."

He didn't stay much longer after that when he pushed his chair back and excused himself, claiming there was a whole chapter of the Island of Dr. Moreau waiting for him. It tickled a far corner of my brain that he'd been reading that book for a while. Not that I was one to judge anyone's reading speed, but I wondered if I should bring him a new book from the shop.

"Should we do something?" I asked Thoran once dinner had completed, and we were getting ready for our evening walk.

He threaded my arm into the crock of his as we started our usual path towards the office. "I'll talk to him."

I started to open my mouth when Cyrus appeared at our side, his expression set.

"There's someone at the gate," he said.

Thoran frowned but didn't ask questions as he turned his attention on me. "Go upstairs. Stay in our room. We'll continue our walk once I handle this."

I didn't argue.

I let him lead me to the staircase and started up. He was watching me when I glanced back, his scrutiny calm and protective. Their unwavering focus sent tingles of heat up my spine as I reached the top and rounded the corner.

I don't know what made me stop or slip up against the wall just before the stairs, but the sound of raised voices had me creeping to the edge to peer over. I hadn't seen another person come or go since my arrival, except the sheriff, and the thought of anyone just showing up in the dead of night made me curious.

Thoran stood in the foyer. A stunning vision in his dark suit and darker expression. The face he wore with me, the one that softened around the hard lines and smiled easily, was replaced by one of impatience and thunder. It was the face of a man who had no qualms about taking a life and walking over the body. This was the face he wore with the outside world and God help me, but I loved both.

Next to him, Vance stood still and somber with his hands neatly folded at his front and a deep furrow between his brow. Neither man spoke as they waited for the newcomer.

I wasn't sure what I had expected when the door did finally open, and a small gathering of people stalked into the foyer. Three of Thoran's men clustered around two others.

One I didn't recognize.

The other...

My breath caught. The air seized my lungs and froze my limbs. I had an inexplicable urge to throw up and scream at the same time, but all I did was stand and stare as the monster from my nightmares stepped into my home.

My life.

Again.

"Brixton," Thoran said coolly. "I thought we were meeting tomorrow at the hotel like we discussed."

Jarrett with his dark hair slicked back and his sharp features set on polite, inclined his head. He wore a dark suit over a white button up, but the front strained over a belly I didn't remember him having the last time I saw him. There were lines carved into his once passably handsome face that hadn't been there either. But the evil was fresh and angulating in the dark, oily pits of his eyes.

"I had a bit of spare time on my hands of late," Jarrett drawled. Oozed. "You must have heard I had a bit of bad luck of late and I just couldn't wait a moment longer to have her."

My insides twisted as every word sank into my soul.

He was there for me.

Thoran had told him.

He was going to take me to Jarrett in the morning.

He'd betrayed me.

No!

Thoran wouldn't. He loved me. I knew that with every ounce of breath in my body. Unless his friendship was equally important. Both things could be true. He realized what my name was and immediately called Jarrett the moment he no longer needed me to save his inheritance.

I had to shake the hysteria before it consumed me entirely and forced myself to listen.

"She's upstairs," Vance said briskly. "I must say she has been a handful."

Jarrett chuckled. The sound vile skating along my skin. "I do apologize for any inconveniences she may have caused you. I will of course pay for any extra ... handling, she required."

I wasn't wrong.

They were talking about me.

My heart thumped in my chest even as the muscle cracked straight down the center.

"Take Mr. Brixton to my office." Thoran said to Cyrus. Once the group had left the foyer, he turned to his advisor with annoyance crowding across his brow. "Were my instructions not clear?"

Vance inclined his head. "Quite clear, sir. I assure you."

Thoran sucked in a calming breath. "I have half a mind to make him wait until we bring her to him like we agreed."

Vance shook his head. "To avoid a war, perhaps we simply give the nuisance over and be done with the whole matter. From the very beginning, this whole ordeal has been such a tedious venture. I say we let him take her and be done."

Thoran sighed and gave a reluctant nod. "I am going to miss her. She was certainly a beauty to look at."

Vance gave a grunt. "For all the pain she's caused, beauty just isn't enough."

Thoran gave another exhale and turned. He said a series of words I missed, except for when he said, "Get Naya."

I stood rooted even as the very ground eroded beneath my feet. My limbs went numb as all the blood left my body. Every word had been as clear as a bell. Unmistakable. Thoran was giving me back to Jarrett.

After everything.

Blinded by tears and betrayal, I stepped out of my heels and tore down the hall to my room. I shut the door and locked it for good measure. I had no time to change, but I grabbed my coat and ducked into the bathroom. I closed that door as well just as a knock sounded in the bedroom.

"Mrs. Lacroix?" Vance called.

I hurried to the window, coat flying around my shoulders as I tossed it on. The latch gave easily beneath my shaky fingers, and I heaved my weight over the frame.

Another knock.

Louder.

I shut the window behind me and sprinted across the edge to where I'd seen the trellis. It was still light enough thankfully for me to find the strip of white running down the side of the building.

With my feet bare and my limbs numb, I shimmied awkwardly over the side. My legs dangled for several long seconds, suspended while I tried to find the first loop with my toes. I hadn't realized just how far the edge was to the wall until I was practically hanging on with only my arms and the grace of God.

Don't look down!The voice in my head pleaded.

Breath caught in my throat, I managed to get myself to the bottom. The moment my feet hit the cold, damp ground, I was running. I sprinted across frozen ground in bare feet in the direction of the village. Once I got there, I could hide until morning and escape. The how was a problem I would deal with once I had enough distance between me and the man who tore out my heart.