wallet. She'd bring it out when he resisted following her commands and she'd talk about all the horrible things she'd do to them if he didn't obey her." He shook his head and lowered himself into the chair next to mine with a long sigh.
"My skills as a painter weren't what drew Eleanor to me. She sensed that I'd inherit her charismatic charms, so when I did, she put me to use luring in female victims. She called them cattle. When she found out I’d been a soldier, and had quit because I’d hated the killing, she forced me to train in the fine art of torture. I became one of her enforcers. When I refused, I was tortured, usually by Antoine. She broke all of us over and over so we continued to do what she demanded. Garrett was the only one strong enough to stand up to her for any length of time."
A shiver ran down his entire body as he remembered what she’d done to him and the others. “Whatever artistic gift I was born with shrivele d up and died many years ago.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked at me, probably thinking I’d be appalled by what I'd heard. Instead, I wiped away a tear. "Don't weep for me. There are many more deserving of your tears."
A kernel of an idea grew in my mind. He watched a smile spread across my face and arched a blonde eyebrow in curiosity. “What? My story is now amusing to you?”
“Can I speak to you privately, i n your mind?” I knew that we were being monitored by Garrett and I didn’t want him to hear. Sasha nodded. “ Garrett’s birthday is right after Christmas on New Year’s Day.”
“ Yes, so…?”
“Would you paint my portrait so I can give it to him? He’s got one of his family hanging over the fireplace that he loves , and I thought he might like one of me too.”
Sasha smiled at the idea. “He would treasure it, but you could find a much better artist to paint it. I’ll check around for you.”
“No, I want you to do it. Please. It'll mean more to him and me if you do it.” He didn't look convinced. " You know it's true. You've part of his family, and mine too."
“I don’t have paints or brushes or…”
“Make a list. Those supplies will be my gift to you, Sasha. ” He shook his head. “Don’t argue with me. We’ll go together to the art store and you can get everything you need. I want you to start painting again. We’ll make one of the rooms in the Vamp Villa a studio for you. Maybe Aedus will want a picture of Philladre and the baby.” I realized that I was jabbering on excitedly without considering how he might feel about this idea. “I'm sorry, Sash. You can think it over. I'm being pushy, aren't I? I only thought you might like to paint again.”
He stared at me for several seconds looking puzzled. I laughed. "I'm serious, about all of it." Perhaps he could finally believe that we were a team: a group who supported each other during our work but also in our everyday lives. He’d trusted me with personal information that he’d rarely shared.
Understanding passed between us as he nodded his head. “Mistress, I would be honored to paint your portrait. Thank you.” His smile was genuine and it made me very happy to see it.
CHAPTER SIX
We’d managed to finish all of the interviews an hour before dawn, so we had thirty minutes to go over our list of prime candidates before Garrett and his nest had to take off. Everyone was sprawled on various chairs and couches, with Brina perched on a window seat near the front door and Kaera leaning against the wall near the hallway that led toward the back entrance. The fae sisters always put our safety first, giving the rest o f us a chance to relax after a very long and stressful night.
I decided to speak first, because Sasha and I had something that would surprise everyone. “Katrina, Quentin’s mate, is a witch.”
“Get the fuck out. Did she try to cast a spell or something?” Kyle was immediately sitting up and leaning forward, excitement glittering in his eyes. Garrett was
"My skills as a painter weren't what drew Eleanor to me. She sensed that I'd inherit her charismatic charms, so when I did, she put me to use luring in female victims. She called them cattle. When she found out I’d been a soldier, and had quit because I’d hated the killing, she forced me to train in the fine art of torture. I became one of her enforcers. When I refused, I was tortured, usually by Antoine. She broke all of us over and over so we continued to do what she demanded. Garrett was the only one strong enough to stand up to her for any length of time."
A shiver ran down his entire body as he remembered what she’d done to him and the others. “Whatever artistic gift I was born with shrivele d up and died many years ago.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked at me, probably thinking I’d be appalled by what I'd heard. Instead, I wiped away a tear. "Don't weep for me. There are many more deserving of your tears."
A kernel of an idea grew in my mind. He watched a smile spread across my face and arched a blonde eyebrow in curiosity. “What? My story is now amusing to you?”
“Can I speak to you privately, i n your mind?” I knew that we were being monitored by Garrett and I didn’t want him to hear. Sasha nodded. “ Garrett’s birthday is right after Christmas on New Year’s Day.”
“ Yes, so…?”
“Would you paint my portrait so I can give it to him? He’s got one of his family hanging over the fireplace that he loves , and I thought he might like one of me too.”
Sasha smiled at the idea. “He would treasure it, but you could find a much better artist to paint it. I’ll check around for you.”
“No, I want you to do it. Please. It'll mean more to him and me if you do it.” He didn't look convinced. " You know it's true. You've part of his family, and mine too."
“I don’t have paints or brushes or…”
“Make a list. Those supplies will be my gift to you, Sasha. ” He shook his head. “Don’t argue with me. We’ll go together to the art store and you can get everything you need. I want you to start painting again. We’ll make one of the rooms in the Vamp Villa a studio for you. Maybe Aedus will want a picture of Philladre and the baby.” I realized that I was jabbering on excitedly without considering how he might feel about this idea. “I'm sorry, Sash. You can think it over. I'm being pushy, aren't I? I only thought you might like to paint again.”
He stared at me for several seconds looking puzzled. I laughed. "I'm serious, about all of it." Perhaps he could finally believe that we were a team: a group who supported each other during our work but also in our everyday lives. He’d trusted me with personal information that he’d rarely shared.
Understanding passed between us as he nodded his head. “Mistress, I would be honored to paint your portrait. Thank you.” His smile was genuine and it made me very happy to see it.
CHAPTER SIX
We’d managed to finish all of the interviews an hour before dawn, so we had thirty minutes to go over our list of prime candidates before Garrett and his nest had to take off. Everyone was sprawled on various chairs and couches, with Brina perched on a window seat near the front door and Kaera leaning against the wall near the hallway that led toward the back entrance. The fae sisters always put our safety first, giving the rest o f us a chance to relax after a very long and stressful night.
I decided to speak first, because Sasha and I had something that would surprise everyone. “Katrina, Quentin’s mate, is a witch.”
“Get the fuck out. Did she try to cast a spell or something?” Kyle was immediately sitting up and leaning forward, excitement glittering in his eyes. Garrett was
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