each other.” It wasn’t a lie so I didn’t feel guilty about it.
He nodded absently. I’m not even certain he heard me.
Avery and Emma came out of the crypt a little while later, and my father gave permission to close the tomb up once more. He hadn’t gone in either. Why not? I knew my reason – because that wasn’t Dede in there – but what was his?
I wondered about this as the six of us walked out to the gate. I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder to check on Fee. I should have told Val, so he could arrest her, but I kept quiet. There was a mystery here, and squealing on Fee would only hand it over to someone else to solve.
I
was going to suss out this intrigue.
A few photographers and reporters waited by Vardan’s carriage, having followed us from the service. Flashes went off, questions were yelled at us over the top of one another. I hesitated just inside the gate. Val glanced at me. Poor thing looked a wreck.
“Coming, Xandy? Father’s going to take us home.”
I shook my head. “I’m not ready to leave just yet. You and Avery go on without me.”
He ran his hand up and down my arm. “I understand. You have your rotary?” At my nod he said, “Ring me if you need anything. See you tomorrow?”
Another nod. We hugged and kissed each other on the cheek.
Church embraced me as well. When he asked if I wanted company, I thanked him and told him that I really just needed a little time alone. I don’t think he wanted to give me that, didn’t want me to be by myself, but he respected me enough to do just that. He waved at me through the carriage window as it pulled away.
I returned to the cemetery, ignoring the shrinking number ofreporters. It was darker here than out there on the street, and while I could see everything perfectly, the vultures couldn’t see me. I don’t think they even noticed I wasn’t with the others; it was the Duke they were interested in.
I waited a few moments, until my family and the reporters were gone, before slowly making my way back to the Vardan crypt. I kept low, using the elaborate monuments and headstones as cover as I crept silently through the grass. It was slow going – I had to be quieter than usual, and stay downwind.
Crouched behind a stone sarcophagus, I peeked around the worn edge. From there I had a dead-on view of my family’s final resting place. I wasn’t surprised to see the door to the tomb was open again. I had a pretty good idea who was inside.
What the fuck was that blue-haired thief up to? Anger – no, aggression – bubbled inside me. I wanted to march in there and tear her head off, protect what was mine. But that would be foolish, and I wasn’t that stupid.
I didn’t see anyone else lurking about, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. I moved fast, ducking behind another stone as I manoeuvred closer to the tomb. I approached from the side so that whoever was inside wouldn’t see me coming, pausing long enough to pull the lonsdaelite dagger from the sheath sewn into my coat.
I slipped into the crypt. A lone figure was standing next to the rosewood casket, covered from head to toe in a long hooded cloak. It was Fee, judging from the size. And she was about to lift the coffin lid.
I pounced on her, using my body weight and strength to pin her to the coffin, which shifted on its shelf. She struggled, but I slammed her face into the casket before flipping her over so that she faced me. I pressed the edge of my dagger to her throat and tore her hood off with the other hand.
I was right. It was Fee. The dagger trembled, eager to slicethrough her skin and give me access to the blood beneath. I was so angry. So
hungry
.
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” I demanded as saliva flooded my tongue.
“Paying my respects,” she replied, glancing down at the blade as blood trickled from her nostrils to her mouth. “Could you put that away?”
I ignored the request. I wanted to lick her upper lip clean. “How do you
He nodded absently. I’m not even certain he heard me.
Avery and Emma came out of the crypt a little while later, and my father gave permission to close the tomb up once more. He hadn’t gone in either. Why not? I knew my reason – because that wasn’t Dede in there – but what was his?
I wondered about this as the six of us walked out to the gate. I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder to check on Fee. I should have told Val, so he could arrest her, but I kept quiet. There was a mystery here, and squealing on Fee would only hand it over to someone else to solve.
I
was going to suss out this intrigue.
A few photographers and reporters waited by Vardan’s carriage, having followed us from the service. Flashes went off, questions were yelled at us over the top of one another. I hesitated just inside the gate. Val glanced at me. Poor thing looked a wreck.
“Coming, Xandy? Father’s going to take us home.”
I shook my head. “I’m not ready to leave just yet. You and Avery go on without me.”
He ran his hand up and down my arm. “I understand. You have your rotary?” At my nod he said, “Ring me if you need anything. See you tomorrow?”
Another nod. We hugged and kissed each other on the cheek.
Church embraced me as well. When he asked if I wanted company, I thanked him and told him that I really just needed a little time alone. I don’t think he wanted to give me that, didn’t want me to be by myself, but he respected me enough to do just that. He waved at me through the carriage window as it pulled away.
I returned to the cemetery, ignoring the shrinking number ofreporters. It was darker here than out there on the street, and while I could see everything perfectly, the vultures couldn’t see me. I don’t think they even noticed I wasn’t with the others; it was the Duke they were interested in.
I waited a few moments, until my family and the reporters were gone, before slowly making my way back to the Vardan crypt. I kept low, using the elaborate monuments and headstones as cover as I crept silently through the grass. It was slow going – I had to be quieter than usual, and stay downwind.
Crouched behind a stone sarcophagus, I peeked around the worn edge. From there I had a dead-on view of my family’s final resting place. I wasn’t surprised to see the door to the tomb was open again. I had a pretty good idea who was inside.
What the fuck was that blue-haired thief up to? Anger – no, aggression – bubbled inside me. I wanted to march in there and tear her head off, protect what was mine. But that would be foolish, and I wasn’t that stupid.
I didn’t see anyone else lurking about, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. I moved fast, ducking behind another stone as I manoeuvred closer to the tomb. I approached from the side so that whoever was inside wouldn’t see me coming, pausing long enough to pull the lonsdaelite dagger from the sheath sewn into my coat.
I slipped into the crypt. A lone figure was standing next to the rosewood casket, covered from head to toe in a long hooded cloak. It was Fee, judging from the size. And she was about to lift the coffin lid.
I pounced on her, using my body weight and strength to pin her to the coffin, which shifted on its shelf. She struggled, but I slammed her face into the casket before flipping her over so that she faced me. I pressed the edge of my dagger to her throat and tore her hood off with the other hand.
I was right. It was Fee. The dagger trembled, eager to slicethrough her skin and give me access to the blood beneath. I was so angry. So
hungry
.
“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” I demanded as saliva flooded my tongue.
“Paying my respects,” she replied, glancing down at the blade as blood trickled from her nostrils to her mouth. “Could you put that away?”
I ignored the request. I wanted to lick her upper lip clean. “How do you
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