In truth, I felt horrible that I did not know. Anya and I had not spoken since our altercation, for which I could only blame myself. I did not think she would have sought me out to tell me the news, even if our circumstances differed. She hated me, hated the part I played in Calia’s death.
The death that was now inconsequential.
For all the excitement, I saw the change of topic for what it was—a distraction. Uncomfortable words had been spoken, words that could not be taken back, and words that would change the trajectory of our lives.
While Elios had been the one to tell his tale, Calia’s own was at the forefront of it all. It revolved around her as though she were the sun holding the pieces in orbit.
“I have been preoccupied of late, so I am not sure, but I know Anya would both welcome the company and to know you are safe,” I said, giving a brittle smile.
Once, I would have considered Anya a well-known acquaintance. I did not have friends other than Jasper and had never allowed myself to view anyone else in that light should my darkness bring them down beside me, but it was enough that I was ashamed of my actions toward her. And given how highly Calia regarded her, it caused my stomach to sink further.
I had not seen Anya since the incident, but Rowena assured me she had checked on her. “Everything’s fine,” she had said.“She may hate your guts for the rest of her life, but otherwise, she’s fine!”
It had not been reassuring.
Calia’s smile faltered, as though she sensed discord between us, yet she said nothing. Rowena, however, spoke to fill the awkward tension. “She hasn’t yet! I’ve been checking in with Anya daily. If you’re up for it, perhaps we could visit her? And it would be nice to get some fresh air, with how dense these conversations have become.”
“Dogs? You’ve had dogs this entire time, and this is the first I’ve heard of it?” Sloane asked, standing and pulling Rowena to her feet. “I can’t believe you’ve held out on me! What’re we waiting for?”
“Ooh, I want to go, too!” Brielle echoed, looping her arm through Calia’s.
None of the women hesitated before rushing out of the room. Their laughter trailed behind them, leaving the rest of us in stilted silence.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Jasper was the first to break the awkward tension, mumbling something about needing a drink as he ambled toward the bar cart at the back of the room. He poured two fingers of whiskey, noticing how Castor kept his watchful gaze trained on my every move, and quickly downed the glass before pouring another.
He grabbed the bottle and four crystal lowballs before returning to us, setting them on the table. “Figured we might want this,” he said, gesturing toward the liquor.
“I’m fine,” Castor said, bristling as Ballard and Elios inched closer and poured drinks for themselves.
Elios sat down in the chair Calia had vacated, picking at a piece of lint on his suit as he leaned back in the plush leather. He held up the glass, admiring the deep amber liquid against the light. “I have never been one to refuse a drink, especially not as fine as this.” He closed his eyes and took a tentative sip, groaning as the flavors of vanilla and oak landed on his tongue. “Your father had fine taste, Rion.”
“How did you know it was from his collection?” I asked, tracing the rim of my glass in idle worry.
“I met him a time or two throughout his life. He had this air of pride about him that I believe most saw as arrogance. That could not have been further from the truth. He was interested in justice, where others couldn’t see past the thickness of their wallets. This whiskey, though… It sat in his office. He didn’t use it much, save for special occasions.” He tipped his head, lips curling into a knowing smile. “Such as the announcement of his first and only son.”
A shiver ran through me, causing goosebumps to pepper my skin. I ached from the loss of a man I wished was still here. A man who would have taught me what it meant to be a good husband and, eventually, perhaps, a good father.
I took great comfort in knowing that the man I idolized was revered by a god. Not just for a good deed here or there, but for giving a shit about those around him in a way most others did not. Our family line was full of arranged marriages, perhaps predominantly because of the curse binding Darrow and D’Arcy. I knew that was how my parents came to be.
But how he could stand to be in the same room as my mother for extended periods was beyond me. My conception had taken nearly two centuries. Yet, he fulfilled his role and duty as the patriarch of our clan without complaint or chagrin.
Despite his kind nature, I knew my father was the only person my mother ever truly feared. I saw it in her eyes the day he had come home to find me naked, shivering in the deepest dark of the deprivation chamber.
His features morphed into pure malice, fangs elongated to a fine point as he turned to her and snarled words I could not hear. It had been enough. Whatever he said had her scurrying to grab my clothes and push me up the stairs before I could register the roar of pain echoing from below my feet.
Elios’ voice drew me back to the present. “Not that he knew who I was, mind you, but I took it upon myself to keep an eye onthe council after the fall of theroyalDarrow line. That is how I met Ballard here, by popping in occasionally,” he said, gesturing at the witch beside him.
Jasper knew where I had gone, nudging me ever so slightly with the tip of his shoe.Are you okay?
That question proved challenging, but he had done more than enough worrying on my behalf. I could not bring myself to add to that burden, so I nodded once.
An ear splitting screech pierced the quiet night, stilling the glass in my hand. “Calia,” I breathed, each of us on our feet and rushing out the door before her name had left my lips.
With my power, I searched the surrounding area, instantly finding Calia’s guarded wall. How was I supposed to know if she was alright if I could not penetrate her thoughts?
It only took a moment for us to slide into the foyer. Castor stopped at the threshold with a snarl, barred from stepping out beneath the moon’s glow. Ballard stayed behind as Jasper, Elios, and I flew past in a blur. We aimed for the speck of light in the distance, the small cabin that abutted our family’s estate.
