“It was you.”
“What?” she asked sharply.
“In Harold’s study. You were wearing Cynthia’s missing brooch. When you tried to leave, you tripped just like you did now. I couldn’t understand why she was wearing the brooch in the study and then it was gone minutes later when I saw her in the conservatory, but it’s because she never found it, and it wasn’t her in the study. It was you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was never—”
“How’s your ankle, Isabelle? Is it still bothering you from when you fell on the ice? You must have been furious to have such a careless accident in the middle of your plans.”
Her lips flattened, and her gaze narrowed into a harsh squint. “My ankle is fine. I’m worried about you, Tessa. Someone should really look into having you committed. You’re talking nonsense.”
“Am I?” I laughed under my breath, adrenaline spiking as the pieces fit into place. “You’re right. For a while there, I thought I was going mad. But it makes sense now. When I saw you in the study, you were getting rid of the evidence. You already knew about the forged shipping documents, but I bet you didn’t know Mae had a copy of her own.” I stepped closer, forcing her back against the wall. “There was something strange going on with the missing objects—it just took me a while to figure it out. You can thank Mae for that since she’s the one who led me to the grimoire, and speaking of Mae, if you took Cynthia’s form, then you took hers as well. Were you tormenting me with the apple? Did you think you could scare me?”
Isabelle’s skin flushed, and her nostrils flared. “Yes!” she snapped. “I want you gone. I got greedy though. Nice job tossing the apple out the window. I had to really hunt for it that time. Of course, Mae walked in while I was returning it. You should have seen the look on her face when she discovered me in her form. She freaked out.”
“And you killed her.”
Isabelle smirked. “Earlier than I intended, but yes. I couldn’t let her go after she learned what I was. But it was the icing on the cake when you discovered her body. The cut on your hand, the bloody gown—it was perfection.”
“And my accidents?”
An evil smile spread across her lips, and she lifted her arm, wriggling her fingers. “My idea. Like I said, I want you gone. Shot, drowned, insane—it doesn’t matter. Whatever gets you out of Derrick’s life. You’re a distraction to him, keeping him from his true future.”
My vision tunneled as magic sparked in my hands, glowing brighter as flames curled around my fingers. “Are the others like you? Can they shapeshift as well?”
She crossed her arms, and scorn dripped from her tone. “I wasn’t born this way, if that’s what you’re asking. No. Sometimes, you want something bad enough that you’ll go to any length to get it. Tell me, Tessa, how far would you go to get what you want?”
“What?” The familiar words rang in my head. Andrew had asked me the same question earlier in the night, but I didn’t know what he meant by it.
A shiver ran down my spine. I’d missed something. Isabelle had claimed she’d killed Mae earlier than she intended. How far back did her plans go, and what if Mae wasn’t the only target?
“Where’s Richard?”
“You ask a lot of questions. Are you going to use your magic on me if I don’t answer? I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The flames danced in the reflection of her eyes. Isabelle squared her shoulders, pushing away from the wall. She advanced on me, her grin widening when I raised my palms in defense, ready to strike.
“Why not? Do you think I’m going to let you get away with Mae’s murder? You’re done, Isabelle. It’s over.”
She made a tsk sound and angled her head. “I don’t think so.”
I tensed as she diverted her gaze to something over my shoulder.
By the time I heard the footsteps, it was too late. Pain exploded in the back of my head, and white lights flashed behind my eyes. My knees hit the floor, and then I landed on my side, pressing at the ache firing in my skull. A pair of snow-crusted boots appeared in my blurry vision, and I heard Isabelle’s voice echoing through the ringing in my ears.
Leaning over me, she said, “I told you not to threaten me. It’ll only make my brother mad.”
***
Consciousness ebbed and flowed. Andrew paced the floor in front of me, his boots clicking with each step. I kept my eyes closed and carefully twisted my wrists. My hands were bound behind my back tight enough that I was losing feeling in my fingers. A cloth covered my mouth, and nausea churned in my stomach from the agony pulsing in my head, but it was slowly subsiding.
“Was he dead? Did you find the body?” Isabelle asked.
“Yes. I did what you told me to do,” Andrew said.
“Perfect. If they find our father, they’ll think he succumbed to the storm elements. You did good, Andrew. We’re almost done.”
Richard’s dead?
The pounding in my head doubled, and I stifled a groan. I peeked through my lashes. We weren’t in the guest room anymore. The floor beneath me was cold, and a pair of lanterns rested on the floor, casting shadows on the stone walls. Mildew assaulted my nose. I was pretty sure they’d moved me to the basement.
