“Cally.” Antoine cut through the banter with a serious tone, then reached for her hand. “Roberto summoned me tonight.”
“I know,” she said softly. “Noah told me. I would’ve driven after you if Belle hadn’t been with you.”
“She’s been shitting a brick,” Eve added. “Asking Noah every five minutes if he could sense you back in range yet.”
Cally spun toward her. “One more word out of you—!”
Eve raised her hands in placation, finally looking up from her book. “Making like a shadow, just forget I’m here.”
“We were trying to!” Cally let out a breath, glanced toward the door like she regretted suggesting they stayed, then gave him an apologetic smile. “So what happened tonight?”
“Well, he tried to claim you by virtue of some ancient vampiric custom, but Belle stopped him.”
“Did he now?” She clenched her jaw. “When are you killing him again?”
“Soon,ma chérie. I promise.”
“Is that it?” She searched his face. “There’s more, isn’t there? He didn’t stop there, did he?”
“No. My refusal gave him the excuse he needed to strip my territory and make me an outcast.” He sighed. “I have seven days to leave my territory, and…” He spread his hands. “I am afraid we may not have anywhere to live for much longer.”
“Well that’s not a problem.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “We’ll kill him and take his house, instead. It’s bigger, too.”
Antoine’s lips twitched. “It may not be so easy, but I do like the idea.”
“We can accomplish anything, if we do ittogether,” she said, deliberately stressing the last word.
“I stand chastised,mon amour. You are, as always, quite correct.”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t telling you off, Antoine. I only want to be included.”
“And you will be.”
She nodded. “Is that all of it?”
He hesitated. “No. There is more, and it may be difficult for you to hear.”
“Which part of our relationship has been easy?” she said lightly, but the tightening around her eyes belied her tension.
“I… have news of your mother.”
Cally blinked. “What?”
“What?” Eve echoed, then quickly looked down at her book with a muttered ‘sorry’.
“I have reason to believe it was not Nico who attacked her.”
“I knew that,” Cally said slowly. “He told me at the Order’s house—he only likes boys. And he was convincing.”
“I wasn’t aware,” Antoine said. “Still, I think I know whodidattack her. The only saving grace is that the attacker did not intend to kill her. I’m not even sure she realized what she’d done.”
“She?” Cally fixed on the word, her eyes flickering in realization. “Belle?”
“Just so,” he said grimly, ready for Cally to go for the door and hunt her down.
But she didn’t. Instead, she turned from him and stepped toward the bed, gripping her arms. “Why?”
The single word cut through the quiet, and Eve looked between the two of them, barely breathing.
