Page 118 of Petrify

Is he remembering our conversation only hours ago?

Why don’t I escort you back?

What would he have done if I said ‘yes’? What would have happened to me in this house if Baz was not here to scare him off?

Perhaps Leo knew all along he would get what’s coming to him. Maybe he knew eventually Bastien would snap.

It would be so easy to just push the blade forward, slice his carotid right open. I know how easy it is to take a life. I’ve done it before. There’s power in it, the sort of power you can get addicted to.

“No.” I step back.

Bastien, arms wrapped around me from behind, nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck again. He exhales a groan, a delighted sound, rumbling deep in his chest. “Feeling nice today?”

“No,” I say again, turning in his arms.

Baz is still grinning. He’s enjoying this, eyelids heavy with the pleasure of their fear.

I hold the knife out to him. “He’s not worth it.”

Jason follows me everywhere. Crossing that threshold into murder, I did not know how the ghost of your victim, however accidental, would become your shadow.

I am haunted enough. I do not need more blood on my hands.

“Don’t worry,” Bastien says. “I’ll do this for you.”

He knew I wouldn’t have the spine for this. He knew thehonorwould fall to him.

Another crime I could stop.

“You know, Mallary’s kindness is rubbing off on me, I think.” The knife slips through his fingers, clattering to the floor. “I’ll give each of you a choice.”

Both of the Beauchenes deflate in place once the blade is out of his hands.

The doors crash open again.

Desmond comes through, eyeing us warily, his light hair is still mostly smoothed back, only a few strands hanging in his face. He still wears the black trousers from his suit, though his jacket is missing. He motions somebody in, and then two other men are carrying in a huge wooden crate.

And the crate ishissing.

“Des—!” Leo’s eyes go wide. He struggles against the ties around his wrists.

“No, don’t look at him.” Baz’s voice thunders through the empty ballroom. “Look atme.”

Leo’s breathing quickens as his son steps closer.

“He won’t help you now. I took one out of your book—I gave him an ultimatum. You should be proud, though, it wasn’t hard. Your entire staff can be bought, it seems.”

Leo winces. “Hold on. Let’s just talk about this?—”

“Doesn’t it hurt, knowing you have no one left to save you?” Baz taunts, bending at the waist so they’re eye to eye. “You know, I wasn’t going to do anything tonight, until you threatened her.I was content to let the music be the big event and give you one more chance.Youruined the night. Des here sent all the guests home.”

A deep red stains Leo’s teeth, his dried blood flaking on his chin. He glares at Baz with an absolute loathing.

“And in your arrogance, you assumed you were safe. All this time,” Baz says. “You wereneversafe in this house with me.”

Mariane can’t hold back the sob that wracks through her. “Arnie, we didn’t?—”

“Don’t,” he cuts her off, whirling in her direction. “Years of silence, andnowyou say that name?”