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I slowly started, and then the words spilled out and I told her, told her everything. About Anadey drugging me and tying me down and trying to strip away my feelings for Grieve. About Wrath being my father, and the plan to find out who Anadey was working with. About the picture with Myst—who looked like me—and Geoffrey. By the time I finished telling her about what Kaylin and I had witnessed, she was staring slack-jawed, shaking her head.
“I can’t even begin to put it all together, but, Cicely, I’m afraid. You know too much. You’re walking into a lion’s den. And somehow, I don’t think Lannan is the lion in this cage.”
I nodded. “You think Geoffrey was behind Anadey’s actions?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like you going out there by yourself.”
“I can’t take anybody—the vamps would be pissed and the last thing we want to do is stomp on any vampire egos. Lannan . . . he tried to warn me in that e-mail and if I hadn’t seen what Kaylin took me to see, or the print . . . I wouldn’t have believed him. I’d have thought it was yet another trick to get me into his clutches. But now, I don’t think so.”
“Don’t trust him too much, Cicely. He’s not one of the good guys.”
“I don’t. I know he still wants me and will do what it takes to get hold of me. But now—alliances are running deep and hidden, and I’m realizing there’s a lot more to this than what’s on the surface.” I stood and straightened the dress. “This is really pretty. I wish . . . I wish I could have thanked Heather for it.”
“I wish so, too,” Rhia said. “I miss her so much. I hate that she’s out there, a spawn of the Indigo Court. I hate that they transformed her. She was so wonderful and now, now she’s Myst’s confidant.”
“That’s another thing,” I said. “Myst has to be fuming. Wrath and Lainule managed to capture Grieve. Myst will be on the hunt for her chosen one. And she’s going to blame me for his disappearance. You have to keep watch—the wards may not hold out against an all-out assault. And you can bet that tonight, Myst will realize Grieve is gone, and she may send her people.”
I braided my hair back in a French braid, slipped on some simple gold hoops and a pair of black pumps, and whisked on a quick, five-minute face for evening. Standing back, I observed myself in the mirror.
“You look elegant.” Rhiannon hunted through the closet and pulled out a simple black velvet cape. “Here, this will make the outfit.” She stood back as I slid my arms through the slits and fastened it by the single button in front. “There, see—you look incredible.”
The cape transformed the outfit. I paused long enough to slide the moonstone pendant over my head. “I wish I were going to visit Wrath and Lainule instead of Geoffrey.”
“I know. I wish we could go with you. I wish you didn’t have to face them alone.” She opened the door and handed me my purse. “Call us if you need us. We’ll be there . . . in fact, I’ll ask Kaylin and Peyton to drive out and park nearby. They can hide in the car and wait in case you need them.”
“Normally I’d say no, because the Shadow Hunters will be out tonight in full force, but I think I’d feel better if you did that. Tell them to be cautious, though, and keep a low profile. Don’t hang out on the streets. Take weapons.”
I wish I could go, my dear Cicely . . . watch how much you reveal. Sometimes silence brings life and to speak is to die.
Ulean couldn’t attend me—but I had learned the secret why. The Elementals could sense the vampires but not the other way around. Until now, we thought the vamps just didn’t like them. I thought about asking her to go with me now that we knew the truth, but the chance that someone there might be able to sense her—perhaps one of the bloodwhores—and rat us out was too great. I didn’t dare tick off Geoffrey.
I sucked in a deep breath and swallowed my fear. “I have survived worse fears before. When you’re six, facing the streets with a junkie mother tends to leave you immune to lesser threats.”
Besides, I would—if I read things right—be seeing my beloved Grieve tonight. And that . . . that one fact alone was enough to sustain me. I followed Rhiannon downstairs and peered out the living room window. Geoffrey was sending a limousine and I wanted to meet it outside rather than wait for them to come knocking.
A glance over at the Golden Wood told me that Myst had most likely discovered Grieve was missing. The forest was lit up like a house afire—the sickly glow that permeated the area was shining brightly, flaring with fits and sparks. I looked for Wrath, but he was nowhere in sight and I could only hope that he’d be there tonight when I arrived at Geoffrey’s. I wanted someone on my side who I felt I could believe in, and among all the major players, my father would be most likely to take my part. Lainule was ruthless in her own way, and the vampires were using me to their own ends, but Wrath . . . he was my father. And he’d been watching over me since I returned to New Forest.
A black sedan pulled up in our driveway and out stepped one of the vampires that I recognized by now from Geoffrey’s mansion. I exhaled slowly, steeling myself for the coming meeting. Picking up the bags with Geoffrey’s laundry, the chocolates, and the framed print, I stepped out into the icy night. I was headed straight into the arms of destiny. I only hoped she’d cover me with kisses, instead of flogging me with her whip.
As we pulled out of the driveway, I looked back at the Veil House, wondering how much longer we could hold the front line against Myst. Our wards were strong, but her desire was stronger.
Chapter 21
As I entered the mansion, I felt conspicuous. For one thing, there was no crowd this time. I was standing all alone in the foyer, with Butler-Vamp. A few people came and went—some of them vampires, some bloodwhores and servants—but for the most part, the house seemed empty.
“Follow me,” my guide said. I picked up the bags and obeyed.
We reached a door I’d never been through before, and as I entered the room, my wolf trembled and whimpered. I whispered comforting words to calm it and, heart pounding, turned to face Geoffrey.
He was sitting there, alone, and he looked hungry. I dropped the bags by my feet and glanced over my shoulder as the door behind me shut, and I heard the sound of a lock turning.
“Geoffrey . . . what did you want to see me about?” I wasn’t sure how to broach the picture—or anything, to be honest. It was unnerving to be in a room alone with the Regent, especially after what I’d seen and heard at the Owl People’s circle the night before.
He slowly stood, then languorously wandered over to my side. Without a word, he circled me, then came to a stop right in front of me. “Cicely, do you know where Leo is?”
I sucked in a deep breath. “Yes, he’s home very sick. He fainted this morning from a fever. I . . . I did his errands for him since I knew I would be seeing you tonight.” I pushed the bags forward with the toe of my shoe.
He glanced down at them. “Domestic, aren’t we? Playing fetch so Leo does not get into trouble? Or for another reason?”
