Page 52 of Silk and Sirens

Dad’s lip curled in a sneer. “Don’t act so high and mighty. You would’ve done the same in my position. We can’t have anyone digging into this.”

“If you’d covered your tracks properly, there’d be nothing to find.”

He stared at me, eyes hard. “Then what the hell are you going to do about her?”

I held his gaze, the storm inside me raging hotter with every second. Clearly Aeris kept her secrets locked tight against her chest, and I intended to tear them free, every last one, until there wasn’t a single shadow left in her that wasn’t mine.

Chapter 23

Aeris

My hands shook as I locked my front door, my adrenaline fading under the realisation that I was still alive. I knew it was always a possibility that Sebastian would decide to just kill me, but the fact I was mostly unharmed meant the plan could still work.

No, it will work.

It had to.

“Interesting night.”

The low, bitter voice came from the darkness of my hallway. I spun around to find Renley standing there, arms crossed, scowling like he wanted to put his fist through the wall.

“How the hell did you get in?” I asked through clenched teeth, too exhausted to hide my irritation. “Selene isn’t expecting me.”

“That was before you let him touch you.” Renley’s hands curled into fists at his sides, and I barely stopped myself from flinching. “She’s waiting for you.”

Panic clawed up my throat, but I swallowed it down and followed him into the living room where Selene sat with a cup of tea, illuminated by the lamp I left on for Mira.

You’re going to run, and you’re not going to look back.

“What happened at Hex?” Selene demanded, her voice cutting like glass and dragging me back from the memory.

“Exactly what you asked.”

“He needs to choose Vivienne, child.”

“You told me not to refuse him,” I managed to say, my voice much calmer than I felt. “Not when we’re this close to getting inside.” Selene had given me permission to seduce him—although the thought made me sick to the stomach—but I didn’t want to be forced to use my body to lure Caden deeper into Selene’s plan.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “So? Do you have an in?”

My tongue felt heavy in my mouth. “He took me to his flat.”

“Did you plant the device?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t get time, but I was close.”

“Close isn’t good enough.” Selene’s eyes sharpened, her heels clicking on my floor as she stood. “I told you to get rid of Alexander.”

“I got him arrested.”

“You know that’s not what I asked,” she snapped. “He controls the money. If the money goes, it’ll create a crack in their empire.”

“He’s under investigation⁠—”

“I wanted him dead!” Selene crossed the space until she stood before me. Her makeup was pristine as always, her eyelids always a various shade of purple. “I gave you a target, and I expect you to deliver.”

“Selene …”

She lifted her manicured hand, and Renley handed me a photograph of an image of a woman pushing a pram. It took me a second to realise it was my sister, which meant the baby was my newest nephew.