Page 71 of Allegiant

I exchange an incredulous look with Cade. How the fuck does our lifelong housekeeper know a Windsor?

I shove past Neo. “Is he dangerous?”

Usually, she’d make a face at me for daring to speak to her. She would definitely ignore me.

But this time, she doesn’t. She meets my eyes, and there’s nothing there but raw honesty. “Yes. But you already know that. He’s a Windsor, just as you’re a Buckingham.”

“Well, that settles it.” Cade claps me on the shoulder. “Best get Rowan on board with staying here for the foreseeable future.”

“About that,” Wylder says abruptly. “Rowan’s not to know who we are or what we do. Not yet.”

I glare hotly at him. “Rowan can be trusted.”

Wylder smiles thinly. “So you say. I agree that he’s the victim in this mess, and we will, of course, use all of our considerable resources to keep him safe. But we’re also protecting ourselves. Until he’s proven he can be trusted by all of us, he’s to be kept in the dark. You hear me, Samson?”

“Whatever,” I mutter, but Wylder takes it for the agreement it is. I don’t like it. Fucking hate it, to be honest, but if this is the price my family wants to demand to keep Rowan safe? Then I’ll suck it up and pay it.

18

ROWAN

I do like the conservatory. And the gym. The pool. The sauna. And don’t get me started on the room full of art. As if the galleries of portraits down several hallways weren’t enough, there’s a space large enough to constitute an actual museum. Every time I thought we’d made it to the end of the house, Ansel would turn and lead me down another hallway.

I’m completely lost at this point.

Ansel clicks his tongue sympathetically at the sight of my confused expression. “It’ll take some time, and a few panicked phone calls when you get lost, but you’ll get the hang of the layout.”

“I think you overestimate what Samson and I are to one another. I doubt I’ll be back here again.”

“I think you’re underestimating,” he replies as we suddenly step outside. I blink in the bright sunlight, rubbing at my sore eyes. My mug is gone. I set it down somewhere and forgot to grab it. Fuck. Hopefully someone will find it eventually. At least I remembered to drink it all before abandoning it.

“Come on,” Ansel says, setting his own empty mug on the ground as he reaches for my hand. We link fingers, and he pulls me forward. I’m giddy at the thought of having made a friend. I can’t quite remember why that’s not meant to be a good idea. Hmm.

Oh, wait. I think the giddiness might be due to the alcohol. Everything’s swaying a bit.

Ansel’s not much better. He seems to be walking in a zig-zag pattern. Can’t blame him. That champagne was fucking potent. No clue where they got it, but damn. Given the amount of tequila lingering in my veins… Yeah, I’m a little tipsy.

He gives a little hiccup, his spare hand swinging wildly in an arc before stopping. “The shed’s over here.”

Ansel tugs me a little too hard, and I stumble forward, a laugh erupting from my lips. “Shit, you’re strong.”

“Not as strong as you. Or Samson. Or Cade.” He sighs when he says that. I can tell he’s in love, can tell they’re enamored with one another. I wonder when that will fade, if it ever will.

I hope not. Ansel seems nice. I don’t like the thought of him upset.

“This is it,” he announces, throwing his arm out again, this time in a flourish. “Samson’s secret spot.”

“That sounds dirty.” I giggle, Ansel collapsing alongside me.

Christ, just what was in that champagne?

The shed isn’t much to write home about. It’s brown with a white door. In the center of it, there’s a piece of paper taped with five words scrawled across it.

Leave me the fuck alone!

An exclamation point and everything. Samson did not come to play.

Ansel sees where my attention is and giggles again. “He was so pissed at Neo for showing the brothers the video of him dancing.”