Page 17 of Realm of the Wicked

‘Don’t,’ I warned.

‘Don’t what?’ Agatha snapped the tea towel over her shoulder, setting a mug down next to the quieting kettle.

‘Whatever you’re going to say, just don’t say it.’ I pinched the bridge of my nose, tossing a teabag into the waiting mug and filling it with the steaming water.

‘I wasn’t going to say anything.’

I cut my eyes to the older woman with a glare, both of us knowing how big of a lie that was. My tea could not steep fast enough. If I didn’t want to be completely in control of myself today, I would’ve already thrown a healthy dose of whiskey into the mug, but I didn’t want to be even mildly out of control if Stella came looking for me.

‘All I was going to say is that you got home rather late last night.’

I closed my eyes, desperately pressing my fingertips into my eyes. Here we go. ‘And?’

‘And you had me light the fire in the guest bedroom.’

‘Your point?’

‘You brought her here, didn’t you?’

I opened my eyes to stare at Agatha, leaning against the countertop like she didn’t have a care in the world. Despite the early hour, she was already dressed for the day in casual trousers and a loose white shirt, her gray hair piled high on her head. I gulped at my tea despite the heat, needing something to draw out the moment before I stuck my foot in my mouth.

Finally, I sighed. ‘And if I did?’

Agatha watched me, unblinking. Whatever mother I’d had as a child I’d long forgotten, dredged deep in my human memories, but I often thought Agatha was probably the closest thing I’d get to another. Not that I’d ever confess such a thing to her. I’d never live down a comment implying she was older than me.

It was with this mother-like attitude that she finally spoke. ‘Does she understand why she’s here?’

‘More or less.’ I took another deep sip of my tea, begging the caffeine to kick in. ‘I didn’t go into that much detail, but she understands the gist of it, I think.’

‘Oh, so you told her that you’ve been watching her for years, and brought her here because you’re obsessive to a fault? How bold of you, D.’ Agatha’s eyes flashed, and she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

I glared back. ‘You’ll remember your place in this household if it’s good for you.’

Agatha wasn’t frightened, which didn’t surprise me in the slightest. ‘If you wanted a quiet housekeeper, you would’ve found one. Instead, you found me. And if she’s here permanently, you need to tell her the truth. If the Council finds out and comes looking, they’re not going to keep your secrets.’

I hated how right she was. ‘Do you not think I haven’t considered the Council? Do you not think they haven’t been on my mind since the moment I made that deal with Stella?’

I knew what I had done with Stella was risky. But I saw an opportunity and I took it, and I refused to apologize for that.

Even if it meant she now slept in my house, curled up beneath my sheets. Maybe she’d even fallen asleep thinking about me.

I could only be so lucky.

Agatha just stared at me until I cursed under my breath. ‘I will tell her. I swear. Can you stop looking at me like I have more heads than Cerberus now?’

‘You know I care about you, Damien.’ She sighed, taking my mug and turning back to the sink. ‘I just hope you know what you’re doing.’

The honest truth was I hoped I did, too.

7

STELLA

I woke in my too-fancy bed with the taste of a dream still lingering on my lips. The sun streamed through the too-fancy curtains I had thrown open last night in a desperate bid to feel like I wasn’t trapped.

I’d been running down an endless hallway. Something had been following me, close on my heel, but every time I’d turned around, I could only just glimpse a shadow.

I shivered, throwing off the silk sheets.