Page 33 of Vows of Ruin

Julies studies me for a long moment, something sad and thoughtful in her expression. “Well,” she says softly. “There’s a reason for that.”

Margot and I both look at her. Julie folds her hands on the table, like she’s finally opening a box she’s kept shut for years.

“You were very little,” She says to me. “But there were a few incidents. One where you got hurt. Badly. You had a traumatic brain injury.”

The words hit like a dropped plate.

Margot looks at me sharply. “What happened?” she says.

I stare at Julie when she doesn't answer right away. “I knew I had an accident,” I say slowly. “But no one ever told me details.”

Julie sighs softly. “Something happened, they wouldn’t give me anymore other than you got hurt. Charles and Benjamin forced Vivian to get Sebastian help,” she says. “Everything changed after that. He was sent away and then… Vivian… she erased him. From the house, from photographs, from conversation. From everything. ”

Margot’s eyes widen. “You never told us any of that.”

Julie gives a small, humorless smile. “I wasn’t allowed to talk about it,” she says. “Vivian made that very clear. She paid me well, paid for Margot’s schooling, made sure we were taken care of. But the condition was silence. Sebastian was not to be mentioned. Ever. To anyone.”

Margot and I just stare at her. I knew my mother wielded power and control over people, but not this. Not even a hint.

“I remember a boy being around,” Margot says slowly. “Just pieces. But you were always really protective when he was there,” She looks at her mother. “You didn’t like him.”

Julie’s expression tightens. “I knew something was wrong with that boy even before Wrenley was born,” she says quietly. “He watched people too closely. Didn’t play like other kids. Didn’t laugh. He just… watched. When he looked at you girls, I never liked the way it felt.”

A cold feeling settles low in my stomach.

Margot squeezes her mother’s hand. “He’s made some implied threats,” she says. “Nothing direct, but enough that we’re not comfortable leaving you alone right now.”

“Is he dangerous?” she asks quietly.

I answer before Margot can. “Yes.” I don’t sugar coat my words. Even if Margot is trying to protect her. Julie needs to understand that this isn’t about old photographs or childhood memories.

Julie nods slowly, like she expected that answer. “And you want me to leave town?” She asks.

“Just for a little while,” Margot says softly. “Go stay with Uncle Dan. Think of it like a vacation. We just want to make sure this doesn’t turn into anything.”

Julie looks at her daughter, then at me.

“The Black Serpents will handle it.” She says. It’s not a question. It’s never been a secret to her who Margot and I have tied our lives to.

I hold her gaze and nod. “Yes. We will.”

She exhales slowly, then gives a small nod. “Alright,” she says. “I’ll go stay with my brother for a while. I’ll leave this afternoon.”

Margot’s shoulders drop slightly, the tension leaving her like she’s been holding that breath since last night.

After we said goodbye to Margot’s mother. Margot said retail therapy would make everything seem normal. Of course she wanted to shop when she woke me up this morning. We’ve been shopping all afternoon, and it’s near late evening when we make our last stop.

Margot holds up something sheer and scandalous, raising a brow. “This or the red lace?”

I smirk, tugging a hanger free, leather, black, strappy. Wearable sin. “This.”

Margot snorts. “Leather, huh?’

I shrug, unapologetic. “It was requested.”

Her eyes gleam as she plucks something from the wall behind her and tosses it at me. A leather riding crop lands in my hands. “This is fun too.”

I turn it in my fingers, grin sharpening. “I bet.”