Page 82 of Anarchy Chained: Alpha Thomas

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - SADIE

Lincoln Wade’s mansion is… opulent. That’s the only word I have to describe it. It’s as big as the Prodigy School, but that’s where the similarities end. It’s one of those homes with wings. East wing. West wing. Hell, the front of the house looks like they might call it the north wing. There’s probably a south wing too. It’s made out of stone, which should be enough to conjure up an image of filthy rich. But it’s also got a bazillion windows. All symmetrically lining the entire length of the house on each floor.

Three floors, plus… a fourth? That might be an attic?

It looks like a hotel. Like it sleeps five hundred.

“I don’t like this,” Cyan whispers as we follow the men up the front walk. And even though Sullivan told me to trust him—and I said I would—I am having the same thoughts. “Something’s going on here, Sadie.”

“Yeah,” I say. “Maybe. But just give him a chance.”

“I am. For your sake. That’s the only reason I’m going along with this.”

“What do you mean?” I whisper as they reach the door ahead of us.

“I want you linked with Uzi. He’s been upset since we got you back and he realized you’re not connected. And he expected you to say something. So when you didn’t… well. He took it badly, Sadie. He’s hurt. You need to make it up to him.”

I narrow my eyes at her. But she either ignores me, or pretends not to see. And then we’re at the door and nothing else can be said. So I drop it.

There’s a foyer, if that word is even strong enough to describe the three-story room we find ourselves in. I look up at the chandelier. It’s got so many crystals hanging from it, the entire space shimmers with dew-drops of shimmering light.

When I look down at the floor I find it just as impressive. Wood—several types, actually. Because there’s an inlay of intricate diamond shapes.

“This way,” Lincoln says, motioning to the great room beyond. The focal point is a massive stone fireplace that reaches all the way up to the ceiling. I almost get lost as I look up.

“Stop gawking,” Cyan whispers. “You look ridiculous.” She walks off, following the men into the big room, leaving me behind.

But I ignore her. This place is just way too beautiful not to gawk.

Molly, Lincoln Wade’s wife—girlfriend—whatever she is—is next to me. We’re both looking at the fireplace. “Do you like it?” she asks.

“I love it.” I smile.

“We got that stone from a cathedral ruin here on Lincoln’s property.”

“Really?” I ask, forcing my eyes down from the stones so I can find her face. She’s pretty. Not beautiful or gorgeous. But very pretty. A cute sort of pretty that makes you want to trust her. She reminds me of Sullivan, actually. Then I remember they’re siblings. It shows. “Well, it’s certainly grabbed my attention.”

“Ugghh,” she says. “We’ve been building this house for almost a year. It’s finally living up to its potential.”

“Ladies?”

I startle at the voice behind us. There’s a… woman. But she’s…

“I’m Sheila,” she says. “Nice to meet you, Sadie Scott.”

“Don’t mind her,” Molly says. “She’s creepy at first but she grows on you.”

The woman is made out of light.

“I’m a hologram. Well,” the Sheila says. “I’m a computer, really. But I use the light to make a body. It makes people more comfortable to talk to a face.”

“Mmmm,” I say. No. Still creepy.

“We should join them, I guess,” Molly says. “It seems we have a lot to talk about.”

“Yeah,” I say, and follow her into the great room. Lincoln is pouring drinks, Iziah is looking at the art on the walls, Cyan is glaring at me, Uzi is glaring at Sullivan, and Sullivan is smiling at me.

I smile back.