Page 156 of Outcast’s Vow

But before I can say another word, he’s guiding me down the stone steps and into the darkness.

* * *

But I don’t have to freak out for long, for as soon as we’re in the tunnels underneath the mansion, I start to understand what’s happening. Unlike the desolation upstairs, the hidden subterranean world under the mansion is swarming with color, lights, and people.

All Castaways.

A few days ago, Baptiste and I received an invitation, as is the traditional Castaways way, in a sealed letter. It was an invitation to join a banquet here in New Orleans. I made my feelings very clear to Baptiste after our ordeal at the mansion.

No more Castaways.

I’d had enough of the Order for one lifetime, and I didn’t want to get us involved again.

“I don’t trust them anymore,” I told my husband when the invitation arrived. “Not that I trusted them much before they tried to tear us apart.”

“They’re inviting me to rejoin,” Baptiste told me.

“What?”

“They’re asking me to come back to them,” he explained. “Your father even came to see me.”

I was in total disbelief.

“My father came to see you? To ask you to be a member again?”

“And he apologized.”

“He what?”

“He said sorry,” Baptiste said. “He’s afraid of losing you.”

“He’s certainly worked hard to make that happen,” I snapped.

Baptiste smiled.

“That stubbornness is why I fucking love you, Highness.”

I crossed my arms.

“Well, I’m not budging on this. I’m not going to New Orleans.”

Baptiste took a step toward me, tenderly reached out, and unfastened my arms. He took my hands and held them lovingly.

“I don’t care for the Castaways either. But what I do care about is the best for you. Your father might be a cold bastard, but he is your only father.”

“I will not forgive what he did to us,” I muttered.

“I’m not saying we should,” my husband replied. “I’m not saying we ever forgive him, but I am saying let’s not cut him and your family out of our lives forever. We only get one family, and you might hate them, but it is the only one you get.”

“I know.”

“But you don’t have to forgive them. You don’t even have to like them. But we’re together, Sylvie. You and me. We are a team. We are all that matters. Let’s use this to our own benefit. We do this on our own terms. We forge a new way with your parents. Besides, this is our chance to help with the Masked Killer’s investigation. To be on the inside. To help Fabien find the killer of his parents.”

“It will take time for me to accept what happened to us,” I said softly.

“I know, but I am right here beside you, wife. I will never leave you. We’ll step into this future together.”

I sighed, knowing my husband was speaking the truth, even if I was too stubborn to admit it.