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Chapter 71
Nariana
We arrived to find Sandrest lit up, but only on the inside. The carriage stopped before the formal entrance, and our footman hurried to open the door. Anver headed out first, then Wraythe. The pair of them helped Ela and me out next, and Ela offered Talin a hand. In the darkness, the fog of Talin's breath was bright as he braced himself, and then we headed for the door.
It opened just as we reached the steps, and Danis was on the other side. "I'm sorry," the guy said, opening the door wider in an invitation to let us in. "I didn't know, sir. I would've told you if I had."
"I know, Danis," Talin assured him. "Where's my mother?"
"With him," Danis mumbled. "Let me have your coat first, sir?"
That was twice, and Talin didn't bother correcting the young man. He simply shrugged off his coat and passed it over. "I'm going to go see him," he said.
"Need help?" I asked him as Anver helped me out of my coat.
Talin just shook his head and headed towards the stairs, leaving the rest of us at the entrance. Danis seemed lost, so Anver draped my coat over his arm beside his, then moved for Wraythe's and Ela's. Once he had everything, he looked around.
"Where's the coat closet?" he asked.
"Oh!" Danis gasped, remembering that we were still there. "Um, I can take those."
"Just show me where," Anver said. "I have hung a coat before, and I think the staff is grieving as much as the family."
But Danis had to help. Together, the pair stepped away to handle that, and I walked a few steps further into the house. There were voices at the side. I was pretty sure that was the study, since it sounded like nothing but men. My ears were straining for women, yet I didn't hear a thing.
Then, "Nari?" Turning back, I found Thiemo standing in the entrance to the study, cradling a glass of alcohol in his hand. "Has he been told?"
I nodded. "The letter was clear," I explained. "I'm sorry it took us so long to get here."
Thiemo tried to smile, but his lips didn't quite obey. "You also had to change. You looked lovely tonight, so you know." Then he looked at Ela. "You as well."
Without a word, Ela stepped in and wrapped Thiemo in a hug. Still holding his drink, Thiemo twined his arms around Ela's back, somehow not spilling anything, and buried his face in Ela's shoulder. He didn't cry, though. He just breathed slowly, hanging onto my partner for dear life.
"It was a rope," he mumbled. "He waited until the house was almost empty, and he used the tie from the drapes. Mom found him like that."
"I'm so sorry," Ela breathed.
Ice ran down my spine. My heart stuttered, then beat too fast and there was a pressure in my ears like they wanted to ring. He'd killed himself? Had we been the reason why? Did Talinknow?!
"I thought he was getting better!" Thiemo gasped. "He told me to be true to myself. He said it was easier, and I thought he'd changed his mind and that he was going to be ok, and now he's gone."
"I got ya," Ela promised, gripping Thiemo a little tighter.
"Your brother isn't even cold!" Pia's scream made the pair jerk back. "Is this what you've been waiting for, Thiemo? Are you the reason he - " Her voice broke, but the woman was storming to us from the hall that hid the stairs. Then her eyes landed on me. "And you!"
Without slowing, she walked right up to me and then swung. The open-handed slap hit my cheek and I turned with it, feeling the burn on my skin. Pia just stood before me, panting with her fury.
"Harder," I told her.
The woman swung again, this time making my head snap to the side.
"Harder!" I roared at her.
So she used her entire arm, adding all of her weight into it. Her hand connected, my shoes slipped, and I crashed down onto the floor hard enough to disorient myself. Then I lifted my hand, holding the guys back while I got my bearings. Next, I used that hand to wipe the corner of my lip. A glance showed there was no blood, so I pushed myself to my feet and turned to face Pia again.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Lady Ranndor. You and your entire family have my deepest condolences."
"Get the fuck out of my house," Pia snarled. "This? It's your fault. You came here, played on our honor and traditions, and seduced my son. You confused him, lured him into this, and thenhe- " She stabbed a finger at Ela. "- Ruined him. You are not a part of this family. I want youout of my house!"
