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He nodded. “Order Twilight some more clothes, would you? Have them expressed to the island. And make sure you get her a winter coat and other things—sweaters, gloves, whatever—for when it gets colder.”
Her brows scrunched together. “She’s here to stay, then?”
“Yes.” He started up the worn granite steps, the GQ twins on his heels.
Okay, that put me in my place. The entire conversation with Avril had been conducted as if I weren’t standing right there, and now he’d entered the castle without bothering to see if I’d follow.
But then, he knew I had nowhere to go.
Avril stared after Brien, her expression wistful, until he was inside the castle. The soldiers and other thralls followed, and Russell got back into one of the SUVs.
Avril flicked me a look and started, like she’d forgotten I was standing there. She straightened her fitted gray suit and touched a hand to her neat red bun.
“Go on in. Kerry—the housekeeper—will show you to your suite.”
“You don’t live in the castle?”
“Actually, I do—I have an apartment on the second floor. But I want to say hi to my mom and dad. They’re just up the road.”
“So you’re from the island?”
“Born and bred.”
I nodded, my mind on the piece of paper in my pocket. This felt like my last chance. Enter the castle, and I was committed to whatever Kuro intended to force me to do. I slid my hand into the pocket, fingering the folded scrap.
The SUVs exited the courtyard, following the road around the castle that the pickup had taken with our luggage.
“Go.” Avril made a shooing motion with her hand. “Brien will wonder where you are.”
“Right.” I lurched into motion, because I was already committed.
Sometimes the only way out is through.
The foyer was large enough to hold a good-sized party in. A mosaic of a curved shark was set into the polished granite floor, illuminated by pearly lightbulbs held in the mouths of sea-serpent sconces. Tapestries depicting each of the four seasons unfurled down the rough stone walls, and the arched ceiling was covered by a painting of the crescent moon in a star-filled night sky.
The thralls and soldiers had scattered, presumably to their own quarters, but Cain and Talon remained near Brien, protecting him even in his own family home. Either they were being extra-cautious, or Brien didn’t trust his own people.
A tall, angular woman and a hulking man with a buzzcut, both in blue Maritime uniforms with shark insignias, were waiting to greet the three of them.
Brien gave them an easy smile. “Kerry. William.”
A cat, all white except for a single black ear, trotted out of a side door, meowing loudly. “Demon.” Scooping the cat up, Brien cradled it to his chest. “Have you been a good girl while I was gone?”
I stared, charmed despite myself, as Demon butted her head against his chin. He scratched her behind her jaw, and she settled deeper into his arms with a contented purr.
“Welcome home, my lord.” Kerry’s pleased expression transformed her narrow face from plain to intriguing. “Your business went well?”
“It did.”
“Good, good.” She beamed like a proud mother.
He waved a hand at me. “We have a new thrall—Twilight. I want her in the garden suite.”
“The garden suite? Very well.” The housekeeper sent me a speculative look.
“I’m going to bed,” he told the couple. “Take care of Twilight for me. And William? She can go anywhere she wants, but I want a guard with her at all times.”
“Very good, sir,” said William.
