Page 100 of Incoronate
But was I willing to pay that cost?
I looked at Anita, at the calculating gleam in her eyes, at the way she wanted this just a little too much, and something in me hardened. They would benefit from this somehow. They always did. And whatever future Arianna had seen, whatever peace she’d glimpsed, I couldn’t trust that that was all this was about. That their endgame aligned with mine. Not after everything they’d done to get us here. Not after the way they’d manipulated me and twisted my life to suit their goal.
I could trust them to fight against the Order with me because, for now, we shared that common enemy. Because it suited their purpose just as much as it did mine. But that’s where our alliance ended. I refused to trust them on anything beyond that and certainly not with Ares’ future.
“Will you help us with the wards or not?” I finally asked, letting them know the discussion was over.
Anita stared at me for a long, nerve-wracking moment before finally nodding her head once. “We’ll help with the wards,” she said curtly and then glanced at Trace and Dominic before returning to me. “Tomorrow night. But the rest is on you.”
“Fine with me,” I said, relieved that she’d finally dropped the queen-of-the-damned shit and agreed to help us.
Her smile turned cold. “And when you’re ready to accept your birthright, we will be there to help you with that too.”
The way she said it made it sound as though it were inevitable. As though it were just a matter of time. I wasn’t sure what alarmed me more—her certainty that I’d break, or the fact that some small, buried part of me already knew she was right.
“Great. I can hardly wait.”
32. STUBBORN HEARTS
Rain drummed against the kitchen window in a steady rhythm, streaking down the glass in rivulets that caught the dim overhead light. I sat at the table picking at the last meal Isa had made before Dominic drove her home. Some kind of chicken casserole that probably tasted amazing when it was hot. Now it was lukewarm and congealing on my plate, but I forced myself to take another bite of it anyway.
I didn’t want to risk anything happening to her, so I made Dominic erase us from her mind. But not before compelling her to shelter in place until further notice, of course. He’d told her there was a dangerous situation developing and she needed to stay inside, lock her doors, and not answer for anyone. She’d agreed easily enough under his influence, her eyes going glassy before she nodded and promised to be safe.
As much as I hated the idea of compulsion being used against unsuspecting humans, in this case it was for her own good. For her safety and survival, and that trumped everything else.
From the living room, I could hear Trace and Ben’s voices rising. Ben had stopped by after the sisters left so that Trace could fill him in on the evacuation plan. Needless to say, he wasn’t happy about it, his voice carrying that edge of stubborn loyalty that was all his.
“I’m not abandoning you, man. That’s not happening.”
“It’s not abandoning us, it’s staying alive—”
“Same fucking difference!”
I tuned them out, pushing the casserole around my plate without really seeing it. Ben had always been a good friend to Trace. To me too, even when I probably didn’t deserve it. AllI’d ever brought his best friend was strife, yet he never looked at me that way. He’d always welcomed me with open arms, which only made this harder.
I’d spoken to Tessa earlier, her voice crackling through a spotty cell connection as they drove further from Hollow Hills. They were still on the road, heading toward whatever secret meeting point Dominic’s contact had arranged. Gabriel was taking every precaution. Switching vehicles, sticking to back roads, and making sure they weren’t being followed.
Ares was doing well. Sleeping mostly, which Tessa said was a blessing since a crying baby would make stealth a lot harder.
The thought of him so far away, so vulnerable, made my chest ache.
“You’re not eating.”
I looked up to find Jaqueline watching me from across the table. She’d been quiet since I caught her up on the plan, still processing everything that had been discussed. Or maybe just giving me space.
“I’m not really hungry,” I admitted, setting my fork down.
She gave a slow nod, her gray eyes studying me with that look that made me feel like she could see right through whatever mask I was wearing. “You’re worried about tomorrow.”
It wasn’t really a question, so I didn’t bother answering her. A silence stretched between us, broken only by the rain and the muffled argument from the living room.
“Your sister sounded good,” she said eventually, trying to change the subject. “It seems like she’s handling everything well.”
“She is,” I said, though the words felt hollow. “Tessa’s always been good at handling things. Even when she shouldn’t have to.”
Jaqueline’s expression changed, regret flickering across her features before she smoothed it away. “She gets that from your father.”
I pushed my plate aside, no longer pretending to eat. “And what do we get from you?”
