Monstersandthings.How eloquent.I spun my glass slowly, considering his fate. I could choke him with my magic, make it look like an accident. That would solve everyone’s problem, now, wouldn’t it? Aveen and her sister could sell the estate and buy something more manageable. And Aveen could default on that betrothal contract. Keelynn would be able to marry Robert the Terrible, and everyone would live happily ever after.
Aveen started nattering about the wine. I tuned her out. “Treason, you say? How scandalous.”Would she mourn her tyrant father? Or would she dance on his grave as I had with mine?
“If you ask me, the lot of them should be exterminated like the rats they are.Magic,” Lord Bannon spat. “Unnatural. An abomination. A blight on this once-great island.”
I’d been born with magic in my veins, just as he’d been born with his greasy hair. It didn’t get any more natural than that. As far as abominations were concerned, the only abomination I could see was the pairing of his paisley waistcoat with that brown belt.
Aveen muttered something about the weather.
The sister gave Lord Bannon’s hand a squeeze right as the bastard was about to spew more hate. If he wanted to talk about a blight on this island, we should’ve been talking about the humans.
The Danú had lived in peace for centuries before humans showed up on their little wooden boats, staking a claim where they had none. They brought war and disease, killed and tortured anyone who opposed them.Theywere the monsters.
Aveen smacked the table, knocking things over. “I believe a lighter topic would be more appropriate dinner conversation. We wouldn’t want such dark stories to make our guest uncomfortable, now, would we?”
“There’s no need to change topics on my behalf,” I said. “I’ve always been fascinated by the macabre. The bloodier, the better.”As a matter of fact, Lady Marissa preferred it. Who wanted to talk about the weather when you could have a chat about murder?
The wine bottle slowly tipped toward the tablecloth, spilling like blood across the white fabric. Aveen’s icy blue eyes had gone glazed and glassy. How much had she had to drink?
“No, no. Aveen is right. I wouldn’t want to offend your delicate sensibilities, Lady Marissa,” her ignorant father agreed.
I’d cut off hisdelicate sensibilitiesin a minute if he didn’t stop glaring at Aveen.
“I bought a batch of tulip bulbs this week,” Aveen announced, stilling the murderous thoughts swirling through my mind. “I’ll be planting them in a new raised bed along the southern wall once the men finish the stonework. They’ll look a bit sparse this year, but by next summer, it’ll be full of color. I’ll need help weeding, of course, but I’m sure Sean won’t mind the extra work considering I’ve taken up residence in the main gardens.”
She spoke with such passion . . . aboutdirt.
Fascinating.
I planted as well. Seeds of doubt. Roots of destruction.“I didn’t realize you were so invested in bringing life to the world.”
Aveen’s cheeks flushed. “I wouldn’t call throwing a few bulbs in the ground ‘bringing life.’”
“What would you call it?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“A hobby.”
“Hobby?” the sister scoffed. “More like an obsession. Aveen loves gardening. I think it’s the only place she is truly happy.”
If she loved gardens, then she should see the ones at the castle. Oscar worked tirelessly to maintain them. All the old grogochs were good for was growing shite.“We have gardens that bloom year-round.”
“At the townhouse?” Keelynn asked.
I’d completely forgotten that I’d told the sister about the townhouse. “Not in the townhouse. Back in . . .” Where was I from again? “In Vellana.”
“Lady Marissa and her brother are renting a townhouse near the modiste,” Keelynn said to Lord Bannon.
“Just until something larger and more permanent becomes available,” I added.
The clock chimed, saving me from having to expand on the living situation. Lord Bannon tossed his serviette beside his empty glass and stood. “Would you look at the time? Lady Marissa, your company has been a delight. I do hope to see more of you in the future.”
“I’m sure you will. Your daughter and I have grown quite close over the last few weeks. I cannot imagine life here without her,” I said . . . and meant it. I couldn’t imagine life anywhere without her. It all seemed so pointless.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Aveen’s sister asked. “You should stay. There’s plenty of space.”
Aveen rocketed to her feet, squeezing my fingers hard enough to crack my feckin’ knuckles. “He—I meanshecannot stay. There’s that thing you have to do in the morning. Remember?”
Aveen’s sister caught my other hand. “Oh, but she must. It is far too late to bring her back into Graystones. You know the roads aren’t safe at night.”