My breath stuttered. “It’s not your fault,” I said in a whimper. “It’s just ...”
Gently, he leaned back a little so he could search my gaze with bright electric-blue eyes. “What is it?”
As my heart froze, I couldn’t help but think somewhat bitterly that I was far too partial to his eyes. It felt like these eyes could stare into my soul. They tempted me to spill all my secrets to him.
I had seen him kill not once, but twice. I had seen him at his scariest. Yet what truly made me fear Lucien Delterre was the fact he could disarm me with a single glance.
And it almost felt like compulsion when the words spilled out of my mouth.
“Eight years ago, I watched my sisters die.”
Eight Years Ago
Seattle, Washington
“I wanna go back home.”
Willow scoffed, and I tried not to roll my eyes as we climbed up the hiking trail. For the last ten minutes, Julianna had decided to throw a tantrum. Even though she was already twelve years old.
“I’m serious,” Julianna insisted in her whiny annoying-little-sister voice. “I’mtired, and hungry, and my thermos is almost out of water.”
I stopped, turned around, and folded my arms, staring as Julianna, her face red and sweaty from the excursion, was startled into pausing too. “Wetoldyou not to join,” I said, irritated. “So suck it up.”
Julianna’s pretty little face scowled. “I’m going to tell Mom on you.”
It now seemed Willow lost it—though to be fair, Willow had always been the hotheaded one among us—and she walked down to stand right before Julianna. The latter flinched, her gray eyes wide, and I knew why.
When Willow lost it, shelost it.
“All Drew and I wanted was to take a nice Saturday hike like we always do,” Willow now snapped, and with her wild chestnut brown tousles springing around her face and down her back, she looked like a dragon about to spit fire. “We would’ve had no problem with you joining if we thought you could handle a simple hike, but since you’re aprincess little brat, we refused.”
Julianna’s lower lip trembled, and tears welled in her eyes, but Willow wasn’t done. “We don’t plan on turning around anytime soon.You can tell on us to Mom if you want to, but that would just make Drew and me never take you anywhere together ever again.”
That seemed to seal the deal for Jules, who sniffled, wiped her eyes, and nodded, cheeks flushed.
Without another look, my scary, younger, fifteen-year-old sister whirled around and resumed the hike.
I couldn’t help but feel a little warm inside at Willow’s words. Our relationship had taken a dive in the last few months. It started when I stole a book from her room without her permission—for an important book report—and she hadn’t spoken to me for what felt like forever. Our weekly Saturday hikes had come to a stop. She ignored me during meals. She acted like I didn’t exist, as if I had a contagious disease.
While I was hurt and frustrated with her, I knew that, as the older sister, it was my duty to be the bigger person. And I loved Willow; I wanted my best friend back.
So I kept on asking her to join me on hiking trips every Saturday to no avail. She either ignored me or snapped at me to leave her alone. I didn’t give up, though, and this morning, for the first time in five months, Willow had shocked the hell out of me by saying yes.
I’d wanted this hiking trip to be an opportunity for Willow and me to make up and reconnect. Alone.
But if I hadn’t taken Julianna, Thayer would’ve scolded me until my ears bled.
Thankfully, Julianna didn’t speak again until we reached the end of the hiking trail, where a beautiful river awaited. When she saw the sight, Jules, who’d never been here before, was no longer pouting and fighting tears but staring in wonder at the stunning view.
Willow and I spread out the blanket we brought and sat down on it, facing the river and the view of the mountains beyond. Julianna sat down on my other side, hesitant, sneaking wary glances at me while she tried to nudge closer.
My chest tightened as I felt a little guilty about being angry that she’d forced us to include her, so I put my arm around her shouldersand squeezed her to my side. She melted into my hug and hugged me back with her small, dainty arms.
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” I asked Jules in a soft murmur, kissing her forehead.
She nodded silently.
Willow took out sandwiches we’d prepared beforehand from the satchel I’d carried and handed one to Julianna, who hesitated before taking it. A peace offering. Willow noticed our youngest sister’s remorseful mood, and since she wasn’t heartless, despite her temper, she grinned and said, “You see why we come here every week? It’s worth the hike.”