is

hat had felt so luxurious on the way to Alston's residence now seemed to mock me. I leaned

d curdled into a cold, h

eth, said softly, her voice laced with

glass, my fingers steady. "Gwyneth," I said, my voice even, "I need you to do something for me. Check the

simply nodded. "Of course, my lady." She knew b

ry word, every smile, every touch from Alston. The signs had all been ther

Rowe Manor. The guards, seeing my crest, opened them with a

ousin, Carson, emerged. Carson was preening in a new gown of lake-blue silk, the latest de

keningly sweet. She moved to link her arm with mine

all, but sharp. Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second. I l

ovetous resentment in her gaze, the same look she'd worn since childhood whenever I received something she wanted. She was already calculati

r tone was thick with accusation, as if my tardiness was a grave sin. Her gaze lingered on my dress, her nostrils flaring

ping past them and

sat enthroned in her high-backed chair, her gnarled hand gripping her ebony cane. My

moment I entered. "So, you deign to return. Keeping th

ession fraught with worry

apped, and my mother flinched

iately rushed to Cydney's side, fussing over her

ooked at Carson. She patted her hand affect

voice dripping with condescension. "You should consider it an honor. A merchant's daughter, elevate

could ever hope for. You should be grateful. After all, it's not as if anyone else would want a half-blood merchan

e with shock and pain. They hadn't even bothered to tell he

bubble up from my chest. They were

hey expected a breakdo

lear. "Then I assume the two hundred thousand silver coi

y stared at me as if I ha

ill shriek. "What nonsense are you talking about? Tha

t. She couldn't deny it. My heart sank. She had compromised again, sa

he Lara fortune belongs to the Rowe Pack through ma

d directly into her sharp, cruel eyes. "Oh? I was unaware that federal

n my lips. "Or has the Rowe Pack's authority g

d, flashed behind her eyes-a snarl of pure, possessive greed. She wanted to shift. She wanted to tear me apart with her claws. But she couldn't. Not here. Not without proving me right. Her hand trembled s

my mother's eyes-surprise, fear,

other, my voice softening. "Mother,

of a family meeting before being