Page 83 of Manacled Hearts

“That’s really nice of him. Okay, sounds good to me. I’ll ask Katya to bring our stuff from her place.”

Katya… I might have to have a word with the woman. I’m not enjoying this secrecy. The fact that she and Carter hid the arrival of my brother doesn’t sit right with me. Actually, thinking about it, both of them have been looking at me funny for a few days now. Particularly at Morrigan’s birthday party.

“When did you decide you were coming back to Queenscove?” I ask.

“A few weeks ago,” Ronan answers.

Huh, okay. “When did you tell Carter about it?”

My brother and his wife exchange brief glances before he answers. “Maybe four days ago.”

Oh yes, that timeline fits perfectly. Goddamn it. Though, I do feel better knowing that Carter and Katya haven’t been keeping this from me for too long.

“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you too. I didn’t want to risk it,” my brother says.

“Risk what?” I ask.

“Not seeing you, of course.”

I’m not sure how to respond to that. Would I have gone away knowing that he was coming specifically to talk to the Sanctum? Maybe. The few times he visited in the past few years, he would go to our parents place and I would make myself busy on missions or going out of town. Any excuse not to be in the same postcode as him.

This was an ambush, and it was the only way for him to see me. I’m bothered that I’m weirdly becoming okay with it.

I nod to my brother. “I understand.”

He gives me a faint smile, like he’s handling a skittish animal, making sure I don’t run away. Christ, have I acted that childish in the last years?

“Excuse me. Nature calls.” I didn’t need to over-share, but I also didn’t want him to think that I’m leaving to end this conversation. Well, I do feel the need to take a break from it, but nature does call.

I walk past the stairs on the narrow corridor to the bathroom, and gentle voices filter through the high, open window—Morrigan and Evelyn.

“It feels… wrong. Dirty.”

Those words stop me dead in my tracks, because Evelyn speaks them and my curiosity doesn’t just peak. It soars. I’m not proud of it, but I stop walking, hoping there’s more to that sentence.

“Have you talked about this with your therapist?” Morrigan asks.

“Not really.”

“Why?”

There is a pause. A long one, before Evelyn answers.

“Because I think something’s wrong with me. How can someone who went through what I went through still have these thoughts? What if she judges me?”

“Do you think you would be more comfortable talking to me about it?” Morrigan gently speaks the question, making sure there is no demand or expectation.

What the hell are they talking about?

“Oh god. What if you think I’m… wrong?” Evelyn’s voice is filled with embarrassment and something that sounds a lot like unease.

“I own a fetish club, Evie. I can assure you, you can share anything.”

Wait a damn minute?! What exactly is this conversation about? Evelyn doesn’t want to go there. Does she? A burning sense of possessiveness singes through me, and it takes a minute for my brain to catch up. Of course not, the club hasn’t been reopened yet after the fire Morrigan’s ex started there.

“I guess you’re right,” Evelyn relents. “If I could talk to anyone about this, it’s you and Lulu.”

“Exactly! I would never judge, and no matter what it is, I hope I can make you feel more comfortable.” Morrigan attempts to soothe her.

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