Page 107 of Wicked Court

“Believe?” he scoffs, that torturous anger flaring anew. “It’s not belief—it’s fact. This family has been paying for those sins ever since. Misfortune follows us like an invincible demon.”

I step toward him, closing the gap he’s desperately trying to maintain. “Cav. Curses? Magic? That’s the stuff of fairy tales. Your family’s misfortunes... they’re just that. Unluckiness, bad choices, coincidence.”

“Coincidence?” The word explodes from him and I recoil. “There are no coincidences with Sarah Anderton—your bloodline. The Nightshades are bound to this monstrous court, forced into servitude because of what we did to her. The Vultures think they solved the truth about Sarah Anderton’s hidden jewels and that her trove of jewelry didn’t actually exist. Except, it does, because you’ve just presented half of the ruby Heart to me.”

Just like I’ve given you half of my heart, I think, but don’t admit.

He continues, his lips peeled back from his teeth, “And if that fucking jewel is in play, then so is my curse.”

“Cav, please slow down. Let me figure this out with you.”

“The Vultures uncovered a list of associates connected to Sarah during their hunt for her hidden treasure. Jackson Nightshade was one of them. He destroyed all evidence of her riches, uncaring of the consequences it would have on future generations... or on himself. And he sold that baby. Your ancestor. Do you have any idea what happened to her?”

“Cav, please…” My eyes follow him as he paces.

“Whether or not you believe it, Elara, the curse is real. And I won’t let you be another casualty of my legacy.”

“Cav…” I reach for him, the agony on his face unbearable.

“Please,” he whispers, the one word he can say that can splinter my heart into irreparable pieces. “Believe me.”

A knock on his door interrupts us, causing him to whirl around.

He storms toward the door, leaving me shaking under the blanket.

“What.”

He throws it open without waiting for an answer, revealing Kaspian on the other side.

Kaspian reacts to Cav’s stark nakedness with an arched brow, but quickly notices me and raises the other.

“Apologies for the interruption,” he says smoothly, stepping past Cav’s smoldering frame. “I had no idea you had an Elara burrito on your balcony. Come in, beastie. You don’t deserve both Cav’s icy heart and his cold shoulder.”

Cav snarls, but Kaspian ignores him, extending his hand for me to take as he escorts me inside.

I steal a glance at Cav, uncertain of where his emotions now lie, but all I see is his practiced apathy.

“Why are you here, Kasp?” Cav asks. “Shouldn’t you be enjoying yourself downstairs?”

Kaspian hums in thought. “Tried to last night. It didn’t take.”

His attention shifts to me, seduction stirring behind his eyes that sends a lightning bolt into my swollen core, before he returns to Cav.

“Besides, the third night of Selection is always so brutal,” Kaspian continues. “Not my cup of tea, unless I’m allowed certain delicacies.”

He winks at me as if letting me in on the joke.

I shift under my blanket, uncomfortable because I’m actually willing to cause more bleeding if it means I get another round with Kaspian.

Then realization hits me. “Oh, my god. Sasha. She’s down there. I have to go get her?—”

Kaspian stops me from flying out of the room by taking my arm. “Don’t worry. I found her and got her out before things got out of hand. She’s currently enjoying my gin stash in my room.”

Relief floods through me. With everything happening with Cav, I hadn’t fully grasped the implications of what the initiates do downstairs.

Sasha said she had fun last night, that she wanted to do it again…

Did she expect it to be rough tonight? Is she testing the same desires that I am?

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