Page 55 of A Hint of Darkness

“So,” I drawled in sheer incredulity, “anarchy is the solution we’re going with?” My sarcasm irritated Ileana, but at that moment, I didn’t give a damn.

Dominic shifted position, studying me for a long time, which prompted his mother to do the same before studying the way he looked at me, her eyes narrowing in scrutiny, her lips twisting into a moue.

When he spoke, he said, “It’s been this way for centuries, our level of involvement changing, but we worked as enforcers of the rules. I’d be the first to admit that it teeters in a very delicate balance, but as I stated, it is functional.”

“Is functional all you want?” Ileana challenged.

“I believe it better serves my purpose than allowing chaos to reign, sorting through the wreckage, and trying to make something of the tattered alliances, broken promises, and betrayals. Areleus has made quite a mess of things.”

Areleus killing the members of the New Conventicle surely led to the existing Conventicle believing Dominic’s betrayal was imminent. Further straining their fragile alliance. Whichever effect it had, Areleus and Peter at the helm signified a change in the status quo. Would they fight to keep their presence known or would they fall in line and make taking over human rule their new objective?

“You want things as they were?”

He nodded. “Or close to how they were. I know drastic measures will be necessary to make a point, but not what you are suggesting.”

Deep brackets formed along Ileana’s face. She inhaled a deep breath through her nose. “If they stop the progression of the new world, what will happen to my Helena?”

Dominic’s jaw clenched, her betrayal still raw.

“You know that is Helena’s way. She sides with whomever she believes will be the victor.” Ileana preened. That must be mother speak for ‘my daughter is a cruel opportunist.’

Weird thing to be proud of? A daughter who was only loyal to the one who wielded the most power and who would allow her malicious ways to go unimpeded with an occasional word of rebuke that she’d ignore. Her violent fits of rage. A fashionable sociopath.

“Dominic?” she said, urging a response.

“How am I to treat her betrayal?” he asked with careful restraint. His expression betrayed his emotions.

“The same as you have in the past. Forgiveness. She has her ways.”

“She continues to have these unpredictable ways because she never suffers real consequences. There must be consequences.”

“You will not kill my daughter. Do as you will with Areleus. No, not as you will, for it seems you’ve been more pious as of late.” She skewered me with a look, assigning me blame I didn’t deserve. I wasn’t seeing it. Dominic wasn’t as cruel as he could be—as Helena and Areleus were—but he wasn’t this lamb they were making him out to be. He was the brutal being he needed to be to exist in this fierce world.

“Have I been clear, son?” she said after minutes ticked by without a response.

“I don’t want to kill Helena,” Dominic admitted.

“And you won’t. Dominicus, you don’t seem to want my advice, so why are you here?”

He explained about me temporarily dying in response to the magic being removed, then added, “I need to destroy any chance of Peter using Luna’s magic and the possibility that he has magic that outmatches mine.”

“Ah.” She nodded over her steepled hands. She may have understood what he was asking but I had no clue. My eyes bounced between the two of them, trying to figure it out.

A slow smile curled her lips, excitement bright in her eyes. “You want me to recreate your creature?”

“No the hell he doesn’t,” I blurted at the same time as Dominic nodded. Nothing about that statement seemed like something I wanted to be a part of. Recreate? No thank you. Standing, I put necessary distance between me and Dominic.

The expansive room seemed too small, and panic made my body too warm and breathing too difficult. Each short-clipped breath I took did nothing to ease the rush of emotions.

“Luna,” Dominic eased out in a strained voice, inching toward me as if he feared I’d scurry away. He wasn’t far off. But where would I go? Outside to hang out with the other creatures I presumed his mother had created? Fondle those weird vines winding up the house, probably also her creations or ‘recreations’?

“This is the best choice. A way to save your life and give you magic, too.”

“At what cost!?” I snapped. I stayed put as he removed the distance between us.

“Not one greater than your life.”

It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable to be under his mother’s scrutiny. We seemed to be a source of entertainment that she was thoroughly enjoying. Sensing my discomfort, he extended his hand to mine. I hesitated.

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