Page 104 of House of Ydril

“Of course,” she says with a warm smile.

“You’re the best friend a girl could ever have.”

“And you’re the sappiest.”

We stick our tongues out at each other and she leaves my room, closing the door behind her.

Letting out a sigh, I grab the diary off the bed and I crack it open.

“Just so you know,” I say as soon as Moswen appears, “there was no bloodbath and we all made it out alive, no thanks to you.”

She just looks at me for a second. “I guess I deserve that. But once again, Quinn, if you knew how very sorry I am… About all of it…”

“You don’t get it,” I insist, pressing my lips tight, “how much I just can’t believe you’d rob me of that. Knowing that we’re family, getting to know you, asking you questions...”

“Sometimes people do stupid things,” she cuts me off, her voice heavy with remorse and sadness, “but that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t care. I know it wasn’t the case with me. But listen…”

“Yes?” I demand, noticing her becoming anxious.

“The magic keeping me here,” she rushes to say.

But I cut her off. “It’s waning.”

“It is,” she nods. “I don’t think we have much time. So listen, Quinn,” she says as she crouches before me and looks deep into my eyes. “You had two parents who loved you more than anything.”

I feel tears welling up in my eyes.

“Your father loved reading to you and your mother never went for a walk without you. He was the grumpy one, stubborn and focused on his studies, while she was the ray of sunshine, relaxed and always up for a little mischief.”

I wave my hand, trying to stop myself from crying. “Thank you, but I want to know more aboutyou.”

I choke on my words because it’s at that exact moment that I see her becoming fainter. I reach out my hand and I open my mouth, but she stops me.

“It’s alright, Quinn,” she says with a sad smile. “None of it really matters. You’re my little sister and my soul will always know yours.”

And with that, she disappears. For a second, I remain sitting there, frozen in place. Then a gush of tears bursts out of me, shaking me to my very core.

I’ve lived through it all and for what? To lose a sister I’ve only just found? To causehimto lose the only family he’d ever had? And I know that none of it is my fault, but it still feels that way.

I force myself to stop crying and I look at the clock on the wall across from me. The Ball should be starting any minute now, but I don’t know if I want to go.

And I don’t think I will.

At least not until I’ve had one thing taken care of.

So I get up off the bed and leave my room, heading straight for the Lilith Tower.

And sure, he’s there. When I ask for him in the foyer of his private fucking quarters, I hear his voice from the other side of the wall saying, “Let her in.”

I take a deep breath and barge into his living room, where I last found myself when I came to ask him to let me join the Vipers.

He’s sitting on the couch, his back turned to me. His left arm is thrown over the backrest. “Come to fuck up my life some more?” he asks, his voice strangely flat as his eyes stay fixed ahead.

“I’m not here to ask favors,” I say as I walk around the couch to face him. He’s clad in a gorgeous suit and has a glass of whiskey in his other hand.

He looks up and drags his eyes down my body. “Ah, I see,” he says and downs his drink, “you’ve come to rub more salt in my wound.” And with that, he gets up and looks away, walking up to the bar.

I follow him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I protest, suddenly fuming. “I’ve come to say I’m sorry about your uncle. You never gave me the chance.”

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