Page 126 of An Inheritance of Monsters

A long, dark table was covered in a black tablecloth and set with silver candelabra, each bearing the tentacle motif, but there were no plates or cutlery laid out. Four chairs had been arrayed around the table, and a glass of wine was in front of each one.

As for the meal, a single tray laid in the middle of the table, covered with a silver dome.

Carson already sat in one chair, swirling his glass of wine. He’d forgone his usual black leather coat in favor of a dark suit, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

“You’re late, Juno.” He smiled lazily, the candlelight glinting in his dark eyes.

The tension in the air was so thick, I felt like I’d have to gasp to take a full breath of air. How could he sit there so calmly when it felt like the world was about to turn inside out?

“I’m exactly on time.” I swept around the table and paused in front of the chair opposite Carson, the silver domed tray glinting between us. “Where’s Sierra?”

“Running late.” His lips turned down at the corners as he stared into his swirling wine glass. “Her hair, or some such. But I don’t care to talk about Sierra right now.”

“No?” I arched a brow, resting my hands on the back of my chair without pulling it out.

I wondered where our hostess was. The clock was ticking, and there was no sign of her.

“No.” Carson’s gaze turned up to me. “You look beautiful tonight, Junes.”

I knew that already. I’d taken my time to make sure I’d be as beautiful as possible for my monsters when we were reunited.

“Thank you.” My throat felt constricted, just as affected by the tension as every other part of my body.

“Why don’t you sit down? If Marsh isn’t going to show up on time, we can start without her.” Carson nodded to the domed tray.

“I… could go look for her.” I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the silver dome. This was no dinner, although Carson didn’t know it. It was merely the final test. But something about his presence felt slimy, and I wanted to be nowhere near him.

He stood up and walked around the end of the table, pulling out my chair for me. “Sit down. It’s the formal night; you’re not going to walk all over this manor in heels looking for her.”

I sat, but only because the test called to me.

For whatever reason, Mrs. Marsh had wanted me in here at nine o’ clock, and even though I missed her presence, this was where I needed to be.

Carson pushed in my chair, his fingers brushing my bare shoulder and making me flinch away in disgust, but he didn’t seem to notice.

My foot bumped something under the table—something solid but yielding.

A tiny flare of excitement rose in me, and died just as quickly.

My monsters wouldn’t be able to cross the doors from the Void until I’d completed the ritual, so that wasn’t Rask emerging from the shadows.

Carson returned to his seat, looking down at me and smiling. He drained his wine glass, and stole Sierra’s.

“At least she broke out the vintage.” He took another long sip. “So, have you given my offer any thought? You and me again, Junes. We could make it happen.”

The stony silence drew out between us, and my foot nudged the thing under the table again. “I told you no.”

Carson’s eyes glittered dangerously. “Well… we’ll revisit this. We have time.”

He reached out for the silver dome, and I pushed back in my chair abruptly. “Don’t. It’s not for you.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, but he smiled as he said it.

A slow, knowing smile.

He lifted the dome, revealing a white envelope on the tray.

My heart pounding wildly, I reached out and snatched the envelope before he could lay his hands on it.

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