Page 63 of Devour the Dark

Winnie huffs out of frustration, so I can only assume Vane has not opened the connection.

“We complete this mission,” she says, “we get the hat from Malachi, and then all of this will be moot. Or at least the part where the Myths try to possess Roc and use him to overthrow the Darkland monarchy. I guess whether or not Roc wants to be King of Darkland is up to him.”

“He never wanted to rule,” Vane admits.

“Roc loves being pampered,” Winnie says.

“Irrelevant. Being fifth in line, you’re never intended to rule. He embraced all of the trappings of royalty and was allowed to ignore the duty. I’m not sure where he’d land now, but he’s never been one forresponsibility.”

“Okay, you have a point.” Winnie takes a breath. “The good thing is, Roc has promised to stay home, out of harm’s way.”

Vane glances over at her. “Yes, but do you trust him to keep that promise?”

“Well, I’m sure…I mean…maybe…”

Vane grumbles again and then starts for the door. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner I kill this Myth, the sooner we can be free of this nightmare.”

We’reushered in through the foyer by staff dressed in matching purple livery. There are several people milling about, still adjusting overflowing skirts and adorning bare shoulders with gauzy shawls. The foyer, grand in nature with a domed three-story ceiling braced with curved beams, runs all the way back to a double-door entrance to a ballroom. Most people are headed in that general direction.

I scan the foyer as we walk.

Oil paintings hang on the walls, framed in gilded frames. Women I don’t recognize in clothing dating back to the 16thand 17thcenturies. Men with straight faces and severe mouths in clothing representing every era. There are marble pedestals installed between each painting, with some holding up marble busts, while others display ancient pottery.

The history here is tantalizing.

We finally make it to the ballroom where another staff member welcomes us to Maddred Manor. His gaze catches on Vane, mostly on the scarred eye. But really, all of him is imposing.

Does the man know that Vane’s family built this house?

“Thank you for the kind welcome,” Winnie says.

The man stumbles over his response before finally saying, “You’re thanks.”

It’s not nice to laugh at someone clearly flustered by power and presence, but I’ve been where he’s been before and every time I think of my flubs, it makes me snicker.

So I clamp my teeth together, trying to hold back the secondhand amusement.

Inside the ballroom, we find the party well underway.

Darkland loves its dark and cozy parties (though sometimes cozy is just code for “discreet debauchery”) and this one is no different. The overhead lighting has been turned off, while string lights have been strung back and forth over the ballroom’slength. The sconces have been lit, but they don’t flicker and dance like the gas lighting of the Umbrage. This kind is something more modern, more consistent in illumination.

Outside, the heat of the day has faded replaced by a soft ocean breeze, but inside Maddred Manor, the chill of night has seeped in early. It’s frigid. But oddly, all of the numerous fireplaces are dark and cold.

No fire.

No fire anywhere.

Fire is considered the coziest of all.

Alarm bells start ringing in my head.

There’s a puzzle piece I know fits into place here, but it’s blurry, a little out of my reach.

We walk the perimeter of the room until we spot Malachi over by the drinks.

Vane heads straight there. “Where is she?”

“Whoa. Slow down.” Malachi offers Vane a drink.

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