Page 87 of Beg the Night

Once she’d closed the door behind us, Sinner finally set me on my feet.

We let out matching sighs in unison. For the first time all evening, I let my shoulders relax. Let my guard down—just a little—as we were finally shut away from the noise of the town.

Even in our quiet journey over here, I’d been on edge. It was impossible to relax in Katherine’s presence.

“We shouldn’t trust them,” I said.

Margaret had already peeled her shoes off and was launching herself onto the large bed in the center of the room. “Your sister really hates you, huh?”

With a scoff, Sinner walked over to the far window. He looked out of it for a moment, assessing the view, before double-checking the lock and yanking the curtain closed.

“It’s safe to say we can’t trust anyone,” he said. “Anyone outside this room.”

I smiled. “Aw. You trust me?”

He arched a brow, giving me a strange look, one that unsettled my stomach. “Benedict turned on the Ministry tonight. Just like that. Why would he do that? Why now?”

“Did you have much opportunity to talk to him at the mansion?” I asked Margaret. “Or Katherine? Did they tell you anything?”

She propped herself up on her elbows. “They didn’t talk to me much, but I did catch them fighting a few times. Doesn’t seem like Katherine likes much of anybody.”

“You’d be right. I still can’t believe she tried to stop me from leaving. Is she really that delusional?”

Sinner shrugged. “There’s got to be something in it for her. Maybe Director promised her something in return for your compliance.”

“Maybe.” My chest tightened. She was my freakingsister. Myfamily. Sinner and Margaret protected each other. They’d die for each other. Sinner had practically torn himself apart when Margaret was in danger.

Then there was Katherine. She was indifferent to my suffering. She wanted to force me into staying. The anger in her face when she was fighting me… I didn’t understand it.

But I’d figure it out. There was no way in hell I would let her trick me into working with the Ministry. Never once in the time they had us held captive did I consider it.

Burning them to the ground? Killing Director with my bare hands? Nowthosethoughts had crossed my mind.

The Ministry claimed to be helping mystics, when in reality they kept us chained and crippled so we’d be forced to rely on them to survive. And why hunt us all? Why scour the edges of the continent looking for us?

Power. Control.

They couldn’t win the war without us. They’d discovered that a long, long time ago. An entire army of earthly soldiers was nothing compared to a small group of tier threes.

But did the mystics even want war? I didn’t know enough to understand the consensus, but it was clear the Ministry brought violence to the gifted who were only wanting to live in peace the way we had been.

No, I would never help them. Not in a million years.

My stomach growled deeply, causing both of my companions to look my way. I put a hand over my stomach, not that it did anything to mute the sound.

“We need food,” Sinner announced. “And clothes.”

Ha.That was an understatement. I looked like a lady of the night coming in here dressed like this.

Hell, after what happened earlier tonight, I felt like one, too.

“Stay here,” he said as he strode to the door.

I glanced at Margaret, expecting her to protest, but she was sprawled out on the bed, arms and legs spread wide, with her eyes shut. Damn her for her ability to fall asleep so easily.

“Are you kidding?” I hissed. “I’m coming with you!”

He spun, glowering. “No, you’re not.”

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