Page 124 of Inside the Wicked

Adam is at the podium to speak. “Ana, I’ve been a huge dick to you, but I’m not sorry, because jealousy is a bitch. I may have one of these diplomas we’re delusional to believe will help us figure out our shit, but I think we both know we might be toasting by a bonfire made of them some day. At the end of these six years it took to get it, all I really want to keep is you. As a friend, to be clear, before Kaiser has my balls.”

“They’re still not safe,” Rhett mutters.

I’m chuckling and choking and trying helplessly not to ruin my makeup too much, but they’re making it impossible.

To my surprise, Silas saunters up the aisle, taking a last drag of his cigarette before he stubs it out on the front bench. He takes the diploma from Adam, who then crosses the stage, and I hug him tightly.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Anytime, little A.”

“I still hate that name.”

He pulls back with a bright grin. “I know.”

Silas takes a deep breath, examining the diploma before leaning in with one hand braced on the podium. “I don’t know why the fuck I’m here,” he says, but when his eyes slip up to me, we both know why. “Except to say, to find a rose that looks like glass but is really made of steel is rare, and this diploma is a key to your unexplored potential. I say we have that bonfire sooner rather than later. I might have had my doubts about you, but I need you to remember you’re no fool, Anastasia.”

To my parents, to society, even to Riley, who I miss so much, everything they’re saying would be an outrage and bad influence. To me, I’m standing in a room full of people who finallyseeme. The way Rhett always has, from the first day he met me.

Rhett stands next, and my eyes fill as he takes the diploma from Silas. He doesn’t come to hug me, but his eyes give the same effect anyway.

The silence that falls as Rhett is last to speak cracks my composure. He could just stand there with his eyes of adoration, not saying a word, and I’d be a complete mess.

“I disagree,” he says at last. The room starts to tunnel away from me until only the two of us are standing there. “I think this diploma is the first trophy of your resilience. To have endured the years it took to get it without a light at the end of the tunnel. Teach, perhaps. Research, perhaps. What I do know is that you don’t fear uncertainty anymore. You don’t fear being you. Taking what you want. I met you as Miss Kinsley, a little bird in cage, and I’ll go out with you as Mrs. Kaiser, the little bird who broke it.”

I walk across the stage, barely holding my tears back. Rhett hands me the diploma, but he doesn’t let go; his arm draws me to him instead.

“I don’t think this is how the ceremony goes,” I say quietly.

He kisses me anyway, as if there isn’t an audience of our friends, some of whom start to whoop and holler.

“Sure starting to feel like a wedding,” Rix comments.

They clap, and I’m bursting with euphoria, pulling out of the kiss.

“I love you, Rhett Kaiser.”

His blue eyes sparkle, and I’m staring at my entire future in them, not the piece of paper between us.

A loud, slow clap echoes out of cadence with everyone else. As soon as my sight finds who the attention-demanding sound comes from, my smile is wiped immediately, and my happiness frozen entirely.

I barely hear Rhett and the others pull out their guns, but I feel it when Rhett’s hold tightens, pushing me a fraction behind him.

Then the wicked voice drawls in mock endearment, “What a lovely little ceremony.”

Alistair Lanshall.

CHAPTER 43

Anastasia

My hand tightens on Rhett’s arm with the cold dread that washes over me. I don’t believe I’m seeing things right. Alistair is so arrogantly composed, sauntering in knowing he’s cornered his prey. Then I try to figure out how he found us here, but my thoughts are a racing, terrified mess at being so blindsided.

“You can put down the gun, nephew. We have you completely surrounded.”

Rhett remains defiant, and I’m terrified he could shoot out of blind rage with his whole body as stiff as a rock, straining against it.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, trying to coax him to lower it with my hand sliding across his.

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