Page 49 of Unbroken
“We have to try,” Noct said. “And we have to find our sibling, especially with Fuller dead. If it’s rooted in one place, it’s vulnerable to anyone who comes along.”
Ves shifted restlessly. Hopefully they’d be able to find Victoria, reason with her, now that her revenge was complete. “How did Mr. Tubbs take the news his sister-in-law had been involved?”
“Not well.” Sebastian leaned against him. “At first he didn’t want to believe it, but at the end there, I think he knew Mrs. Rice was telling the truth. He looked rather lost when we left him standing on the sidewalk out front.”
“Penelope certainly paid for her sins. I wouldn’t wish her death on anyone.” Irene considered a moment. “Almost anyone.”
They dropped Mortimer off in front of his boarding house, then continued on to Bonnie’s. “Come to the estate tonight?” Irene asked Noct casually as she pulled to the curb.
Noct’s cheeks turned pink. “I’d like that.”
Sebastian and Ves climbed out, watching as the auto sped away into the dark. Sebastian’s fingers curled around his. “One thing bothers me,” he said.
Ves glanced up at him. “Only one?”
“Well, one in particular.” Sebastian’s hazel eyes were speculative behind the lenses of his glasses. “Victoria spent so much time and effort to force the WHS members to bring about their own deaths. Until Fuller. Was something different about him? Or did something happen to change her mind?”
“With any luck, we’ll be able to ask her.”
“You think she can be reasoned with, then?”
“I certainly hope so.” He gave Sebastian’s fingers a squeeze as they went in through the gate. The house was silent and dark, save for the glow of a light in the sitting room. All of the children except baby Clara had left that afternoon, invited to join a neighboring family on a short trip to Salem. No doubt Bonnie was grateful for the reprieve.
As they let themselves in, Mrs. Adams called from the direction of the sitting room. “In here, gentlemen.”
What was she doing here this time of night? She usually visited during the day, though maybe Bonnie had wanted some company in the evening with the children gone.
Ves left his coat on and followed Sebastian to the sitting room door. His lover’s gasp was the only warning he got before looking inside.
Bonnie lay on the couch, sleeping peacefully. Clara was snuggled securely against her, also deeply asleep. A man Ves didn’t recognize perched on the arm of the couch, casually holding a knife to Bonnie’s throat, while a second pointed a gun at Sebastian in the doorway.
Mrs. Adams occupied the rocking chair. Gone were her widow’s weeds, replaced by the heavy robes and stiff collar of an Elizabethan scholar, and she gripped a blackthorn wizard’s staff in her gnarled hand.
“Allow me to properly introduce myself at last, “she said. “I’m Caroline Adams, the Chancellor of the School of Night.”
CHAPTER 23
All the blood in Sebastian’s veins seemed to turn to water. His mind raced and his scars tingled. He could break the bones of the man holding the knife—but no, the other one would shoot. The one with the gun—if he could slash his flesh…the man with the knife would slit Bonnie’s throat.
The Chancellor watched them, a small smile of triumph on her lips, as if she knew Sebastian’s frantic thoughts. “Come inside, Mr. Rune. I have something special prepared for you.”
For the first time, Sebastian noticed the cage sitting in the corner. “The bars are silver-plated,” the Chancellor said. “You’re going to take off all your clothes and get inside.”
“What have you done to Bonnie?” Sebastian demanded.
“What have I done?” The Chancellor raised a gray brow. “Very little. This is all the work of my protégé, your niece Helen. Though she thought the poppets I taught her to make would bring back her wretched father. A shame she couldn’t be here to see her handiwork—she really does have a talent for sorcery.”
Sebastian’s pulsed pounded in his head. The direct approach had failed the School of Night, so what better way to get close without being seen than to pose as a harmless old woman? None of them had suspected her. “What do you want?”
“At the moment, I want Mr. Rune to disrobe and get in his cage.” Her eyes went hard as flint. “Otherwise, things will get very messy for dear Bonnie.”
“All right.” Ves held up his hands and eased around Sebastian. “I’m going.”
“Not too close, if you please,” the Chancellor said. “Move slowly.”
Helplessly, Sebastian watched as Ves stripped to his underwear. “More,” the Chancellor said. “I don’t want to give you anything to shield yourself from the silver. Don’t worry, I was generous enough to leave the floor of the cage unplated.”
Ves finished stripping, then climbed into the cage, dark eyes hot with anger. The Chancellor tossed a padlock in his direction. “Lock yourself in.”
