Page 164 of The Seven Rings
“Tell me if this is crazy—the control switched. From her to the manor.”
“It doesn’t sound crazy.”
“Good. Now try this. I don’t think she can hurt me—I mean seriously, physically, fatally. Because she had me on the ropes, Cleo. I was wrecked, and no defenses there if she’d struck out. She wants me out, clearly, but she can’t do to me what she did to the brides. I think she can’t because I’m outside the curse. Maybe if she did, it would break the curse, and she knows that? Do you think that’s possible?”
“We’ve thought that before, and I’m more convinced of it. But it’s still a theory, a good one, but a theory. She’s also crazy, so we know we can’t be sure she might not just lose it enough at some point. You’re going to be careful, as careful as you can be.”
Cleo reached out again, took Sonya’s hand in a strong grip. “You won’t leave. I’ve known you too long and too well to think otherwise. You’re committed, and damn it, so am I. We’re going to remember, and we’re going to use the knowing there’s only one source of evil in the manor. The rest?”
“It’s a damn good house. She used the portraits. Collin said there was something about them.”
“Well, they have magic. They’re beautiful work, but beyond that, they have magic. Dobbs used that in her ugly way to defile them. But it didn’t hold, it didn’t last. The light, the beauty came back. And that’s what holds.”
“I knew I’d feel better once I talked to you.”
“Which is why you should’ve come straight in and told me after it happened.”
“Honestly? I needed to think, and to settle down some. And I really hated she chose such an important night for this. Such a happy night.”
“I doubt that’s a coincidence.”
For a moment, Sonya just stared. “Now I’m wondering why I didn’t think of that. Of course it’s not. She wanted to ruin something beautiful.”
“But did she?”
“No. She had her moment, but that’s it. I’m going up to the gift room, sayingFuck you, Dobbs, then putting together those sweet things we got from Baby Mine for a welcome home.”
“We’ll put them together, along with the pastel we’re going to do of Fiona Kate Miller.”
“Oh, a pastel, from one of the pictures.”
“That’s right. A collaboration. Now give me my fix and show me some more baby pictures, and then we’ll both go up and sayFuck youto Dobbs.”
“He sent so many I put them in an album.” Sonya pulled out her phone, scrolled down, clicked.
“Enjoy.”
“Aw, here’s one of Corrine holding her grandbaby, tears on her cheeks. Happy, happy tears. Now I’m tearing up.”
“You love it.”
“I do.” Cleo pressed a hand to her heart. “Babies just get me. I swear, looking— Oh my, this is the one, I think. See how she’s got that otherworldly look in her eyes. That one where she’s betweenwhere she was and where she is. I think they remember everything at first.”
“I love that one, too.”
“This is making my clock tick-tock, tick-tock.”
“Right there with you.”
“We’ll get there, Son. We’ve got a job to do here first, then a few details to work out. Like getting married, or not, getting pregnant.”
“Married or not?”
“I’m all right withor notas long as there’s love, commitment, fealty. No duty or fine match for me like Agatha. Cleo doesn’t settle, so I want all those things. And one of these. Or three or four of these precious little babies.”
She glanced over at Sonya. “Theor notdoesn’t work for you, and nothing wrong with either way. And, Son, we’re going to get there.”
“Finish the job first.”
