Page 46 of Reign By Wrath

“Yum.”

“We won’t be eating in the same room,” he said. “Think it’s best we put some distance between you and Saylor.”

“Does that mean I can’t get the tour?” I forced a smile on my lips. “I’ve been here twice but haven’t really seen the place. I’m curious now since this was supposed to be my home.”

“Course you can. Want to start outside with the gardens, three pools, and the greenhouse? Or inside with the two bowling alleys, five home theaters, and off-limits chef’s kitchen?”

I laughed. “Let’s go off-limits first.”

Alistair flicked my nose, eyes warm. “Definitely my daughter.”

I ducked my head, hoping he didn’t catch my flinch.

I knew the Burkhardt mansion was grand from the exterior and the little I’d seen on the inside, but that didn’t stop my mouth from dropping multiple times as he led me through the house. I finally gave up and let it hang open.

One summer vacation, Jack took the whole family to England for three weeks of sightseeing, pubs, and Harry Potter set tours. I’d been inside Buckingham Palace, the home of an actual queen, and I could say without a doubt that Saylor Burkhardt was living better.

Everywhere we went, there was a member of staff offering to do this or get us that. Screamingly expensive furniture, paintings, electronics, and fabrics followed us from room to room. It felt like one big show palace—meant to be looked at but not touched.

“It looks cold and uninviting,” Alistair said, reading my expression with surprising insight. We were passing through another endless hallway. “But it’s home. Just imagine what it was like playing hide-and-seek.”

“I imagine it took hours— no, days for you and your brother to find each other.”

He tapped his nose. “Dario never found me.”

“Where’s your childhood room?” I heard myself say. “Is it the room you’re staying in? Can I see it?”

“It is, and you can, but it looks nothing like it did from my teen years. Mother had every trace of me stripped and turned it into another of the many guest rooms.”

“That’s okay. I still want to see it.”

“This way. It’s two floors up and in the east wing.”

“I thought this was the east wing?”

“It’s the northwest wing. The kitchen was in the east wing.”

My eyes bugged. “We left the kitchen behind like an hour ago. What kind of never-ending maze is this place?”

Swallowing the rest of my grumbles, we made the trek back to the east wing. My body stiffened with each step, tightening my jaw and leaving me quieter and quieter.

I was stupid before. I acted without thinking or including anyone in the decision. Those choices almost killed me and put my boyfriends in danger. Knowing when to act is everything.

Alistair pushed open the door and waved me in.

My eyes immediately swept around, looking for the laptop, and I hated myself for it. Knowing when to act was important, but so was knowing when to give in. Wilder could not stand up against his brother. Why would I believe Wolf was bluffing about hurting the people I loved? He wasn’t bluffing all the times he hurt Wilder.

“It’s not much,” he said, “but I made do.”

I shook my head. Not much?

Alistair’s version of not much included a four-poster bed about the size of a small apartment, massive big-screen television, aquarium floors, matching seafoam-green wallpaper, and a roaring fireplace.

I ran over to the aquarium, dropping on my knees. Blue fish, green fish, red fish, catfish—they lazily swam beneath the glass, paying no mind to the gawking human. If this was how the Burkhardts treated their guests, I could only imagine what Saylor’s bedroom looked like. Their precious hellbeast must live in luxury itself.

“I didn’t know you could put a fish tank in the floor.”

Wonder what else they put in the floor. A floor safe, possibly? Alistair wouldn’t leave something that important lying around.I swept the place again.And I don’t see it anywhere.

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