Page 79 of Reign By Wrath

My fingers were a blur typing back.

Me: I’ll be there. Is William coming too?

Hell Beast: No. You’ve probably guessed by now, but she doesn’t want you anywhere near him. He has a soft spot for you, and Grandmother won’t have you take advantage of it.

My brows shot up. William had a soft spot for me? Did she assume that because he didn’t cut me out of the will? That was my only guess because ignoring me my whole life didn’t seem soft.

Me: Fine. I’ll be there in three hours. Do I have to come alone?

Hell Beast: If you want her to say a word worth hearing, yes.

I left the conversation at that. Two hours and forty-five minutes later, I shut the car off in the parking lot of La Perla’s.

I don’t know why I thought it was a restaurant. Or why I thought a restaurant would be open at eight in the morning. La Perla’s was a dress shop. A midsized boutique that was just beginning to open its doors and get ready for the day’s patrons.

I climbed out, looking around. There were other cars in the parking lot, but it was impossible to know if one was, Say—mygrandmother’s car or if they all belonged to the employees.

Cautiously, I grasped the door handle—wondering if I should go in or wait until time.

The woman standing behind the register glanced up and smiled at me. She waved for me to come in.

“Good morning. You must be Miss Sinclair.”

“Uhh, yes.”

Bowing, she swept out a hand. “Right this way, ma’am. Everything is ready for your appointment.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing—simply following her from the main room and down a hallway lined with adorned mannequins.

La Perla’s was as elegant as its name and twice as beautiful as any shop in Regalia. Which was saying something. Plush, cream carpet tickled my sandals. Bold of a place with high foot traffic to choose a color that captured every stain and trace of grime. The carpets should be filthy, yet they looked like they were put in that morning.

Walking behind, my shoulders brushed dusky-pink wallpaper with golden swirls. Wilder’s lips were the same dusky pink. The thought brought an unbidden smile to my lips. When had I gotten so lovesick and smitten that I was seeing my guys everywhere? Even in the walls.

The attendant moved aside as we entered another space. A woman sat on a circular sofa, accepting a glass of champagne offered on a silver tray.

I studied the side of her face without moving. This was Alistair’s mother. I didn’t need her confirmation to prove it.

Silver had all but overcome the auburn locks she passed on to her son. Small wrinkles appeared at the corner of her eye and mouth—the lightest dusting as though they were hesitant to age her without permission.

She was beautiful because, of course, she was. I didn’t need to see her full face to know she was, but she turned and smiled at me. Confirming it.

Astoria Burkhardt. The first and only shadow queen of Regalia.

“Good morning, Luna.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Burkhardt.”

She laughed—a tinkling sound. “So polite. No need for formality, dear. You may call me Grandmother.”

I blinked—not expecting that in the slightest. The woman went out of her way to ignore my existence, then wouldn’t allow me to enter her home to speak to her, but now she was Grandmother?

“I’d like to stick to Mrs. Burkhardt if that’s all right.”

Her smile didn’t waver. “Of course. Whatever makes you comfortable.”

I looked around, half expecting to spot Saylor hiding behind a rack of clothes, laughing herself sick because she fooled me with this paid actor.

“Do... you know why I’m here?” I asked.

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