Once we’re in one of the cars that are driving us to the main property in New Orleans, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I reach into it, noticing an unknown number. “Hello?”
“Saskia?” Brian, Hope’s husband, breathes through the line. “Have you seen Hope?”
“What?” I look round the car. “No, why?” I lower my voice, unsure again about the energy that’s around me.
“She left for Kiznitch two days ago and now I can’t get a hold of her.”
My eyebrows knit. “I—” I pause. My blood turns cold. “I’ll call you back.”
Scrolling through my contact list, I open up a text to Killian.
Me: That night. What happened?
I wait. And wait. Until we’re bouncing down the long driveway to the plantation.
I open up another text.
Me: My godmother is missing.
Chewing on my lip nervously, I inwardly scold myself for opening up to Killian so easily regardless of the fact that I’m almost certain I can’t trust him.
Why is it that no matter how hard we try, we find ourselves back together? It’s like we’re a tragedy with no destination.
Kill: Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me? He finally replies. I swing open my door and make my way through the clearing behind the main house that’s on the property—also known as one of The Brother’s houses. I don’t know which one, to be honest. I thought it was Delila’s, but her mansion is at the back.
Running my hands over my arms and desperate for a shower, I’m jogging toward the RV when Delila calls out to me from behind.
“Saskia?”
I turn around, not wanting to see anyone right now because I need to find Hope. “Yeah?”
“Come with me.” She gestures, curling her fingers and heading toward the side of the main house that shelters the rest of the property. I want to say that it’s King’s house, since he’s the son of Kaius.
The night is cooler, the dark sky bleeding into the sunset.
“Where we going?” I ask, following her footsteps. We must walk for twenty minutes before another small path leads off the dense forest. Flower beds line the pathway with Dragon flowers, blossoming perfectly. I watch as the wild forest slowly melts into a modernized home built from glass and dark mahogany wood.
I pause.
Vines of roses wrap around the two pillars at the front near the door, the walls glass and the wood that holds them together dark. There’s a small white rocking chair at the front with a small mink blanket covering the top.
Delila watches my reaction.
“What’s this?” I ask, going back to her.
“This is the Dragavei house. In other words, yours.”
My eyes close. “Delila, I need to ask you something.” I think I’m in shock. “How am I a Dragavei?”
Delila tilts her head, studying me. “Your mother.”
I go back to the house. “But growing up, we didn’t have a life like this. Mom, she wasn’t rich. I actually thought that when you came to visit me, that I would have to pay their dues by doing Midnight Mayhem’s cleaning or something. My parents were nothing special in this world.” I shake my head, laughing. When Delila doesn’t answer, I quickly look back at her. “Please don’t take that as I’m ungrateful for this, because I am. I know that you can’t talk to me about everything, but I still have questions.”
Something flashes over Delila’s eyes. I couldn’t decipher what that was and before I could, it was gone. She smiles at me. “Well, I guess you’ll start learning that there was more to your heritage than what you’ve been told.”
She steps forward, dropping the keys into the palm of my hand. “Your family trust and credit cards are on the counter in the kitchen. I would really prefer if you stick with your team while we’re on the road, but this is your home now.”
I chew on my lip. “Thank you.” I’m still overwhelmed.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Delila murmurs, walking away. “Money isn’t something that you should be thankful for.”
That’s something someone rich would say.
I finally make my way up the porch, squeezing open the door. Lemon and lavender with cedarwood engulf me instantly, and I step inside and take in the wholesome architecture. White stairs lead up to the second level, and a kitchen sits at the back. Red bar stools are tucked beneath the island with equally red light fittings that hang from the wall. The dining room leads off the kitchen and tucked at the back is the lounge room. A comfortable three-seater and two-seater are facing each other with an open fireplace sitting in the middle. There’s a large flat screen TV hanging on the wall above the fireplace, and plants scattered around in modern clay pots. There are open sliding doors that join the lounge to the porch outside, so I open them wide, inhaling the crisp air as a burnt orange sky is slowly swallowed by the night. There’s a large fire pit in the middle of the backyard with LED lights that hang delicately around the porch, reaching out to the firepit. There’s even a complete outdoor setting and an inbuilt BBQ.