Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
She was peaceful. I should have felt relief. Instead, I felt what I always did. Despair.
Chapter Eighteen
Stella
I sat on Teddy’s bed as he paced the room. When we heard the commotion on the stairs that eventually settled on the third floor, we knew it was over.
“Does that happen a lot?” I hugged my knees and watched as he came apart with each fitful step.
“No. She’s done…things before. But she’s never done this.” He sank next to me and cradled his head in his hands.
I leaned over against his back and listened to the rapid beat of his heart. “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t enough, but it was all I could say.
“She’ll be okay, I think. They caught her quick, right?”
“Speaking from experience, I’ve made that same dash across the lawn and didn’t make it far at all.”
“I remember. That was a fucking weird day.”
“You’re preaching to the choir.” The memory of Vinemont, the sun high and blinding as he glowered over me, was something I would never forget.
“I know.” He sighed. “It’s because of Christmas, you know? Why she’s like this.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. I’d guessed that the time of year had something to do with it, especially after Renee told me how hard her Christmas trial had been on both women.
“I understand.” I didn’t know if I meant that I understood Teddy or his mother. Maybe a little of both. My mother was dead by her own hand, and Teddy’s seemed to have killed herself in much the same manner. Winning the Acquisition was a self-inflicted, fatal wound.
“She wouldn’t hurt us.” His eyes met mine, as if begging for agreement.
“I’m sure she wouldn’t.” I had no idea, but I would say anything to wipe the pain from his kind heart. “I think Vinemont just wanted us out of the way so he could tend to her.”
“Yeah.”
Footsteps sounded in the hallway. Two sets. Teddy unlocked the door and peeked out. Lucius walked by, Renee’s arm slung over his shoulder as he helped her to her room.
“Is she okay?” Teddy asked.
“They both are. Sin is staying with Mom. I’m putting Renee to bed. She’s exhausted. You can take Stella back to her room.”
I wanted to run to Renee, but by the time I’d made it to the door on my sore feet, they’d turned the corner, and the house was quiet again.
Teddy offered his arm. “Come on. I’ll take you over to your place.”
I peeked down the hall. “I really want to see Renee, if that’s all right? I promise I’ll go straight to my room after.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think Sin would—”
“Teddy!” Laura rushed down the hallway and into his arms. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
I took my chance and began hobbling away as some wet noises erupted at my back.
Teddy broke their kiss for long enough to call over his shoulder. “If you don’t get back to your room, Sin is going to kill me.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll go just as soon as I see Renee.”
“You better.” The kissing noises resumed as I turned the corner.
This was the same hall where Lucius’ and Vinemont’s rooms were. They stayed along the side of the house, and Renee’s small suite was at the very back. I passed Lucius’ door, a lamp burning on his desk and some rock music playing low. I kept going and came to Vinemont’s door, but it was closed.
I leaned against his doorframe to give my feet a momentary reprieve. I stared at the closed door, and curiosity got the better of me. I turned the glass knob and swung it open just a bit. A beam of moonlight lit the curves and lines of a piece of my soul—the painting I’d made after the first Acquisition trial. He’d hung it in his room, the stark image made even harsher in the low light. I pushed the door the rest of the way open and flipped the light switch. My breath left me.
Every painting I’d ever exhibited, save one—The North Star—covered his walls. I was everywhere, my heart, my thoughts, my emotions covering every bare inch of space in his room. I walked in and spun in a circle, disbelieving my own eyes. But it was real. All of me was here, in this room, with Vinemont.
“I bought them a little while back.” Vinemont leaned on the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. His face and neck were scratched, but the marks appeared to have been cleaned. He no longer bore even a shred of the merriment from the music room. His mother had stripped it all away, leaving him cold and raw.
“Why?”
His eyes pierced me but he gave no answer.
My heart began to thump in my ears as we held eye contact. I wanted to turn away. I tried. I couldn’t. His gaze dropped to my lips. Instead of cold, his eyes were suddenly alive with heat. He filled the door, his wide shoulders the perfect barrier.