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Blake squats in front of me, putting a comforting hand on my neck. “We need to get you taken care of, come on,” he says, pulling me up by my shoulders.

I will find out what happened to Jordie.

And I will ruin everyone’s lives.

Everyone who’s responsible for her disappearance and exposing us.

Starting with Dorrian.

15

Jordan

Present Day

There’s an ache in my jaw and my head is pounding. Kain’s door was shut when I left my room, and I still felt a melancholy presence behind it, but brushed it off as soon as it came.

So, my first party didn’t go how I thought it would. And drinking more than I could handle didn’t wipe Kain off my mind like I hoped it would.

“What time do you call this?” Mother scolds as I make my way down the grand foyer steps.

“I’m not sure, I don’t have a phone,” I reply, trying to keep the bite out of my tone. I feel like someone mowed me over repeatedly with a tractor last night.

“2 p.m.” Her firm fingers wrap around my arm, and she drags me through the burgundy halls. “You’ve brought shame and dishonour on our family once again.”

My throat dries. “W-what?”

The click of her heels is loud in the hollow halls. “Drinking yourself into oblivion?” she fumes as we round into a part of the castle I’ve never seen, cobwebs and dust particles tickle my throat. She shoves open a door, flooding the dark hallway with an amber light, and pushes me inside where Heath, Father Michaels, and a few other clergy members are sitting around on cloth-covered sofas. Clearly, this part of the castle has been forgotten about.

“Disrespecting sacred ground,” Heath muses, tapping his sausage finger on the arm of the sofa.

I plait my fingers in front of me and lower my head just enough to look guilty but still have a clear view of every fucker in the room. Coaxing my heart into a steady rhythm, because I refuse to be intimidated by anyone in power, I whisper, “I’m sorry.” They’re surrounding me like a pack of hyenas. They think they’ve already gauged me, they believe they have me exactly where they want me, and it’s exactly what I want them to believe. Instead, I have them where I want them. What they don’t see through the tall grass of lies and corruption, is that there’s a much bigger predator hiding, one they won’t recognise until it’s too late.

Rain hammers on the windows as a tense silence grips the room in its hold.

“So, you admit to doing it?”

I clear my throat, my eyes fighting hard to stay pointed at the floor and not to roll into the back of my head. “Yes, sir.”

“That’s right. That’s the correct way to address your future husband. Good girl.” Samuel’s smile widens as the nun smacks the cane onto the wooden desk, making me flinch.

I grit my teeth.

“I see the time locked away has caused the Devil to possess you.” Mother’s hand pushes roughly on the back of my head, and I make a show of stumbling forward before regaining my balance.

I’m about to open my mouth to speak, but this is a punishment and I shouldn’t talk back, I must stay quiet and accept whatever is given to me—whatever God deems the fairest retribution.

Mother rips my hair upwards painfully, making me look at her. Her fingers invade my mouth and she pulls my tongue out, making me gag. “God gave you a tongue, so speak. Confess your sins.”

“The clergy thinks your punishment should be performed in front of the entire town, but that would turn them against the church knowing it’s been tainted.” The old leather groans as Heath stands, stopping just a fraction away from me. “But I think there’s a better punishment for sinners like you.” I can hear the grin in his voice. “Get down on your knees.”

My swallow clogs in my throat and my heart feels like it’s stopped beating all together.

“Now, Jordan.” There’s impatience flirting about his tone.

With all my might, pushing my ego aside, I lower to my knees and the physical sensation of twigs digging into my knees rushes through me.

Now is not the time to think about Kain.