to enjoy the view.”
The night was cool with the crisp, clean smell of ripening grapes. Now and then the moon would break through the clouds and bleach Brovik’s pale hair to silver. His untroubled demeanor gave no clues to his thoughts.
“You’ve done well, my dear, very well indeed,” he said, finally. “Tell me exactly what you learned in the Wolf’s house.”
I told him everything, down to the last bruise. He took me into his arms and held me tightly. “Dear child, it grieves me that you endured this. Your courage puts us all to shame. This is valuable information.”
“What about the little rats? He’ll go on hurting them.”
“Unfortunately, that is their lot. Kurt will warn them to avoid the Wolf’s dominions.”
Since Brovik had mentioned Kurt it seemed like a good time to broach the subject of my reward. “How is he?”
Brovik smiled fondly. “Well.” He slipped a small book of Shelly’s poems into my hand. “He asked me to give you this, a first edition he found in a shop in London.”
An envelope protruded from the book. I took the envelope out of the book and ran the smooth, heavy paper through my fingers. Closing my eyes, I conjured his face. “I’ve done my part, Brovik. You said you’d arrange things.”
I opened my eyes. Brovik tilted my chin up, serene smile flowing over his face. It was like Ethan said. He just reached inside and plucked the soul from me.
“Dear child, did you think I meant right now? There’s far too much to be done first. I need you at Ethan’s side. The two of you work so well together. Ethan’s great talent is courting investors and politicians. You’ll be instrumental in this work.”
The desperate butterfly panicked as the net dropped down on her yet again. “How long, Brovik?”
“When we finish this work, you’ll be free to go to Kurt.”
“When— in thirty years?”
“This work is more important than your lust.”
I was angry now. I snapped the book shut. “So, I have no choice, but to be Ethan’s slave?”
Brovik smiled again. “Thirty years is a mere blink of an eye to us.”
“It’s a lifetime to me. I’ll kill myself, I swear, if I have to endure another night with Ethan!”
He took me by the shoulders. “You will go back to America with him, and go on as you are until I have no more need of your service!” An owl hooted overhead. Brovik looked up, spooked. The slightest of tremors passed through him. He softened his tone. “You’re still very young. You and Kurt have centuries ahead of you. Ethan isn’t the harshest master you could endure. Dirk must have taught you that.”
“It’s easy for you to say!”
“To lead an Immortyl house is fraught with danger and sorrow as well.” He took my head into his hands, fixing his eyes on mine. “In time what you desire will be yours. Stay with Ethan.”
I shook my head adamantly, looking away from his strange hypnotic stare. “I won’t cooperate anymore!”
I broke away, running back into the house, wanting to go upstairs and lock myself in. I tore through the drawing room. Ethan and Philip looked up.
“What on earth did he say to make her behave so?” Ethan asked.
Philip blocked my path. “Hold on, little one. Has the old one upset you?”
“Let me go! I’m sick of all of you!” I jabbed my heel into Philip’s foot and ran upstairs to my room, slamming the door.
I threw myself face down on the bed, head throbbing. Tears ran down my face. I still held Kurt’s letter clutched in my hand. To my surprise Ethan came in from the balcony. He must have climbed the arbor. I hid the letter, but he saw it and snatched it away, holding it above my head.
“What’s this? A love letter? Let’s see, from whom?”
I looked up at him and snapped, “Go on, say something disgusting, it’s the only thing you know how to do.”
Ethan took it all in good humor. He just enjoyed my pain too much. “How long has this little correspondence been going on?”
“Ever since Philip first came to see us!”
Ethan unfolded the sheets and smoothed them out to read. “So that’s the reason for all those packages, to hide his treachery?”
“Stop being so dramatic! Give it back to me!” I reached out and tried to take it.
Ethan snatched it away again. “Does Brovik know about these letters?” A malicious grin split Ethan’s face. “You’ve been played for a fool, my dear.” He began to laugh. “Now