House Rules - Chloe Neill Page 0,68

her disappearance, was suspicious. So I followed her.”

Ethan looked equally suspicious. “You followed her.”

Lacey slid me a glance over her shoulder, equal parts daring and accusing. “She drove to the harbor, where security let her in. She met Jonah on the harbor wall. They were alone. They embraced.” She looked back at Ethan, ready to deliver the final blow. “There was blood in the air.”

Ethan’s gaze silvered.

“She isn’t faithful to you, Ethan. You had to know that. I had to tell you.”

“Lacey, leave us, please.”

But she wouldn’t listen. Her eyes were frantic, her voice panicked. She’d made her final play—her only play—and she wasn’t sure whether it had worked. “Don’t you see what she’s doing to you? What she’s done to you—to the House?”

“Lacey, get out!” Ethan bellowed.

“Ethan—”

He turned to glare at her, his expression no less polite than it had been with me. Sure, she’d accused me of cheating on him, but she’d also come tattling to Ethan. That wasn’t exactly laudable behavior.

She did as she was told, slamming the door shut behind her.

Ethan stood up and walked toward me, a thousand questions in his eyes. “Tell me,” he said. “Tell me now. Do not make me wonder, Merit. Do not make me put our relationship in her hands.”

I swallowed down a bolt of panic. I hadn’t prepared for this—for the assumption she’d actually made. What was I supposed to do now?

I certainly couldn’t tell Ethan I was having an affair. I wasn’t having an affair; I wouldn’t do that to him, or anyone else.

There was no honorable exit strategy here, only a least offensive option. I could be honest, pray that he’d forgive me, and hope to God that Jonah did, too.

I called up every ounce of bravery I possessed, and it was only barely enough to force the words past my lips.

“I joined the Red Guard.”

Ethan’s face went white, and his eyes went huge. He stared at me, and my heart fell to my knees.

“You—you . . .” He tried to speak, but he was furious enough that he couldn’t get the words out. “You did what?”

I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice and remember why I’d made the decision that I had. Because I’d been given the choice to serve, and I knew my choice had been right. “I joined the Red Guard. I’m a member now.”

He just stared at me, as seconds or minutes or hours passed. I waited on tenterhooks while he assessed my dishonesty, and probably the validity of our relationship. Finally I broke, and filled the silence I could no longer stand.

“You were gone,” I said. “And the GP was destroying us from the inside out. They came to me, and I said yes for the House—for what was left of us without you.”

He put a palm against his chest. “For my House? To join an organization whose sole purpose is to spy on us?”

“We aren’t spies,” I insisted, holding my ground. “It was the right thing to do. Is the right thing to do. We were falling apart, and things certainly haven’t gotten any better. I’m so sorry. I hated keeping it from you, Ethan. Hated it. But I couldn’t tell you.”

He glared at me. “Don’t talk to me about your motivations.” He wet his lips and looked away. “You’ve been inducted?”

Fear strangled me, and it took me a moment to answer. For both of us, there was no turning back. “Yes. Lacey saw it. She followed me to the meet.”

His jaw clenched. “And he’s your partner?”

I shrank back into myself, fearing this answer would seal my fate. If Ethan hadn’t been at stake, I wouldn’t have answered. But it would be disrespectful to lie to him.

“Yes,” I finally admitted.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” His eyes flashed silver, and a pulse of bright, hot, furious magic filled the air.

I swallowed, and nodded. Ethan’s chest rose and fell, shock and fury battling in his face. He looked like he couldn’t decide whether to scream or cry, whether to bellow out his agony or curse the gods.

“You were gone,” I repeated.

He barked out a laugh. “And that’s the rub, isn’t it, Merit? I’m back now.”

I nodded.

“I’ve been back . . . for a month . . . and you hadn’t bothered to tell me?” He took a menacing step closer. “I had to find out like this, from another Master, Merit? From a vampire I made and trained? A vampire who has, apparently, more honesty than my own girlfriend.”

“I couldn’t tell