Sins of Mine - Mary E. Twomey Page 0,38

first floor. The upstairs is the family’s private chambers. Father is very strict about outsiders traipsing up there.”

“Got it.”

Gray takes his hand off the wheel and reaches back to grip Cassia’s forearm. “Thirty minutes,” he reminds her. “Less, if you can manage it. Get him to the car in half an hour, or we’re coming in after you. We can’t risk getting caught in the crossfire when Conan Valentine’s people show up.”

Cassia nods. “I know. It’s a simple enough plan, Gray. Paxton’s been over the map of the inside of the castle enough times that I should be able to figure my way around. All I have to do is just…” Her eyes widen as she takes in the scope of the palace in all its stately glory. “…just break into the palace, slip past the royal guards and find Sloan. Then get Sloan out in whatever state I find him.”

We all swallow the lumps that rise when we picture what we’re trying not to visualize. Sloan has been an integral part of this whole rebellion. The things Father will do to him…

I can’t bear to think of it.

I’m too sensitive for torture—a fact I was criticized for growing up. Too soft to rule. Too afraid of the darker side of the throne.

“This is all easy,” Cassia blusters, though I can tell she’s saying it to psych herself up. “I was born for it. This is all easy. Shadowmelding is totally no big deal.”

Then Cassia reaches over and squeezes my hand, which is out of character for her. She’s a bit more prickly than most, and doesn’t invite physical contact on a whim.

She’s scared, which shoots a lightning bolt of panic through me. “You got this?” I ask her, more than a little worried.

In lieu of an answer, Cassia pops open her car door and vanishes on the spot, slamming it a few seconds later.

And just like that, the plan is out of my hands.

11

Bloody Invisible

Paxton

Gray cracks his knuckles not a minute into our waiting time. “We don’t need to be worried, right? We didn’t just send Cass straight toward the man responsible for locking her up without full certainty she’ll come back to us, right? We didn’t just send her to a dangerous place to collect a dead body, did we? I mean, there’s a good chance Sloan is still alive.”

My tongue slips over my top row of teeth. “Twenty-nine minutes until we find out. If Sloan’s in there, I’m nearly positive I’ve sent her to the correct wing.”

Another minute passes, and while I’m content to wait out the suspense in silence, Gray is too on-edge for that. “Does it freak you out that Cass can walk through walls now?”

I lean back, unbuckling so I can take up more space. “I came into this with her already able to turn invisible and make parts of her body turn immaterial. My shock happened back then. Everything else is just Cassia, who no doubt came out of the womb drumming to her own tune.”

Gray purses his lips. “I think I was okay with it all until she walked through the bathroom door instead of opening it this morning. I mean, it’s good that the ancient magic is waking back up, right?”

It’s a question I’ve wrestled with on and off, too. “I think time will give us that answer. We couldn’t handle the responsibility before, so nature took it away from us. Hopefully we’ve learned from history.” I run my palms over the tops of my thighs. “And it’s not awaking in everyone, mind you. It’s only the handful of us.”

Gray tilts his head back, exhaling loudly at the ceiling of the car. “That’s nothing close to anything that might put my mind at ease. Everyone at the commune is getting along brilliantly now, but things can turn at any time. People always look for the stupidest thing to cling to a division.”

I lean against the window. “I’ve had the same concerns. They’re all respectful and helpful now because they need Arlanna’s property, her money and her family’s help. What’s going to happen when everyone finally gets on their feet? Will they be kind when they don’t have to in order to survive?”

Gray scoffs. “You saw how hard a time they gave her at Prigham’s. I’m telling you right now, I don’t have the stomach to watch them turn on her all over again. She’s put too much care and hard work into keeping them afloat. I was patient at Prigham’s because