Daughter Of Darkness

Chapter 5

He goes back to sterilizing his tools, his movements methodical. The hum of the ceiling fan fills the gap between us, stirring the air that’s heavy with quiet accusation. “What I still can’t believe is that Timothy Maddox is the Baron King,” he says after a beat, not looking up from the tray. “That’s a serious mindfuck.”

Sure as hell was. The King had revealed himself to us after the fire–after we got home from the hospital. He said we’d earned the right to know the truth, that we’d proved our loyalty. It was an honor, sure, but also terrifying. Secrets like that come with a price. They always do. And I’m not sure what the final cost will be.

“I’m still struggling with the fact he’s Remy’s father,” I remark. “You were his roommate, right? Did you ever meet him back then?”

“Yeah, we lived together for about a semester. Until I got pinched and he went hard in on DKS,” he says, “and yeah, once.”

Remington Maddox is known for living his life on the edge. Drugs, s*x, tattoos, fights. All of those things definitely make himmore DKS than BRN. “The bloodlines run closer in all of this than I realized.”

Neither Damon nor I have blood ties to the Royals in Forsyth. We were plucked from the student body and tossed into the BRN gauntlet for reasons the King hasn’t fully explained. But the other frats? Their lineage is muddy. That much had been revealed to us after the Hunt as part of our initiation for becoming a leader in BRN. Like Whitaker Ashby being a direct line to the BRN throne. Or that Verity Sinclair, raised in the West End, was Rufus Ashby’s biological daughter. Forsyth doesn’t have a family tree, it has thorny vines.

“Even if you didn’t meet him, do you think the King remembered that you two were once roommates when he recruited you?” I ask.

“I don’t think he misses much, so probably.” Damon glances up, his brow raised. “But from what I saw, there doesn’t seem to be any love lost between those two. I can’t see how it would be related.”

He’s right. The Duke isn’t just solidly with his frat, he’s firmly at the right hand of his own King, Simon Perilini, and keeping his distance from his father’s throne. I also can’t imagine my father marrying someone my age.

“I think we’re all better off not looking too deep at the Forsyth family trees.” Damon tilts his head, reaching for another clamp. “How long do you think this fake honeymoon is going to last?”

The rest of Forsyth thinks the King and his new bride are off on their honeymoon, celebrating their marriage. Those of us in the House of Night know better. Arianette’s locked in that cage for more reasons than simple punishment. She’s also there to keep people from asking too many questions about her involvement with the fire at Strong Manor.

“I don’t think he can stay gone very long,” I tell him. “The last time a King went missing, he was dead before anyone realized it. He’ll want to stay visible.” I take DK in. “Why? It’s not like you’re eager for her to get out of the cage.”