"I did it to save you."
Celeste’s mother stood in the private room. They had barely escaped the compound. Rylan’s attack had given them cover, and now they were in a safe house—or so her mother claimed.
"Save me from what?" Celeste demanded. Her hands shook, from anger, from fear, from everything.
"From the prophecy. From what they wanted to turn you into."
Damien stood near the door, silent. His gun was ready, his eyes sharp. He hadn’t said much since they escaped—just watched, and listened.
"Start from the beginning," Celeste said. "No more lies."
Her mother sat down. She appeared older than Celeste remembered, worn-out in a manner that made her chest ache.
"My name is Catherine. I was born in Kavanagh. Married into the Belmonts. That part was true."
"And the rest?"
"I faked my
