The guard's words struck me like a hammer, hitting home. I stood still, allowing the silence to settle in as the men shifted uneasily around me. Betrayal from within my own walls was a wound that cut deeper than any external threat.
"Search every servant and every guard," I ordered, my voice cold as ice. "Investigate their loyalties, histories, and debts. No one is above suspicion. If someone has betrayed us, I want them brought before me."
The men quickly bowed and moved away, none daring to meet my gaze.
Tristan remained at my side, his hand brushing against Ellie's as if he couldn't resist touching her. That alone fueled my anger, of course not at him or her, but at the world I had created, one that now made her a target.
I turned to Tristan, my tone serious. "This is only the beginning. You think you can protect her, but shadows creep in closest when you let your guard down. Someone inside this house has marked her."
His jaw tightened. "Then we'll find them."
I didn't respond. My gaze shifted to Ellie, who seemed to stiffen under my scrutiny. She had spirit, yes, but I noticed the flicker of fear she was trying to conceal. Beneath that fear lay the heavy realisation that she was now entangled in this family's war.
I despised myself for allowing Tristan to involve her in this situation.
-
The phrase "inside job" echoed in my mind like a bell that wouldn't stop ringing. Someone in this house wanted me gone, or maybe even worse than gone.
Fear crawled through me, both hot and cold at once. These halls had once felt safe, filled with the warmth of Sophia's laughter and his Mother's kindness. But now? Every glance from a servant, every footstep in the corridor felt like a threat.
I turned to look at his Father, Edward, studying the sharp lines of his face. He was terrifying, yes, but there was something in his eyes tonight that resembled regret. It was as if he understood that this wasn't the life I deserved, yet he felt powerless to change it.
My gaze shifted to Tristan. He stood nearby, his presence solid, fierce, and unyielding. I wanted to believe that would be enough. But Edward's warning lingered in my mind: shadows creep in closest when you let your guard down.
What if love wasn't enough to keep me safe? My fingers clenched at my side until they ached, but I forced myself to lift my chin. I would not break, not in front of them, and not in front of whoever was watching from the shadows.
When I finally spoke, my voice wavered despite my efforts. "What if they come back?"
Tristan's hand covered mine instantly, strong and reassuring. "Then they'll answer to me."
Edward's gaze lingered on me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he turned away, his voice resolute and firm. "Not just to you, Tristan. To all of us."
As the family gathered again, I couldn't help but notice Donovan's mother, Marie, stepping in with a calm yet worried expression. Her gentle demeanour was overshadowed by a trace of concern as her eyes moved between me and Tristan. "Is there anything you would like to share with us?" she asked softly. Her voice held a warmth that encouraged openness, and it was clear that she was seeking our honest insights about the situation at hand.
A rush of heat coursed through me, and I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead as I listened to her probing questions.