Chapter 368
Chapter 368:
“Open the lady’s door,” Alistair commanded softly.
The butler hesitated, then scurried around to her side. He opened the door with a bow that was just a shade too shallow to be respectful.
Skye stepped out.
The air was thin and cold.
“Welcome home, Master Alistair,” the butler said. “The Master is in the Great Hall p>
They walked inside.
The foyer was cavernous, lit by torches rather than electric lights. A massive fireplace roared at the far end, but it did little to chase away the chill.
There was no one there. Just the sound of fire crackling.
Then a sound came from the shadows of the upper balcony.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A cane hitting stone. Slow. Deliberate.
“So,” a voice echoed, dry and raspy like dead leaves, “this is the girl who thinks she can play games with monsters p>
Skye looked up.
Silas Thorne stood on the balcony. He was old—incalculably old—but he stood straight. He wore a velvet smoking jacket. His eyes, even from this distance, were piercing.
“I don’t play games, Mr. Thorne,” Skye called out, her voice steady. “I win them p>
Silas let out a laugh that sounded like a cough. “We shall see. Come up. Let’s see if you survive lunch p>
We climbed the grand staircase. The wood groaned under our feet, as if complaining about the intrusion of modern shoes.
Silas met us at the top. Up close, he looked like a hawk—sharp nose, predatory eyes, skin stretched tight over bone. He didn’t offer his hand. He turned and walked down a corridor lined with portraits of dead Thornes. They all looked miserable.
He led us not to a dining room, but to a small, sunlit solarium at the back of the house. It was filled with orchids.
“Sit,” Silas commanded, pointing to a wrought-iron table.
Alistair pulled out a chair for me. Silas sat opposite, resting his hands on the head of his cane. It was carved into the shape of a wolf’s head.
𝖣i𝘀c𝘰𝗏e𝗋 𝗇e𝘄 𝘀𝘁о𝘳𝗂e𝘴 𝘰𝗻 𝗯е𝘭n𝘰𝘃𝗲𝘭ѕ.𝖼о𝗆
“You are causing a scene, Miss Sterling,” Silas said, getting straight to the point. “Reality television? Tweeting insults? It is… vulgar p>
“It is effective,” I countered. “The stock price of Oracle is up three points since the announcement p>
“Money is fleeting,” Silas waved a hand dismissively. “Dignity is forever. You are a Kensington by marriage, a Sterling by blood, and now… you are entangled with my grandson. You are the CEO of a major corporation. Do you not care how this reflects on your authority p>
“My authority comes from results,” I said. “And I am doing what is necessary to destroy the people who hurt this family. Including the ones who killed Alistair’s parents p>
The air in the room froze. Alistair stiffened beside me. Silas’s eyes narrowed.
“You speak of things you do not understand p>
“I understand the Ledger,” I said. “I understand the Pact. I know what happened at the Hollows p>
Silas stared at me for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, he stood up.
“I’m hungry,” he announced. “My chef is incompetent. He makes pasta that tastes like rubber.” He looked at me expectantly.
“I… beg your pardon?” I asked.
“Can you cook?” Silas asked. “Or are you just another decorative vase like Catherine p>
I blinked. Was this a test?
“I can cook,” I said. “My mother taught me. She said a woman should never rely on servants for sustenance p>