He's Good at Being Bad

Nikolai for the

he mansion itself was holding its breath. Meals were left outside her door. Elise w

in where Jace had appeared now felt like a scene carved fro

was doing. Who he was watc

already ma

Nikolai's version of "hurt" looked like. For all she knew, a ruined reputation o

e, Reina decided

use power came in appearances, and she needed all she could get. She braided her hai

ivate

ld her never

e wasn't

nocke

ans

ed the d

lighting from a hanging chandelier, a decanter of whiskey half-full on

here

lack dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rol

ok surprised

rule," he s

You can survive

g the firelight. Tired. Caut

d, voice low. "I just didn't know

said. "I came to

e empty chair across

nstead, her heels echoing s

ou hur

le

ikolai said at la

y n

to see if you'd as

arms. "So this

you enough rope to see

you see now

not afraid of

"I don't know

cart, and poured himself a new

back?" he asked

ha

Do you want to

didn't

ruth was no l

uiet moments-like now, when the world burned low and her mask slipped-

hat I want," sh

finall

e said. "Stay

ne - Niko

ears e

n would

se like a warning. The storm had blown in fas

umbler in his hand, watching the messag

ila. She's still in the orphanage.

d a na

in

d-an old possibility tied to the oldest part of him. A choice he a

had su

. Should've moved on. But somet

he remem

uards from beating one of the younger boys. She couldn't have been

hat she bled wi

ad watched from the sha

job to play hero. That power came first.

t

ich. Feared.

ouldn't stop th

d at monsters like

e was a

hed her from the darkness was now preparing to m

use he w

he nee

n kingdom, he had begun to wonder if there was s

-she was the only on

o the

or hours that night. N

sit

ross from him. She tucked her legs

ress," she said. "But none of the

at her. "Yo

son," she said.

n who's ever lived here had a key.

want from me?" she

ant the truth. Choi

et hi

w what my tr

from his glass. "Then

his voice didn't s

ded lik