The Steele Wolf (Iron Butterfly #2)(61)

A small knowing smile played around her lips as she went on. “He talks to me you know, when he thinks I’m sleeping. I listen and I hear him pour out his unrequited feelings for her. He’s tried to court her but she’s refused. He brought you home to try and make her jealous and change her mind, which I think she has. You’ll see.”

“No, you’re wrong.” My heart felt like it was in a vice and doubt, that ugly thing called doubt, began to creep in. Our relationship was still new and we really hadn’t known each other that long. But my insecurities made it all seem perfectly plausible. Why would Joss be interested in someone like me when he could marry someone as beautiful as Mona?

“Am I?” she challenged. “If that’s so, then where is Joss right now? Hmmm? You see, he doesn’t really care about you.”

“He went to change, that’s all. He’s coming right back.” He had to. I couldn’t stand to be here one more minute defending him to his mother. My first impression of her had been wrong. She wasn’t a beautiful angel; she really was a vengeful dragon.

“I know that all of you are lying, pretending. I’m a mother and I know my children. I know when they try and deceive me.” Gloria’s eyes burned angrily and she shuddered in anger at me. “I don’t like liars and they are not welcome in my home.” It was unbelievable how much venom she could spew forth in such a cultured voice. But each word found its target deep within me.

My hands shook from hurt and the deep insecurities she was flushing out, but the doubt was becoming most prominent. It was as if she could read my mind.

“Poor, poor Thalia. Can’t you see? You are even lying to yourself.” Gloria reached her hand out and touched my skin and I felt an onslaught of mixed emotions, though muted. “It’s Mona; it has always been Mona. It would be better if you left now, quietly while no one is the wiser.”

I couldn’t take it. Pushing out my chair, I slowly stood up. Talbot’s eyes shot to my face and watched me quietly. Raising my chin up high, I walked out of the observatory and down the hall, taking the first set of stairs that I came to. At first I wandered aimlessly, trying to fight back any fear and doubt I had as I replayed the conversation with Gloria over back in my head. When I had thoroughly cooled down and felt composed, I decided it was time to go back to the dinner. By now Joss would have changed and could even now be waiting for me. But with all of the different levels in the tower, looking, I was lost as to which floor I was on. I decided to open a random set of double doors to find which floor I was on.

Opening the first set of doors I came to, I found I was in the library. I was about to close the door when I saw two people locked in a tender embrace by a window. Small feminine hands could be seen locked around strong male shoulders.

Once again embarrassed, I tried to avert my eyes and quietly close the door but something about their silhouettes looked familiar. Pushing the door open wider, I let it slam against the doorjamb on purpose; hoping that one of them would look up. They both did and I felt my heart hit the floor.

It was Joss and Mona.





Chapter 25



Wide eyed and confused, I turned and rushed out the door. I was not sure what I had seen; I decided that, with the way I was feeling, I wasn’t ready for a confrontation. Was I running away? Probably. But why wasn’t I turning around to confront Mona and fight for Joss? Maybe it was because, deep down, I knew that Gloria’s words had struck a chord with me and I was still feeling the reverberations from our conversation. Maybe Joss had chosen a long time ago, and this was all just a farce. If so, then why did my chest hurt so much? Why did he bring me here? Was it all a lie just so I would come and bring Kael and look for his sister?

Angry tears blurred my vision and I found myself back on the same floor as the observatory. The sound of music and laughter echoed into the dark hallway where I stood alone. Pressing my forehead into the wall, I tried to calm myself down. But it was no use; I couldn’t go back in. I couldn’t pretend to be happy and carefree. I didn’t belong here, I hated living up in the air on SkyFell and all I wanted to do was escape. And that’s when I realized that Mona was right. Gloria had won. I was going to leave.

Ripping off the necklace that Joss had given me, I placed it on the windowsill in the hallway outside of the Observatory. I was taking the coward’s way out and was going to sneak out in the middle of the night. I would leave Joss and Nero a note to explain my disappearance. After all, I never wanted this. It was premature. I never wanted to pretend to be engaged to Joss for fear of ruining our relationship. I was right. It had.

I had made it to my room without making any wrong turns, I grabbed my small bag threw the few items of clothing I had in it, not wasting time on folding them. Very carefully, I laid out my dress that Berry had brought for me on the bed in hopes that she would take care of it for me. Now for the hard part: leaving the Jesai residence without being seen.

With the celebration taking place on another level, it was easier than I had anticipated. I only had to stop and duck around a corner once before I made it down the steps and back onto the street. Walking in what I hoped was the right direction; I followed the road to the end of town. It was only when I saw the tall tower in the distance with the sky cages did I falter in my decision. Where was I going to go?

Lanterns along the street led the way and I approached the tower to see the beautiful white perot on its perch who trilled softly when I came near. I stopped to admire the bird, when a louder screech sounded. I stepped back and fell on my rear. How could I have forgotten the dorabill that also had a perch outside of the tower? The dorabill screeched again and flapped his wings, and the rustle of a chain drew my attention to his foot. A long chain was attached around his leg and led to a metal hook in the tower.