Asylum (Causal Enchantment #2)(51)

“Don’t worry. Some people aren’t meant to play chess,” Julian said as our laughter quickly died down. “My sister couldn’t win a game if her life depended on it,” he added in a low voice to me before turning back to take in her disheveled appearance. He frowned deeply. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Of course,” she mumbled as she wandered past us to the dining table, her arms swinging lazily at her sides. She grabbed a freshly baked croissant from a plate, folded it up, and shoved it into her mouth as I imagined a starving savage would. Flakes spilled from her lips to scatter on the floor.

I glanced back to see Julian gaping at his sister. She also noticed she had an audience. “What’re you looking at?” she snapped. When neither of us answered, she strolled toward us.

What’s the over/under on her insanity again? Max asked. I ignored him, my back tensing as she neared.

“Ugh. Chess . . . who’s white, you?” Those wild eyes rolled over my face. I nodded, adding a grimace. She looked at the board for a moment as if analyzing it. “You should have moved your bishop there. You could have forced him to move his rook and then . . . ” she named several other steps I didn’t understand, ending with, “and then you would have won.”

“Oh . . . thanks.” I glanced at Julian to see shock. Hadn’t he just finished saying she had no idea how to play?

Leo’s voice drifted into the room from the back hall. “Take those boxes to Evangeline’s room.”

The property keeper with the white-blonde hair—Yeti One, Julian and I called him—marched into the room in snowy boots, arms laden with large, unmarked cardboard boxes. Leo trailed him.

“What are those, Leo?” I peered curiously at the boxes.

“Oh, some clothes and things for you. We had a delivery this morning.”

Valentina whirled, her body going rigid. “Delivery?”

Leo’s mouth curved into a tight-lipped smile. “We’re not completely abandoned out here. Sofie made arrangements for regular provisions. Didn’t you guys hear the helicopter come in?”

“No! Why didn’t you tell us?” Valentina shrieked.

Leo’s amusement quickly faded, replaced with a scowl of irritation. “I just did.”

“When’s the next one?” Valentina demanded.

Another smirk stretched across Leo’s face. “Getting cagey?” The smirk vanished just as quickly. “It’s a one-way delivery. No one leaves.”

Something harsh flashed in Valentina’s eyes—rage? She bit down on her bottom lip as if to stop herself from speaking. I couldn’t blame her for her reaction. Everyone was getting cagey.

Yeti Two came in then, pulling in a wooden crate on a dolly. “To the cellar with that,” Leo instructed. He turned to Julian and me, ignoring Valentina, and announced in a cheery voice, “That should do us until spring!”

“The helicopter’s not coming back until spring?” Valentina cried. Her hands flew up to cover her face, and the sleeve of her blue shirt slid down her arm, exposing a red, festering gash on her forearm. The same place she’d been injured a month ago, on that first day here.

I gasped. “Valentina! Your arm!”

Her hand flew to tug her sleeve back down before the others could catch a glimpse, and she threw a scowl in my direction.

“What’s the matter with your arm?” Leo asked slowly.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” I exclaimed. “It’s infected, Valentina! Leo can help you. Show him!”

Her jaw set. “No, I’m fine.”

Julian, visibly worried, raised his hands in a soothing gesture. “Leo’s alright, Valentina,” he said, his tone calm. “He helped me. He can fix whatever—”

“No one is touching me!” she shrieked, her eyes crazed. “No one!”

I traded a look with Julian and Max before turning to Leo, to find him staring at the distraught Colombian girl. His face was unreadable. Finally he seemed to decide on something, because he shrugged. “Fine, one less person to feed soon.”

My jaw dropped. “Leo!” I exclaimed.

Leo turned to us and winked. Oh, thank God. He’s kidding. “Why don’t you two get out for some fresh air? It’s a balmy day compared to the last couple weeks. There are snowshoes in the front closet.”

Julian and I glanced out the window and shivered in unison. It was true, the sunshine looked inviting, but . . .

“Out!” Leo shooed us with his hands. “You guys have been cooped up for too long. The fresh air will do your minds good. I don’t need a bunch of deranged young folk in here with me!”

“You know, that’s not a bad idea, old man,” Julian piped up, eyes twinkling at his playful dig at Leo.

“That’s why it came from me, little boy.” Leo’s riposte earned a smirk from Julian. “Max, go with them. Keep them out of trouble. The rest of you,” he looked at the three other werebeasts, “I have need of here.”

“You should come with us, Valentina,” I suggested, earning disapproving glares from Julian and Leo.

Luckily Valentina wasn’t interested. She answered with an exaggerated yawn, her arms reaching out behind her as if stretching. “I think I’ll just stay here.”