House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)(28)

I held a hand out, letting it brush against the material. “It’s gorgeous. I hope it fits.”

She dropped the dress and shoes into my hands, turning and rummaging through some drawers. She was back with a brand new set of black underwear, tags still attached. There was a tag on the dress, too, and I was pretty sure all the blood fled my face when I saw the price.

The dress was worth more than my family’s car. “Uh, are you sure it’s okay for me to wear this. It’s really expensive.”

Star laughed, waving her hand at me. “Don’t be silly. It’s the least I can do after dragging you into this mess.” She leaned in closer, whispering conspiratorially, “I really hope the council don’t want to meet with you. They’re pains … and you did nothing wrong. You should be free to go back to your life.”

Clutching the dress closer, I realized I’d momentarily forgotten my predicament.

I was a prisoner, not just chatting about clothes with a friend. I mean, I was possibly in the house of supernaturals. Something kind of important to remember, because there was a decent chance I might not leave this house alive.





7





I stood in a bathroom fit for royalty wearing five thousand dollars worth of clothes and I couldn’t stop staring in the mirror. The dress fit like it had been made for me. The cut of the top gave me more boobs than I knew I had, and the length of the hem made my legs look long and toned. Was this how rich people always looked so awesome?

Don’t get used to it, I warned myself, even while I ran my hands across the supple material a few more times. My eyes dropped to the black boots and I had to suppress my little squeal. They were so gorgeous. It turned out that Star and I had the same shoe and bra size, which was a lucky, weird coincidence.

“Are you okay in there?”

I turned at the gentle knock on the closed door. “Yes, all good. Coming out now.”

I ran my hands through my hair. There wasn’t much I could do about it now. It had dried in long, unruly curls, haphazardly springing everywhere. I had no makeup on, my face plain against the beautiful dress, but I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

My heels clicked as I crossed to the door, and when I opened it I found Star standing on the other side. We were the same height now and I noticed she’d changed her clothes too. Her boots were similar to mine, just with a shorter heel.

“You look amazing!” she exclaimed. “I knew it would be fun to have a girlfriend to share things with.”

That gave me a moment’s pause. “You’ve never had a friend?”

She shook her head, long silky cascades of brunette hair tumbling across her shoulders. “No, this is the first time I’ve left my home. I had to fight for this freedom and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.”

I felt a pang of sympathy for her. “If you can keep your brothers from killing me, then I’d love to be friends,” I told her. Despite my previous thoughts about remembering what and who she was, I liked Star. There was an innocence about her that drew me in.

She squealed. “We’re going to be best friends, I already know it.”

Her gentle nature was very clear, which might have been half the reason I felt a bond to her. Star needed protecting.

“I hope Lexen isn’t back yet,” she said as we walked into the hall. “He can be … difficult when his orders are disobeyed. Like Father.”

I snorted, which drew her attention. “He’s an arrogant asshole who thinks his word is law. But sure, difficult works too.”

Star blinked a few times, but before she could say anything, a huge shape appeared in front of us.

“Downstairs, now,” Lexen said to his sister, his voice coldly quiet. She jumped, but didn’t immediately move.

“Promise me that you’re not going to hurt her,” she replied, standing her ground. “She’s my friend.”

His face did not soften; those harsh beautiful lines stayed strong and prominent. “I’m not going to hurt her,” he bit out. “I just need to ask her a few questions.”

Star threw me a commiserating look. “I’ll wait for you downstairs. Maybe we can watch a movie later. I’ve heard such great things.”

They were going to have to work on Star if they wanted to continue pretending they were human. She flounced toward the stairs, giving Lexen a quick hug on her way out.

The moment his sister was out of sight, he turned those dark as sin eyes on me. “Who are you?” he asked, his voice even despite the fire in his eyes. “Why were you really following us tonight? Which of the houses holds dominion over you?”

Okay, then, we were getting right to the point.

“My name is Emma Walters. I followed you because I want answers about what happened to my guardians. And I have no friggin' clue what you’re talking about. Houses? Like the history textbook in Mr. Perkins’ class? Your family is descended from the House of Darken and the rest…”

I trailed off as he took a step closer. In my heels I was almost up to his shoulders. Which was frustrating. I didn’t like him towering over me like that. But I stood my ground, staring up at him without any expression. I would not let him know how spooked I was.

“If you are spying for the Imperials, I will not be happy. They have tried many times over the years to infiltrate our house, but I never thought they’d stoop this low.”