From the golden window frames to the dome-shaped roof to the red double doors at the front, the mansion was the most eye-stabbing thing inside the entire Court Grounds. “They must’ve really loved red,” I commented as I squinted to get a better look at their family emblem, a diadem and scepter in the middle with flowers and what looked like pomegranates surrounding them. It seemed familiar, but I couldn’t pinpoint where I had seen it. I probably saw Damian wearing the emblem on that first night at the after-party.

“What about that one?” I pointed at the building on our right and watched Adrian’s face turn reluctant to answer.

“The Costas.”

“Oh.”

We continued to pass many extraordinary buildings until Adrian paused. “This is the Ambrosias.” His gaze raked from the front door up to the tower, which was arched toward the sky. “My grandparents still live here with my parents. I prefer the family suite at the Royal Quarters. If the brat wasn’t there, it would be my bachelor pad.”

I snorted. With girls coming in and out as they liked, it was more like a den. Then, I dared myself to ask a question I had always been too shy to ask Kris. “Adrian, why doesn’t Kris’s family live at the Court?”

“I know I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but since I know your inquisitive self will only be satisfied with the truth, I’ll spare you the extra effort. You have to promise not to tell anyone, though.”

“I promise.”

“Including and especially Kris.”

I did not hide anything from Kris; we shared practically everything from the lightest truth to the hardest one, like my view on soul mates. Keeping the details of the woman from the jail and my quest with Adrian from her already made me feel guilty. I chewed the inside of my cheek, trying to decide. In the end, I concluded that this could be one more exception to our no-secret policy. “Okay.” I added, “Do I have to pinky swear or what?”

His body relaxed a little as he rolled his eyes at me. “It’s just that what I’m about to tell you is the other side of the Ambrosia family, the dark and twisted part.”

“Now you’re just playing with me. Spill the beans already.”

“Fine.” Adrian huffed. “There’s a love triangle in our family. My dad—” His eye twitched and I sensed something bad coming. Kris had told me before that Adrian and his father, Norman Ambrosia, had a tense relationship. Yet it seemed that despite this, he was not comfortable speaking ill of him. “He loves Aunt Jane.”

“Aunt Jane? As in Kris and Vlad’s mom?!” I gasped.