“Answer my question,” she barked.

I stared at the floor, my mind racing. I had said I was staying home all evening, but even if I hadn’t, I had no good reason to be out past midnight in a blizzard. “Frédéric,” I started to say, but she interrupted.

“Your brother is on duty at the palace. I saw him myself, so don’t even try to say otherwise.” She loomed over me. “And you certainly weren’t out with your fellows in the company, no!” she scoffed. “No, that would be far too out of character for me to believe. Your lies are what is in character.”

I stepped back as she flung her hands up. “For weeks you’ve been sneaking off, never telling me the truth about where you go. You deceitful, ungrateful little…”

“What do you care?” I shouted. “You’ve never cared before where I went, so why now? What difference does it make if I’m out with Christophe instead of with Julian?”

Her face darkened, blue eyes narrowing. “So that’s it then?” She made a face. “I smell the horses on you now. A little roll in the hay with the stable boy?” Her face twisted and she spun away from me. “You’re going to ruin your life, Cécile. What was the point of you ever leaving Goshawk’s Hollow if you let a farmer get you with child?”

I flushed a dark red. Did I let what she was thinking stand? It was better than her finding out I was practicing blood magic in her kitchen and roaming the many city cemeteries in the dark of night, wasn’t it? Better than her finding out that I was trying to release legions of mythological creatures who were currently cursed to their underground city. “What’s wrong with Chris?” I demanded, pushing my way past her and into the great room.

“He’s a farmer. He hasn’t got any money.”

I rounded on her. “Father was a farmer.”

“Exactly,” she snapped. “And look how well that worked out for me. Being forced to choose between my family and my career. I’m warning you, darling, don’t go down the same path. Choose someone who won’t force you to make sacrifices.”

I stared coldly at her. I knew all this, of course, but hearing it out of her mouth was still astonishing. “Like the Marquis?” I said. “If rich is what counts, mother, you chose well.”

Her eyes narrowed. “The Marquis is my patron, girl. He pays for all this, supports the company, keeps us in favor with the Regent. And in exchange, all he asks is that I entertain him and his friends.”

“Of course, Mother,” I said. “Everyone knows that all he’s interested in is your…” I drew the pause out, “… voice.”

She slapped me so hard that I staggered backwards. “You know nothing,” she shrieked, then lunged at me.

I shoved her backwards. “Leave me alone!” I was angry – too angry – and the dark power of death still flickered inside of me, adding weight to my words.