“Shit.” He reaches down and hauls me up by my arms. “See what you made me do?” he asks through gritted teeth.

I feel a tear slide down my cheek as I try to focus my eyes. I don’t want to cry. I don’t want to be afraid. And I know this is it. I know he’s right. I’ll do what he says because I have to. I’ve always known it could come to this. But I’d thought my father had safeguarded me.

My father.

“I want to see Dad.”

“I told you—”

“First. Let me see him first.”

He considers. “Now you’re being reasonable.”

He lets me go, steps backward, and I can see from his face he’s of two minds about what just happened. Not sorry—that’s a stretch too far for my brother—but split. I wonder if it has to do with whoever chose me.

Chosen.

God. Does The Society realize we don’t live in the Dark Ages anymore?

He checks his watch again. “We need to go.”

“I just want to get a few things.”

He grits his jaw, but then nods once. “Five minutes. I’ll be downstairs.”

I nod too.

“Don’t try to run, Ivy. I’ll send soldiers after you if you run.”

“Where would I go, Abel?”

He studies me, eyes narrowed in hate, then walks to the door.

“Who?” I call out just as he gets there, my curiosity getting the better of me.

He stops and turns back to face me.

“Who is it?” I ask.

He smirks like he’s won some strange secret victory. “Now you want to know who?”

“Just tell me.”

That smirk vanishes. In fact, all emotion but hate vanishes. “It’s fitting, actually.”

I stare at him, not understanding. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll let you see for yourself.”

“Who, Abel?”

“Santiago De La Rosa.”

2

Santiago

I ease my body onto the marble pew in the De La Rosa family chapel as my gaze moves to the flickering candles up on the altar. The space remains unchanged since my father designed it. White marble columns, ornate gold embellishments, decadence in every fine point. This holy sanctuary is just one of many extravagances in this estate long established by my bloodline. For decades, the Da La Rosa lineage has flourished in this manor. There was never any question that I would possess it someday. I just hadn’t expected it to be so soon. Now, I am the chosen descendant doomed to haunt these halls where memories remain etched into every surface.