He folds his arms, a flawless statue of confident authority. “Someone I trust with my life. Someone I trust with this secret…someone you’ve got an eye for.” The knowing smirk on his face is a preamble, and he lets it hang.

“Who?” I demand again, bracing myself.

“Sebastian.”

2

Sebastian, the lion. The man with the most brilliant blue eyes I’ve ever seen. A man who hates me.

And Landon plans to marry me off to him.

Landon Astor…my brother.

“Are you going to give me the silent treatment all day?” Faye’s voice dips, a moment away from cracking in distress.

Or growling in frustration.

I’m not sure which, and considering all she kept from me, what she’s still keeping from me—if I count the mystery of what happened to Elise—I can’t say I care about Faye’s state of mind.

Not when my own is spinning with the revelations Landon dropped on me no more than an hour ago.

“You’ll have to talk to me eventually,” she tries again.

Ignoring her, I keep my gaze trained on the endless expanse of ocean in the distance. The French doors stand open, allowing the crisp scent of spring to filter into my new quarters in the House of Gemini.

The set of rooms Landon gave me are the most luxurious and spacious I’ve encountered in this tower. The smell of fresh paint and new upholstery hint that he had the space renovated.

To ensure the rooms are fit for a queen? Or fit for family?

“I wanted to tell you, but my mother swore me to secrecy.” Faye fidgets in the bistro-style chair across from me, sandwiches and tea untouched on the table between us. “She thought you’d hear it best from Landon.”

Now I do look at her, my eyes narrowed in disbelief. “As opposed to hearing life-altering news from my lady and best friend—someone who’s like a sister to me?”

“Landon is a figure of power and authority. She thought you’d believe him over me.”

“That’s ridiculous and you know it.”

“You’re right,” she concedes, her voice soft with defeat. “She couldn’t risk you going public with the truth. That’s why she felt the news had to come from Landon.”

“So she wants me to be passed around like a whore?”

Faye flinches. “She wants what’s best for you.”

“I find that hard to believe. Regardless of her skewed reasoning, your loyalty should have been to me.”

“I’m sorry I betrayed your trust, but I couldn’t go against my mother.”

“You’ve never had a problem with rebellion before.”

She averts her gaze, guilt flushing her cheeks, and I realize she’s still holding something back.

“What’s the real reason you kept your mouth shut?”