Page 84 of The Harbinger
“Hopefully.”
Ina was just another useless being laying waste to my resources, a burden in my home, and a stain I couldn’t remove.
Catherine frowned and walked forward, placing her hand on my shoulder. “She will pass in peace with His unholy darkness at her side.”
I grunted at the thought.
Blood trickled down my chest, bringing back the moment I’d made a blood oath with Papa. If it weren’t for that, she would’ve died a long time ago from the best my imagination could’ve drummed up.
I rubbed my thumb against my middle finger and pointer—something I noticed Mia did when she was nervous—then turned to the nurse. “Let me know when it’s over.”
Turning towards the door, I stopped in front of Katya. “Do not shed a tear for her. We all know what she was capable of.” She nodded and wiped the tears from her face with a quick swipe of her hand. “Step outside. I want to speak with you.”
I shoved past Catherine and stepped into the hallway. Katya followed and shut the door.
“Tell me everything she’s said to you in the past few weeks.”
Katya shook her head and sniffled. “Ina hasn’t—”
“Not her. Mia.”
Her gaze flicked up to mine, then back to the floor, her hands tucked behind her. “She’s said many things.”
“Such as… Don’t make me question your loyalty.”
Katya gasped, her head shaking as she stepped closer. “I would never…”
“Then speak.”
“She hasn’t confided in me much. She’s asked of Antonia. She doesn’t like your control over her. But I think she’s grown close to you. In the few days you were gone, she asked for you and wondered when you’d come back. I caught her a few times staring at the front door.”
My heart squeezed, but I shoved it aside. “What of her memories?”
“She doesn’t speak of them.” She paused as if contemplating something. “What’s going on between you two?” Katya glanced over the banister and swiped at her cheeks again. “I’ve seen her mark. You can’t get close to her.”
“It’s none of your concern.”
“If she’s who Ina spoke of, then yes. Don’t you think I should look out for you as your friend?”
I inhaled through my nose, my arms hanging at my sides. “You’ve been my friend since I can remember, but that doesn’t mean I need you looking out for me. I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you? Because if he finds—”
“Enough.”
A shot of motion on the second floor darted down the hall, sending a thrill through my bones.
So she wanted to play games?
I brushed past Katya and rushed down the stairs, then flung Mia’s bedroom door open, the bureau pushed back against the wall where it belonged.
Interesting.
After everything that transpired, she didn’t feel the need to bar me from her room?
Mia lay on her side with the covers tucked up under her chin, her chest rising steadily as if she didn’t just run for cover.
“Eavesdropping, even though you can’t understand, will still get you punished.”