Page 27 of Crown of Death

But it’s the first place my braingoes.

“Was one of those times because of…her?” I ask. “The one you say I looklike?”

Cyrus continues studying me. “There’s no doubt about it, Logan. Alivia Ryan Conrathisyour birth mother. I tasted it in your blood. The resemblance is spectacularly obvious. But to answer your question, yes, one of those times was because of her. The last, because of your cousin’smother.”

My traitorous stomach does a little somersault. “I have acousin?”

“Oh yes,” Cyrus says with a little smile. “She’ll one day be the leader of the House in the northeast part of this country. Though that’s still some years away. The girl is only ten years old, currently. And if I recall, she also has a younger brother. Though he isn’t aRoyal.”

I shake myhead.

All these words. He keeps saying all these crazywords.

“I apologize,” Cyrus says. Briefly, he looks away, studying the beautiful home that is now his. But he looks back at me, pinning me with those eyes. “I speak as if you are familiar with our world. You look so much like Alivia, that I forget that she kept you removed from thisworld.”

“Do you know her well?” I blurt. I actually bite down on my stupidtongue.

I don’t want towonder.

I don’t want to askquestions.

I love my family. Even if we don’t share blood, I wouldn’t trade them for anything oranyone.

But I keepasking.

Something in Cyrus’ expression darkens. One corner of his upper lip twitches. “Oh, I spent a good deal of time withher.”

“What is she like?” Iwhisper.

Again, I wonder at the hardness that takes over Cyrus’ face when I mention this woman he says is my biological mother. She can’t be a good person, if someone likehimhas this kind of reaction to even the mention of hername.

“She’s smart, brave,” Cyrus says. “Also cunning and manipulative. Which makes her very fit for our world. But considering the history between she and I, we both try to avoid one another as much aspossible.”

It makes my chest tighten. Cunning. Manipulative. Not positivewords.

It makes me look at myself. Would I use those words to describe myself? Did I inherit any of that fromher?

“It sounds like maybe you were in love with her,” I say, looking back up atCyrus.

A little hiss rumbles in his chest and red embers ignite in his eyes. “Your mother led me to believe she was someone she is not, all to try to repair the broken heart her now husband gave her. Alivia knows how to use people to get what she wants andneeds.”

I squeeze my eyes closed and shake my head. I hate this. I want to take back the last few questions and get rid of the information I’ve justlearned.

Then I could always hope that my biological mother was out there, being a good person. Someone who influenced the world for thebetter.

Instead, I’m being told about someone who soundsterrible.

“Do you know where she lives?” I ask. Because I can’tstop.

Cyrus doesn’t answer right away. My eyes slide back open, and I find mine fixed onhis.

“Are you sure you want the answers to these questions?” Cyrus asks. “Your family’s legacy is a dark and complicatedone.”

I swallow once. “That will be the last one I ask about her,” I say. “Fornow.”

Cyrus sighs, but nods. “I suppose it is understandable to wish to know about your bloodline. Perhaps one day we will solve the mystery of who your father is.” He pauses, as if mentally running through who the possibilities are. As if he would know. “Your mother lives in Mississippi, where she is leader of the House ofConrath.”

I shift, drawing one knee up to my chest. “You keep saying that word—House. What does thatmean?”