Free Betrayal by A.S. Fenichel

that now reached to her arms and back. She found it remarkably rewarding to have someone happy to see her. “Thank you, Lillian. I will do what I can, but of course, it is Reece who will have to do the work. He’s already proved he is quite capable in battle.”
    “Has there been a battle?” Dorian asked.
    Elizabeth nodded. “At the school.”
    “Spero Hall was attacked? Why haven’t we heard?” Dorian’s voice bit with danger.
    “It has only been a couple days. Not really an attack on the school as the demons were still gathering on the property.”
    Reece continued as if they’d been telling stories together for years. “Lizzy discovered them, and we made a preemptive strike.”
    “Reece handled himself well. He was even offered a position at the school.”
    Lillian stared from one to the other. “You’re not considering leaving the hunt, Reece?”
    “Was that a question, Lilly?”
    “I cannot believe you would give up.” Lillian fisted her hands and glared at him.
    Her husband intervened. “There is nothing wrong with instructing a new group of hunters. It’s quite honorable.”
    “Just because it’s the path your brother, Brice, has taken, does not mean it is the right choice for Reece. He was born to hunt. What does he know about teaching?”
    “I appreciate you support, Lilly.”
    “Oh, do not be offended. You know it’s true.”
    Elizabeth’s neck grew hot, and she’d had enough biting her tongue. “Actually, Reece was well liked and very effective in the training sessions. The students idolized him. For both reasons, Brice offered him the job.”
    Lillian faced Elizabeth, fists on her hips. “Then you think he should give up hunting and become an instructor.”
    She should have been more intimidated by the great Lillian Dellacourt. Maybe the pain pushed her, but she didn’t like the limitations Lillian put on Reece. It didn’t matter that she agreed with her. The words, you are no longer a scullery maid, rang in her head, and she would not forget it now. “I did not say that. I said he would be very good at it.”
    Reece cleared his throat. “Ladies, I have no intentions of becoming an instructor at this time. I shall only keep it as a last resort. If you remember, we have other problems.”
    Dorian said, “Yes, we came for a reason, Lilly. Shall we go to the garden and see if we can help?”
    “Of course.” Lillian turned and took the lead into Reece’s garden.
    Reece grabbed Elizabeth’s elbow and kept her back a few paces from the others. “You are very pale. Are you certain you’re all right?”
    Her heart raced and her palms were sweaty. The throbbing distorted her vision. “To be honest, I’ve not really felt myself since we found that thing.”
    “Maybe you should go upstairs and rest.”
    “No. I will be fine.”
    “Lizzy?” His beautiful blue eyes narrowed on hers, and he tightened his grip on her arm.
    She straightened her shoulders. “We will see this small thing through together.”
    The four of them looked down at the carving with Mr. Homes standing in the background, waiting for instruction and perhaps keeping watch over his garden.
    Dorian turned to the gardener. “You say this was not here yesterday. Are you certain?”
    Homes puffed out his chest and gestured as he spoke. “This is my garden, sir. I take care of it every day. I was down this very path before dark yesterday, and that abomination was not here.”
    Dorian nodded. “This will sound quite odd, but can you have one of the maids go to the butcher and fetch some goat’s blood?”
    Homes’s eyes widened and his skin paled. The gesturing, inherent in everything he said, stopped, and he stared. “Goat’s blood, sir?”
    “I’m afraid so. Actually, sheep’s blood might do just as well. I know it’s a strange request, but we will need it before you can remove this from your garden.” Dorian’s voice carried a sympathetic message that must have appealed to Homes. He shook his head, turned,