Chapter 0062

Breakfast the next morning is…awkward.

Kent serves Daniel and I eggs and sausage, sliding the plates onto the table next to our cups of coffee

without a word of acknowledgement.

Daniel and I dig in silently, both intuiting that it’s better to stay off Kent’s radar.

When Kent’s back in the galley, Daniel looks at me curiously, nodding to his dad and shrugging in

question, asking me with his gestures whether or not I have any idea what’s going on.

I shrug back, doing my very best to pretend that I don’t. God, I hope he believes me.

Daniel sighs and we continue eating quietly for a few minutes.

I open my mouth to ask Daniel his plans for the day when a guard comes into the room, rushing

towards Kent. Distracted, I shut my mouth and we both watch the action instead.

“Sir,” the guard says. “There’s a…visitor at the door.” Oddly, he glancing at me then. “He came without

warning – do you want to see him?”

Kent glares at me as well – what the hell did I do? – as he wipes his hands and takes off his apron,

following the guard out of the room. Daniel and I gape curiously after him, but he’s back a few moments

later, pointing at me and snapping his fingers before disappearing from the room again.

“Um,” Daniel says uncomfortably. “I think you’re being…summoned.”

“Okay,” I say, a little breathless with worry. I give Daniel a little smile and then head out of the room,

walking down the hall to Kent’s study.

He’s standing at his desk then, staring at me with a hard expression as I come in.

“Um?” I say, my hands tangling anxiously in my hair. “Did you…want me?”

Kent pauses, looking me over, before answering. “Your father is here,” he says. “He wants a word with

you.”

My eyes widen at this and I just stare at Kent, not knowing what to say.

“Well?” Kent says, a little anger or frustration in his voice now – I can’t tell which. “Do you want to see

him?”

“Um?” I say again, my eyes darting around. “Do you…want me to see him?”

Kent crosses his arms over his chest, studying my every move. We stand in silence so long I can’t

stand it.

“Seriously, Kent,” I burst out, almost frantic with my anxiety now. “I have no idea what’s going on. Do

you want me to see him? Do you think I shouldn’t? After what happened at the party – I don’t know –“

“It’s fine, Fay,” Kent says, interrupting me and giving me a little nod. “It’s not a test,” he continues,

though something in me tells me that maybe it was. “Your father has come to the house and asked to

see you. He’s alone. If you’d like to see him, you may.”

“Oh,” I say again – I’m genuinely unsure of what I want. “I guess? I’ll see him? If you’re okay with it?”

Kent nods to me and then to a guard I didn’t realize was standing behind me.

As the guard heads off, Kent gestures to me to come closer, so I do. I stand by his side and we both

watch the door silently, waiting for Alden to show up.

Alden appears a few minutes later, his face worried.

“Fay,” he says, crossing the room to me and wrapping me in a hug I wasn’t expecting. “I’m so glad to

see you’re all right.”

He nods to Kent next. “Thank you, Kent, so much. For taking care of my girl.”

I look between them. “You didn’t know? That I was all right?”

Alden shakes his head, glaring at Kent a little. “I just got word this morning. Apparently this house was

on lockdown all day yesterday.”

“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” Kent says, his arms crossed. “It was in the best interests of my

security. Do you have any word on what happened two nights ago? Who is responsible for the attack?”

Alden shakes his head, apparently unsure. “My men are out there, listening to the word on the street.

Our best guess is that it was Ivan.” Alden says, spreading his hands. “He’s had it out for you, Lippert,

ever since you went to the Warden.”

I look between them. Ivan? The Warden? What the hell was going on?

Kent nods slowly at Alden, his face giving nothing away.

“I think he was trying to take us both out,” Alden says, shaking his head with regret. “I should have

known – shouldn’t have had such a big party –“