Mother Dearest

ROWAN’S POV

The VIP court is quieter, richer, sealed behind another set of black doors — a private room of luxury and low gold light, a single low table, chairs that cost more than I made in a year of my old life.

Lucius settles me in with a drink I have no intention of touching, murmurs that the mistress will attend me shortly, and withdraws.

And then it’s just me, and Vance, and the pounding of