Downfall: Kingdoms of Sin, Book #1

by Aster, Willow

  He shuts the bedroom door behind him and I don’t know whether he was joking or not, but his last words make me shiver. I turn to see if Luka’s expression can tell me anything, but he’s staring pensively out the window.

  “So what is the deal with school?” I have tons of questions, but this is pressing at the moment.

  “We won’t be going back to school.” His mood has done a complete turnaround since we got here, exactly what I was afraid of. “My guess is Father will hire the best instructor from there to come tutor us. Unless it’s a better media approach to go back to Kings Passage.” He laughs bitterly. “I wonder what Mara has done now.”

  “I’d like to call my parents. I need to check in and see how they’re doing, and I’ll also need my things if we’re not going back to Kings Passage.” We left Farrow in such a hurry, neither Luka or I have had anything but what has been provided.

  Luka nods. “I’m sure there are new phones ready for us. If not, it won’t take long to set up. I’ll go see about that now. My mother has probably set you up with a new wardrobe—she’s more likely to do that than send for your things. I’ll make sure we get whatever you need though. Don’t worry.”

  He leaves and I take a look around his room. A lot of dark wood and masculine furnishings. It’s simpler than the rest of the house and far more comfortable. Not the colors I would choose, but nice. I sit on the bed and jump when the door bursts open.

  A beautiful blond, green-eyed girl rushes through, her hair bouncing behind her. “Making yourself right at home, I see.” She eyes me with such contempt I want to shrivel into the bed, but instead, I stand up and reach my hand out to her.

  She doesn’t take it. I drop it limply at my side and sit back down.

  “Hello, Mara. I’m Eden. Nice to meet you,” I say it mechanically…mere words without any feeling.

  “I know who you are.” For someone so beautiful, her face can sure do horrific things. Her sneer is terrifying. She points at me. “Don’t get too comfortable here. This isn’t going to last. Nadia deserves him far more than you ever could.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  There’s a tap on the door and Mara flings it open. “What do you want?”

  A girl not much older than me, whom I assume to be Hanna given her arms are laden down with clothes, wilts and takes a step back. But then gathers her nerve and steps forward.

  “I’ve come with Lady Eden’s clothes,” she says.

  “Come in.” I smile at her, but she’s so busy rushing to the closet, she doesn’t notice.

  “Let me see that.” Mara snatches a dress from the top and studies it. I don’t recognize the dress, but I didn’t recognize half the things Mother sent with me to school. “This can’t be one of your dresses. I’d recognize Teresa’s work anywhere.” She drops it to the floor and rolls her eyes, moving toward the door.

  Brienne steps into the room and sets her steely eyes on Mara. I grin when I see Mara swallow hard, but then she carries on like she’s not affected by her in the slightest.

  “First you move into my home and now you’re going to be copying my fashion?” She turns to me. “I’m going to make sure this marriage is over before it ever even really gets started. It should’ve been me getting married first anyway. I’m the oldest, and it’s only a matter of time before El—”

  “I see you’ve met already,” Luka interrupts the last part of her rant. He waves a phone toward me and I take it.

  Mara’s shoulders are still tight, but her face transforms into a sweet, softer expression. She goes to Luka and wraps her arms around him, laying her head on his chest. “Congratulations, Luka love. Thank you for coming.” Her voice is like syrup and I can’t believe that Luka seems to be softening mush right before my eyes.

  He wraps his arms around her and her eyes flit over to me, triumphant. So that’s how it’s going to be. I turn and walk to the closet, which is the size of a nice bedroom, and run my fingers through the exquisite fabrics and colors that appear to be mine. She’s right—they look more like her clothes than anything I’ve ever worn. Far more revealing. Beautiful, but out of my comfort zone.

  I decide to go outside to call my mother and step out of the closet. Luka and Mara are quietly talking now—I can only imagine what they’re saying, and they stop and look my way when they see me.

  “I’m going to call my mother, see how everything’s going.”

  Luka gives a faint nod and turns back to Mara. I feel a pain in my gut but ignore it and leave the room, shutting the door behind me.

  Basile falls into step beside me and looks behind me to grin at Brienne. It’s strange how quickly I’ve become attached to her.

  “You met the toxic sister, I see,” Basile says, grinning up at me.

  “If you mean Mara, yep.” I grin back. “Where is the best place for privacy around here? I’d like to make a phone call.”

  “You’ll never have privacy again.” His words are ominous, but he chuckles as he says them, leaving me in doubt of what is true. “Follow me.”

  We wind through the dark hallways, and when we don’t run into another person in that whole time, I begin to worry. Can I trust Basile? I don’t trust Luka’s parents, and I can’t tell if I should trust his uncle yet.

  “You’re probably starting to wonder if I’m taking you to the dungeon.” He winks and I blanch. “Oh dear girl, you really were, weren’t you?” He puts his hand on my arm and gives it a quick squeeze. “I assure you, there will be no killing…today.” He winks again and shakes his head when I don’t laugh. “I can see that we’ll have to work on your sense of humor. I’ve heard those from the north struggle with humor. Tis a shame.”

  “My humor is intact, I assure you. Forgive me if I don’t quite trust all of you yet, not to mention the threat to my family—the very night that I married your nephew—still has me shaken. I haven’t gotten my bearings yet.”

  “You’re right, my beauty. I am expecting a lot from you. Forgive me for that. It’s just that I like what I see in Luka in the short time he’s been with you. I might have gotten a little bit ahead of myself.” He lifts an arm when we turn a corner, and just past the vast windows and a large door, are the gardens. “See? I brought you to the most beautiful place on the Catano estate. No dungeon anywhere in sight.”

  This time I grin back at him. “Thank you, Basile.”

  He gives me a mini bow. “You’re most welcome.”

  * * *

  My mother answers on the second ring. “Hello?” She sounds tired and scared.

  “Mother? Are you okay?”

  “Oh, Eden. Are you okay, sweetheart? I’ve been worried sick about you. It was so hard leaving you like that.”

  “I’m okay. Once I found out you were all safely back at Farrow, I felt a lot better. Has everything really resolved that quickly with Alidonia?”

  “It seems to be. I hear that you’re having a wedding reception in a couple of weeks. We’re supposed to come, show our support and all that,” she says, sniffing. “I’m horrified that your wedding reception here was cut short. How are things with Luka?”

  I pause before answering, unsure of what to say to her about these things. It’s too embarrassing to talk about. “Good. He’s been nicer.”

  “That’s all you’re going to say? I’ve been worried sick and you’re just going to say he’s been nicer?” She raises her voice, but I know she isn’t angry.

  “Not sure what you want me to say. As you know, we consummated the marriage.” The anger does come into my voice then. “Was that really necessary?”

  “Ah, you know what it’s like here, Eden,” she says softly. “We’ve come so far in so many ways, but at the heart of it, there are some customs that are as old as time. This is one of them. You must respect your father.”

  “I do. I do.” Tears fill my eyes and in spite of being angry with my parents, I miss them. I don’t agree with everything they do, but I have always respected them with everything in me.

  “I know, sw
eetheart. Listen, I have a meeting to attend, but I will see you in two weeks, yes? I’m counting down the days. Oh—how is Brienne?”

  “She’s been great. It’s nice to have her with me. Thank you.”

  “Please give her my appreciation for taking care of you.”

  “I’m glad I will see you soon,” I whisper. “Love you.”

  “I love you. Until then.”

  The click of her line going dead is loud in my ear and I swallow back a sob.

  My life at home will never be the same again. The thought is both heartbreaking and terrifying. Because this place…and Luka? Neither feels certain.

  * * *

  Luka finds me wandering the gardens. I’ve been walking through the flowers and barely seeing their beauty. The thought going off in my head as loud as a gong is: I don’t belong, I don’t belong, I don’t belong.

  “Eden?” he calls.

  I turn and he’s hurrying toward me. He looks angry.

  “Where have you been?” he asks, wiping the sweat off his forehead. “You’ve been gone for almost two hours. I’ve looked everywhere.”

  “I’ve been here, in the garden.”

  “Next time let me know where you are going.”

  I scrunch my forehead together. “Why?”

  He steps forward and pulls me to his chest. “I was worried.” He winds his arms around me and runs his hand through my hair, pulling it back so I’ll look at him. “It’s too soon after what happened in Farrow for you to disappear on me. We need to stick close to one another. I don’t—I don’t feel com…you know what? You need to just trust me on this and don’t go off on your own.”

  “I thought Basile would let you know where I was if it was important.” I’m not sure whether to be moved that he’s concerned or to be annoyed that he’s not telling me something. Maybe both.

  “Basile has already had enough red wine for the week. He won’t be telling anyone anything useful for a while.”

  “Really. He seemed sober when I saw him.”

  “A lot can change very quickly around here.”

  I sigh and he takes my hand, walking toward the house. “Do you think you can be comfortable here?”

  “I…don’t know.”

  He nods. “If you said yes, I think I’d worry.” We reach the door and he turns to me, his face serious. “Listen, your best way to survive here is to not interact with my family. Mara will come around, but the others…just stick with me, okay? We’ll do what we have to do this week and then I will start demanding for us to either go back to Kings Passage, depending on what’s happening with Alidonia, or for us to get started on our schooling…in our own home.”

  “Our own home. Is that really an option?”

  “It will be. I’ll make sure it is.”

  * * *

  Dinner that evening is by far the worst part of the day. No one seems to like each other. The only ones closest to having a normal relationship are Luka and Mara and Luka and Basile. The rest of them trade insults with one another and no one is laughing. It’s not a sparring contest, more an utter contempt for what anyone else says or thinks. I sit there, leg bouncing underneath the table, a jittery ball of anxiousness.

  Luka puts his hands on my shoulders and rubs them and the whole table comes to a halt. They watch us, I guess in shock or something close to it, that he’s touching me with any consideration. I wonder if they think I’m the enemy or if it’s just Luka’s behavior that shocks them.

  “Well, my wife and I have had enough dysfunction for the night. We have a honeymoon to catch up on.”

  The heat rises in my cheeks. I look at each face at the table. Mara looks furious. Basile, gleeful. Cece looks vaguely disgusted, and Titus looks curious. He studies me like he wants to unbury any and all secrets I am using to manipulate his son.

  “Goodnight, everyone. Thank you for dinner.” I take Luka’s hand and we walk out of the room. I have no doubt we will be the topic of discussion as soon as we’re out of there.

  “God, they’re so dull. Come on. Let’s go fuck in the pool, give them something to really talk about.”

  I laugh but am shaking my head the minute he says the words. “No way.”

  “Oh, you know I do love a challenge.”

  “Not. Happening.”

  “We’ll see.”

  The pool doesn’t happen. But we do christen his shower, his closet, and his bed, all before midnight. And I fall deeper into his web, knowing what he considers just “fucking” is a risky game for me to play.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next morning, I wake up on my stomach, naked. Covers at my feet. I stretch out and turn my head to look at Luka. Last night was…incredible. I can’t get enough of him.

  He’s not beside me.

  I sit up, look around.

  Empty.

  Disappointed or disoriented, I’m not sure which, I get out of bed and take a shower, slipping into one of my new outfits: wide-leg camel-colored pants and a white blouse, all the while wondering where he could be.

  I don’t spend much time on my hair, leaving my waves to do their thing in the humidity…my decision is easy when I see the perfect hair product for that in the bathroom. There’s also the perfect product for straightening, deep conditioning, and anything else I could possibly want to do to my hair. I wonder who picked all of this out, especially when I see the elaborate makeup palettes taking over a whole drawer in the bathroom. It’s all a little strange, but mostly thoughtful that they would go to so much trouble.

  Once I’m satisfied with my appearance, I peek out of the bedroom door—coast clear—and I head to the kitchen. I’m not sure I even remember how to get there. I pass the study and hear arguing. I pause when I hear Luka.

  “I’ve done everything you wanted, I don’t understand why you’re doing this.” His voice is strained and angrier than I’ve ever heard; it frightens me. As if I’m not already fearful enough of my new surroundings; hearing the anger in his voice shakes me.

  Basile rounds the corner and stops when he sees me standing outside the office. My heartbeat kicks up and I put my hand to my throat.

  “I was looking for the kitchen and heard arguing.” I decide to go with honest.

  He hears their raised voices and nods. “Lot of that around here between the two of them, I’m afraid. Best you learn to just ignore it.” He holds an arm out and I loop my hand through. “I’ll show you the quickest way to the kitchen. You missed breakfast, but the chef will be happy to prepare you whatever you’d like.”

  “Can I just make some peanut butter toast on my own?”

  He looks up at me and gives me a sideways grin. “I would’ve expected someone of your caliber would have more refined tastes.”

  I shrug and grin back at him. “There is nothing finer than honey drizzled over toast and peanut butter on top. I dare you to find anything.”

  “Honey, you say?” He scratches his chin like it’s a great mystery and I laugh. “You will teach us things, Lady Eden. I can see that now.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “I’m serious.” He laughs too and then points at the doorway just ahead. “Here we are. We’ll have to ask Chelsea where those ingredients are. Here she is.” He waves Chelsea over and she smiles timidly. “Chelsea is our head chef during the week. Can you believe I don’t even know where the bread is?” He scrunches his nose. “Too many more important things to do.”

  I know he’s joking now; part of me wonders if he’s ever really serious. I nearly ask him to keep me company while I eat—he’s the easiest person to be around that I’ve met here so far. But he puts his hands on either side of the doorway once I enter the kitchen and gives it two taps.

  “I really do have a meeting—not an important one, mind you, but if I don’t show, Titus will have my head.” He mimics slicing his throat and I grimace. “Before I forget, you’re supposed to have a fitting in the parlor in half an hour. I wanted to be sure to remind you, in case Mara might have forgotten.”

>   “Oh. Thank you. She must have…forgotten.” We stare at one another for a moment and he nods, eyes serious now.

  “Well, enjoy your breakfast. Chelsea, fix our girl up here, please.”

  * * *

  When I find my way to the parlor, Cece and a woman I haven’t met yet are already there.

  “This is Teresa. She needs your measurements for the reception,” Cece says.

  “Wonderful. Thank you.”

  Teresa nods and smiles but doesn’t say anything. She motions for me to hold out my arms, puts the tape around them, then my waist, and hips, until she’s got all the measurements. When she’s done, she shows me a few dress ideas and they really are beautiful. I choose the one I want and go with the palest creamy pink.

  Mara comes in as I’m finishing up with Teresa and looks at what I’ve chosen.

  “You can’t choose that dress,” she cries, snatching up the notes Teresa’s taken, and waving them around in front of my face. “No. This is my dress.” She looks at her mother, eyes blazing. “We picked it out for my engagement party, remember?”

  Cece’s lips thin and she holds her hand out for the notes, handing the paper carefully to Teresa. “You’re not engaged, Mara. There’s no reason this dress should go to waste when you’re nowhere near an engagement. Eden picked this one out of all the dresses Teresa showed her and she will wear it to her reception.” Mara sticks her lips out in an exaggerated pout and Cece gives her a sympathetic smile. “By the time you get married, there will be an array of other beautiful dresses to choose from!”

  “I can pick out another,” I say, despite loving the dress and not wanting her to get her way. It seems reasonable though, if she had her heart set on this dress before I ever came into the picture. A nice gesture to my new sister-in-law. “I like this one very much.” I point to another photograph of a dress almost as pretty.