chapter 87

I try to think back to the man who attacked me at Aconitum Hall. I can’t remember if he had a necklace. I didn’t get a chance to notice fine details while my arm was spurting blood.

“Why?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper, and probably unheard over the blowing bellows of Nathan’s panting. I ask again, louder, “Why, Harriet? Why would you attack us?”

“Because you will destroy our kind!” she rages, fighting against Xiao’s hold.“How?” I demand.

“You shouldn’t have invoked the right!” Harriet shrieks at us. “You’ve doomed us all!”

I can’t make sense of what she’s saying, but I know it’s important. Just like I know that it’s important to keep her alive for questioning. Nathan knows that, too.

But Nathan’s not fully himself at the moment.

He goes straight for the old woman.

“Nathan, no!” I shout, grabbing a handful of his fur. It’s about as effective as trying to hold back a train with a refrigerator magnet.

Xiao pushes Harriet behind her, but she just delays Nathan; he shoves my bodyguard a