If not for the dead man in her head, she'd be alone.
She fled the banquet hall for the library. Pierre trailed, balancing a plate of food. She stood before the window, feeling very much like a prisoner in her new world. She wondered if the dead man in her head, Darian, felt this way when he cried. She heard Dustin order Pierre out before he approached her.
"Sofia, I need to ask you something, and I need you to tell me the truth," Dustin said in a soft, firm voice.
She hugged herself, waiting.
"Claire …?" His unfinished question lingered in the silence between them.
"Yes," she whispered.
He tensed. She looked up at him, sensing both his anger and his regret. His blue eyes were colder than the sky on a winter morning in Virginia. She resisted the urge to move away from him, chilled by the visions of his work as Damian's executioner.
"I thought so," he said at last. His face softened as he looked at her. "You have to tell him, sweetheart."
"It'll kill him."
"He must know. You don't carry this burden alone."
She nodded, throat tight. With a squeeze of her arm, he left her.
"Sofi." Damian's voice jarred her from her thoughts.
She wiped her eyes before turning to face whatever new challenge Damian brought with him. He was accompanied by Dustin and two other men, one she knew as Sasha, a man who'd struck her with his devotedness to his family, and Levi, a man who'd been present in many of his pre-Schism memories.
Damian's gaze swept over her. He was the lord and master again, his form and commanding presence filling up the room. His display of checked power disturbed her.
"Sasha, Levi, this is Ikira Sofia," he said.
"An honor, ikira," Sasha said with a bow.
"We've waited many years for you, ikira," Levi said.
"Sasha and Levi are two of my most trusted advisors. Sasha manages the operations for Dusty out of Miami and Levi for Jule in Europe," Damian explained.
"We've been through much together," Levi added. "I owe D my life."
"I'm honored to meet you both," she said.
"Shall we review what you've learned?" Damian asked. His tone was genuinely questioning, and she felt grateful that he was giving her the choice to opt out. She met Dustin's gaze, sensing he felt the same pain she did.
"I'm ready," she said with more confidence than she felt.
They sat around the low table still scattered with pictures. Pierre remained at the door. She sifted through the pictures, aware of the intent attention the others paid her. She found Antoine and drew his picture out. She swallowed hard, uncomfortable with playing the role of judge and jury.