Six

I hadn’t expected to be invited to dinner. Marco had his suspicions. I didn’t know how convinced he was, but I knew that he knew. I thought I had lost all the privileges I had once enjoyed.

“I think you should join us for dinner tonight, Six.”

Just like that. No explanation. No details. But his tone left no room for argument. I nodded once and said nothing.

The table was set extravagantly—fancy plates and cutlery carefully arranged, tall candlesticks burning slowly. Arabella was already seated, dressed in a pale silk dress that made her skin shimmer under the light. Her hair was pinned back away from her face,...