Chapter 10

After making our way back inside and maneuvering through the crowds of people, Stevie leads us down the hallway near where we entered. We stopped outside a large wooden door. Alex knocked and we waited to be invited in.

“Enter!” a voice shouted from behind the door. Alex opened the door, and we all filed in.

The room was decorated in rich browns and maroon, with oil paintings in elaborate gilded frames. The fire was lit, and above the mantle, there was a portrait of a woman in a lavender gown, with a small hat atop her head. Her face was fanned with black curls and her skin was luminescent, even in a painting. She had the richest and vibrant violet eyes. They reminded me of Nico’s.

I heard someone cough and turned to see Randall standing behind a massive oak desk. Behind him were floor-to-ceiling windows that perfectly framed the view of the forest and mountains. He waved us over to the other side of the room, where there were two couches and