Oathtaker

He sat quietly for a minute, then turned his attention back to his own concerns. “What do you make of Lilith’s behavior?”

Basha grew thoughtful. “Lilith is . . . She is . . . broken.”

“Broken?”

“Yes. Rowena had finally managed to bring the family together, only to have everything disrupted when Therese died. Well, when we think she died. Lilith became lost. She resorted to her old selfish ways. Only now her behavior is many times worse.”

“She’s beginning to frighten me.”

“Me too. That’s another reason I want to accompany you. There have been rumors around the palace. I’ve stayed here on and off—mostly on—since shortly after you and Rowena left. It feels like there’s a cloak of secrecy over the place. Meanwhile, Lilith has become more and more out of control.”

“What kind of rumors?”

Basha sighed. “Dixon, some say she was behind Therese, Dianna, and Eve’s, deaths. Some even say she may have meant Rowena harm.”

“And Sally and Janine? They and Lilith are the only ones remaining of Rowena’s sisters. Why would Lilith be behind the deaths of the first, second, and third, while leaving the fourth and fifth unharmed?”

“I don’t know. Sally and Janine both stay here at the palace at all times. Lilith gives them free reign to do as they please. Sally uses her leadership as a fifth to . . . Oh, I don’t know how to describe it. Let’s just say that she encourages unusual things within her jurisdiction.