Dark Vow (Blackwoods College)

But Calvin’s mom?

“Hello, honey,” Mom said, smiling at me like she was a human again and not the pilled-out zombie. “Mrs. Solar came to visit.”

“Hello, dear,” Calvin’s mom said, drawling a bit with a lazy smile. She winked, and I was instantly transported back to her room and its studious mess and her cutting barbs and condescension. I felt like a child, but this was my house, and she was on my turf now. Back at the mansion, she was like a Titan. But here? She was just another rich lady in the suburbs.

“Hello, Mrs. Solar. Nice to see you again.”

“Call me Diana, dear.”

I said nothing.

“Diana was nice enough to come by and talk about your visit,” Mom said, and she seemed chipper. I didn’t know how to feel about that. “I’m told it was quite… eventful.” Her eyes strayed to the ring on my finger.

I flinched. I planned on explaining everything to her—eventually. I hoped she’d be too engrossed in her grief to notice anything was happening.

“Right. Very eventful.” I sounded so lame. I hated myself for having nothing clever to say, but Calvin’s mom made me feel like a fool.

“Do you mind ever so much if I speak with your daughter alone?” Diana Solar sounded like a princess. I hated it.

“Go right ahead. Do you want more tea?” Mom stood, readying herself to make her guest comfortable.

“Please, no. If you wouldn’t mind?” It was perfectly polite, and an utter dismissal.

Mom accepted it with a smile, walked over, squeezed my hand, and disappeared upstairs like Calvin’s mother owned this place.

I lingered, staring down at the woman.

“What are you doing here?”

“Please, sit. We have to discuss some things.”

“I don’t think so. I should call Calvin.”

“That’s a bad idea.” Her eyes sharpened on mine. “Sit down, you gold-digging little brat.”

I reared back. The sudden insults were unexpected. Her polite veneer dropped long enough to show her fangs, and they were long, sharp, and dripping with venom.

I sat down, poured myself some tea, and stared her down.

“I’ll ask again. What are you doing here?”

Calvin’s mom studied me. She watched me carefully, lips pursed, weighing her words.

“Do you know what it means to run the Solar family?”

I considered my answer. “Yes, I do.”

She continued as if I hadn’t responded, which drove me insane. “It means Calvin will be in control of a multi-nation conglomerate that employs thousands of people. Real human lives are in the balance, and it will be up to Calvin to ensure the company takes care of them all. You’ve met my son. Do you think he’s the kind of man that will put the good of the company over his own wants and needs?”

I covered my discomfort by drinking from my tea. She was right—I hadn’t considered that angle. Whoever ran the Solar company would have a lot of responsibility riding on their shoulders, and Calvin truly didn’t seem like the type of person to put the well-being of others before his own.

And yet what were the alternatives? His insane brothers? Both of them tried to hurt me, and one nearly succeeded in strangling me out on my own college campus. It was hard to believe either of them would be better suited to the task, even if Calvin wasn’t exactly the most empathetic human in the world.

“I think he’s your best option,” I said, putting my tea down. “And to be honest, I don’t give a damn about the Solar family.”

“You should,” she said. “I’ve worked very hard to maneuver Calvin and his brothers into this position, and I won’t allow you to undo all my hard work.”

My mouth fell open. “You did what?”

“You think anything happens by chance in a family like the Solars?” She leaned back, looking smug. “Calvin’s father is too busy working most of the time to notice what happens in his house. It’s been easy to make sure my favored candidate ended up on top, at least until you came around.”

“Your favored candidate? You’re talking about your own children like they’re prospective employees.”

“That’s because they are.” Her face hardened. “You think this is easy? I love my boys, including Calvin, but he’s not suited for this. Noah would be the better leader, and I was going to get my way until you showed up.”

I couldn’t help myself. I leaned back and laughed. This was too much.

She’d been scheming behind the scenes the whole time. I wondered if Calvin knew, and guessed he probably had some idea. He might not have realized the extent, but he must’ve known his mother had a hand in everything happening.

“Did you know that Noah gave me these bruises?” I showed her the marks on my throat. She didn’t react. “Your other son would’ve killed me if it weren’t for Calvin.”

“I saw what Calvin did to him.”

“You think they’d be any better? Your precious boys are all psychopaths, no thanks to your upbringing.”