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I was stil kind of flustered when I practical y ran into Lara Casnoff in theanother dark suit and was so on to a sheaf of papers, a cel phone, and a steaood"Oh, Sophie, you're awake,"she said with a bright s this up to you"

"Oh, , that's real y nice of you,"I replied,Lara to my list of People Who Are Awesome At Hex Hal , ere practical y blasted out of bed in the horn and the baying of hel hounds People bringing you coffee in bed was a way nicer way to wake up

"Also, your father wanted me to tel you that he's been cal ed away on business today, but he should be back later this evening"

"Oh Umokay, thanks"

"He hated to htly

I couldn't hold back a sarcastic laugh "Wel , Dad's missed a lot of oing to rush in to defend Dad, but before she could, I asked, "So in which of the nine thousand kitchens could I ht"

Iain "Oh, of course Breakfast is being served in the east dining rooht turns, another flight of stairs, and a "conservatory,"whatever that was When I stared at her blankly, she waved her hand and said, "I'l just show you myself"

"Thanks,"I said, trailing behind her "Maybe by the end of the suet the layout of this place down"

Lara laughed "I've been coet turned around"

"Wow,"I said as we proceeded down a long hal way lined with pictures I did a double take as I passed thehteenth-century costu out froe showed a family of witches from what looked like the 1600s-lots of lacy ruffs around their necks-al of theic dancing around them

Then what Lara had said sunk in "Decades? So you've known randifted Thorne Abbey to the Council beforebefore she passed away Anastasia and I spent avewe have in common, Sophie My father was also head of the Council"

"Wait, what?"

"Alexei Casnoff You've never heard of him?"

Al I could do was shake my head, so Lara continued "Casnoffs ruled the Council for nearly two hundred years However, my father made the decision very early on to pass his title to your father, due to his powers"

I took that in "But the title is hereditary So if your dad hadn't done that, you would have been the head?"

She gave an elegant shrug, like it was a subject that didn't even warrant discussion "Anastasia, actual y She's the eldest But we both agreed with Father's decision, and Anastasia felt she could be of the most use at Hecate anyway"She smiled at retted it James has done an excel ent job as the head, and I'm sure you'l do just as wel "

I tried to srimace

"Soif you and Mrs Casnoff are sisters, and your dad was a Casnoff, why is she a Mrs?"I asked "Makes it sound like she married into the fa for me to walk down another corridor "But we've always kept the name Casnoff Her husband even took it"

I want to knowroom I fol owed Lara inside

I wondered if there were any roo in wonder at the doorway The east dining roo hal at Hecate Like every other room I'd seen at Thorne, there didn't sees or gilt Even the chairs were upholstered in gold brocade

A long table that could have seated whole aruessed this is where most meals at Thorne were served But Cal was the only person there now He glanced up as we ca"

Lara practical y bea How are you enjoying Thorne Abbey?"

Cal took a long sip of orange juice before replying "It's great"

I don't think it was possible for Cal to sound less enthusiastic, but either Lara didn't pick up on it, or she didn't care, because she sounded awful y perky as she said, "Wel , I' the chance to spend soether"

Cal and I both stared at her I tried to wil her to stop talking, but apparently that poasn't in rin

"Nothing ement that's a real love match"

Al the aardness that had vanished between me and Cal yesterday seemed to swoop back into the room with an audible whoosh

I dared a quick look in his direction, but Cal, as usual, was doing his whole Stoic Man thing His expression didn't even waver But then I noticed his hand tightening around his glass