Chapter 14 #2
“Is it regarding our marriage?” Bryce raised his eyebrow. “In a manner of speaking.”
“Are you going to be able to keep your job?” Brayden asked.
My breath caught. I hadn’t considered this. However, relationships between students and professors were forbidden. “What’s going to happen?”
What about the plan? Would all of this be annulled, and I sent back ?
Besides, I hated Bryce and firmly believed he didn’t deserve to be our teacher, but I didn’t want anyone to get into trouble on my account .
“That’s not the problem. Aine Hamway is on suspension—there’s a concern that she was working with the Cole family,” Bryce said.
“I’m in charge of her class until the investigation is completed.
So long as someone else grades your work, Dean Abernathy doesn’t care that you are my student.
Though, we might have to be aware of rumors.
People are going to be curious and might approach you. ”
My heartbeat was thundering in my ears. “People will notice me?”
“People notice you anyway.” Bryce frowned.
I glanced at Brayden, and he nodded. “Anyone with an inkling of power will be drawn to you.”
My stomach clenched. Now, my entire day would be filled with paranoia and fear… Well, even more than usual.
Thanks, Bryce.
“It’s not a bad thing,” Brayden offered, covering my hand with his.
I tugged my hand away, pressing it against my mouth. “This is a disaster.”
“You don’t like being the center of attention?” Bryce finished loosening his tie and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, you’re going to have to suck it up. This is your life now, honeybee. Just wait until you’re introduced to the courts.”
I pushed my hands into my lap, glaring at him.
“By the way,” he said, cutting me off before I could begin. “I brought you something.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Our mother’s engagement ring,” Bryce replied, holding his fist out to me. His cheeks turned dark, but his voice remained oddly formal. “It would be my honor if you accept my proposal.”
“ This is why you’re interrupting our lesson?” Brayden covered his face. “I only said she needs something on her finger, not that you should make a dramatic production. You’re already married.”
“Shut up.” Bryce glowered at the younger man. “We have traditions to uphold.”
“That’s gross.” Brayden shuddered.
My hand shook as I held out my palm. My silent acquiescence wasn’t from the fact I approved of the manner of his proposal or that this wasn’t disgusting.
Because it was.
I was expecting a ring. But I thought he’d purchased it at the mall.
Not this .
My throat closed. The annoyance in Bryce’s eyes had trickled away, and for a moment, we were connected. All my negative feelings toward him were scattered in the face of this new development.
Bryce was trying. I could see it in his eyes. He wanted to mend the rift in our relationship, and to do that, he was giving me something that belonged to my biological mother.
How could I say no to that?
This was physical evidence of her existence. My breath was shaky and loud in my ears, and I couldn’t hold back the breathy squeak of my voice. “Can I see?”
“The ring?” Bryce’s eyebrow slowly rose. “Of course, it’s yours.” He opened his fist, and the antique gold band fell into my hand.
Brayden scoffed. “That’s real romantic. I thought you were going for tradition.”
“Keep your comments to yourself,” Bryce retorted.
I could scarcely breathe. My vision wavered as my blurry gaze took in the gold band. I couldn’t even make out any details yet, but it felt heavy. Surely, it didn’t weigh so much .
“But what about her?” My voice echoed in my ears. “Won’t she miss it?”
The following silence was so heavy that, for a moment, it took precedence. My attention turned to them.
Bryce was staring at me, his jaw slack and expression pained. And Brayden… He’d gone so pale that I thought he might faint.
“What?” I asked.
“Oh, Bianca.” Brayden was the first to snap out of his stunned state. He leaned forward, closing his hand around my fist. “I didn’t realize you didn’t know.”
“Our mother is dead.” Bryce gazed at the dusty glass walls. “She’s been gone for nineteen years.”
Dead?
The room turned suffocatingly warm even as goose bumps broke out over my arms. The light drifting in from the ceilings darkened, and Bryce’s wary figure was the only thing I could focus on.
I couldn’t breathe.
It was stupid that I’d be surprised. I’d always known my biological parents might not be alive. Growing up, I imagined a tragic accident had befallen them, which had given authorities no choice but to leave me in the care of the state.
The alternative was harder to accept.
But then, after learning that my family was alive… I had siblings, and they had mentioned my biological father… I was an idiot for assuming she was there, too.
I should have known better.
So why did I feel lightheaded?
“How did she die?” I asked although the answer was obvious. It had been nineteen years. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together—after all, I had just turned nineteen. “What happened? ”
Bryce and Brayden glanced at each other for a moment, expressions unreadable, before Brayden returned his focus to me.
“Why don’t we talk about this later?” he said, petting my hand. “You should lie down.”
I jerked from him, holding my fists against my chest. “Tell me.”
Brayden was still reaching for me, and he blinked. “I’m not…” He glanced at Bryce again, almost pleadingly.
Bryce sighed. “She died when you were born,” he said, confirming my earlier suspicion. “But we never learned how…”
“How is it not obvious?” I snapped. “Women can die in childbirth.”
“She didn’t die giving birth to you,” Bryce replied. “The circumstances surrounding her death were strange, and Father suspected foul play.”
“What?”
“It happened so fast…” Bryce’s gaze returned to the glass walls. “When a Xing is born, the family is the first to see them. After that, your quintet members visit.”
“But because of everything, Father didn’t even get a chance to hold you.” Brayden leaned forward again, eyes piercing. “Despite what you believe, he cares about you. He’s been searching for you your whole life. He had no idea what was happening.”
“It was only supposed to be temporary.” Bryce nodded.
My pulse raced. I was going to be sick. “ What was supposed to be temporary?”
“You were born at home. Immediately after, Mother went into cardiac arrest, and Father was occupied,” Bryce said. “Brayden and I were in the family waiting room a few rooms down. A nurse brought you to us. She left to help. She was supposed to be right back. ”
“She’d hardly left the room before the first attempt on your life was made,” Brayden interjected. “But Kieran killed him.”
The name washed over me, and bile gathered at the base of my throat. “K-K-Kieran?” I wasn’t naive enough to assume they were different people.
“He was Mother’s bodyguard,” Brayden said, his tone wary. He seemed almost relieved at my reaction, but I couldn’t imagine why.
“Brayden…” Bryce’s voice was low—a warning to watch his words.
“How do you know him?” he asked. “I don’t have the same loyalty toward him as Bryce and Uncle Gregory. But if he—”
“I’ve told you before, Kieran wouldn’t have hurt her!” Bryce’s harsh words caused my anxiety to spike further. “He would have died first.”
“Well, someone gave her to Eric Richards,” Brayden said, narrowing his gaze. The uplifting tenor of his voice had faded—now it was lined with something ominous and steely.
The insinuation that Kieran had done anything caused my stomach to twist. I never wanted to discuss my past. I never wanted anyone to know.
But I couldn’t let this stand.
“I knew him,” I said, and my shoulders tensed as I pushed my fists into my lap. It was a miracle my voice didn’t shake. Everything felt numb. “Kieran was one of the first people I remember; he was gone before I met Mr. Richards.”
“He’s gone? You mean, he died?” Bryce’s question cut through me like an accusation.
I looked between them.
Sorcha haunted my nightmares. I saw her stomach being ripped open with my own two eyes. She’d held me to her as she died, and I watched her life leave her expression .
But Kieran?
I’d only been able to see bits and pieces. But I was sure he was dead. The signs had been there.
I’d never forget the suffocating dampness of the small, dark cellar where he’d locked me. He told me he would come back. And above my prison, I’d heard the fight.
I’d felt the warm blood dripping through the cracks in the floorboards.
He never came back, and I almost starved to death waiting.
He’d promised. He never broke his promises.
“He’s dead.” My words were barely discernible. “I’m pretty sure. But I never saw his body.”
By the time I’d been dragged out, there’d been no bodies left.
There was a heavy silence in the air, and I glanced between Bryce and Brayden. But my brothers were only watching each other.
Bryce suddenly leaned forward, and my heart pounded at the barely concealed glint of determination in his eyes.
He wanted answers. But I didn’t know if I could provide them.
Sure enough, the questions continued. “Who was he to you? What did he tell you about who you are?”
“My first foster father…” I nervously twisted my fingers over the edge of my sweater as I stared at my knees. The air was pressing in around me, and my throat threatened to close.
But I could handle it, for now.
“He knew I could see ghosts, but I was never supposed to talk about my abilities. Everything was fine until one day it wasn’t.”
“That cryptic summary leaves so many questions unanswered. And Kieran was fae, but his specialty lay in combat. He wouldn’t have known how to deal with the spiritual side of things.” Brayden’ s voice was pensive as he stroked his chin. “You lived as a parent and child?”
“I don’t…” My heartbeat was echoing in my ears. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I don’t care.” Bryce touched my chin, nudging my gaze toward his.