Chapter 51
Zay
“You Made Me Grow Up Too Fast”
The house I grew up in hadn’t changed. Same marble floors. Same quiet hallways. Same smell of Madam Laveau’s expensive perfume that always made my stomach turn.
I hadn’t been back here in months, but the place still carried memories I never asked to keep.
Madam Laveau sat in the living room like royalty, legs crossed, silk robe sliding along the couch cushions while she sipped wine.
She smiled when she saw me.
“Zacian.”
I didn’t return it. “Where did you get that doll, and why did you send it to my house?”
She tilted her head slowly. “What doll?”
I stepped deeper into the room.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
She sighed softly, like I was being dramatic.
“You burst into my home, making accusations?”
“I know you sent it.”
Her eyes flickered.
Just once before the mask returned.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
I walked closer. “You watched my grandmother make them.”
That made her pause.
“She used to twist cloth and bone together at the kitchen table,” I continued. “You stood there watching every time.”
Madam Laveau slowly stood. “That was superstition.”
“You still learned.”
She moved toward me slowly.
“You remember too much,” she murmured.
Her hand lifted and touched my chest. The same way she used to when I was younger.
Slow.
Possessive.
“You used to like when I touched you like this.”
I frowned. “I never did. You forced me to like it.”
Her fingers slid up toward my belt. “You did.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You were curious.”
My stomach twisted. “You made me grow up too fast.”
The words came out colder than I meant them to.
Her smile deepened slightly. “You were special to me.”
That was the moment the anger snapped.
I grabbed her wrist.
Hard.
Her glass fell to the floor.
Wine spilled across the marble.
I grabbed her chin and slammed her back against the wall.
Her breath left her body in a sharp gasp.
“You lying to me.”
“I didn’t send anything.”
“You did.”
Her breathing quickened but the smile didn’t fully disappear.
“You think I’d hurt you?”
I leaned closer.
“Nah, but you will hurt somebody who can have me in ways you never can, you delusional ass lady. If anything happens to Emily…”
Her eyes changed.
“…or my son…”
The room went quiet.
“I will kill you.”
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
“You always were dramatic,” she whispered.
But I saw the crack.
She wasn’t controlling this moment anymore.
I released her.
She slid against the wall, trying to catch her breath.
I stepped toward the door.
Behind me, she spoke again.
“You think you know what I am.”
I didn’t turn around.
I left her standing there.
For the first time in her life…
Afraid.