Chapter 45
ISAAC
“We’ll see where it goes,” I declared, and popped the last meatball in my mouth, sat on a stool at the kitchen island with my little brother.
Not a bad meal considering I’d made it. Who knew I’d be good with a jar of sauce, pasta, meatballs, and an onion?
Go me!
Riley chewed merrily on his spaghetti, eyes wide with delight.
I’d just been telling him about Ollie and me, which he’d been thrilled to hear.
Washing down the meatball with champagne, I dabbed my mouth with a napkin and said, “So we’ll leave it there for now. Now isn’t really the time to get all gooey about things. Am I right?”
Although, Ollie had looked so hot in his Manchester City top and shorts, getting me stickier than golden syrup.
Oh, and I’d discovered he loved a bit of rock music.
Riley sipped on his spiced rum. “Whatever you say. But there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, I’d say it’s more important than ever to be gooey.”
I frowned at that word. “Let’s kill this gooey thing before it’s too late.”
He giggled, raising his glass in agreement.
He was right, though. Gooey was the antithesis to the stewing feelings inside, the sloshing trauma from recent events I kept a lid on. To check in with later, of course. There would be no avoiding them for long, and I wouldn’t let them fester. But for now, I wanted to be in a gooey moment.
The song ‘2 Become 1’ by my spicy faves rolled through my head.
Ha! How appropriate!
“Good evening.” Dean arrived, wearing shorts and a long-sleeved top, looking fine and yummy.
“Hi,” Riley greeted him warmly.
“Hey,” I said. “You okay?”
“I’m here to make a cup of tea. Don’t mind me.” He got to work with the kettle, milk, and teabags. “This is for Jake.”
Interesting. “Oh? Are you staying in his room?”
Riley and I leaned forward like a right pair of gossip-hungry hounds.
Dean folded his arms, leaning against the kitchen worktop while the kettle boiled. “I am.”
Us Aurora brothers let out a squeak of joy at the same time.
“Fabulous news,” Riley said.
“Agreed, honey.”
Dean smiled. “Baby steps. We have a lot to work through. But I’m beyond happy he’s talking to me again.”
According to Riley, the two men had been spotted kissing by Aaron Bramble in the library after the mansion was locked down. A seriously amazing development, especially after that first breakfast when Dean had joined us and Jake had, well, been Jake.
“We won’t pry,” I said. “But keep us posted.”
He laughed. “I will.”
Riley grabbed his drink, nudging me to do the same.
“We want to officially welcome you to the mansion,” he announced.
My little brother was so cute.
“Welcome, Dean Tseng,” I chimed in. “To the funhouse.”
“Thank you.” The fae lifted the mug in cheers. “You’re very kind.”
“Feel free to hang out whenever you’d like,” I added. “We’re often found in the recreation room with snacks, movies, and karaoke.”
Dean balked slightly. “I’ll pass on the karaoke. But ply Jake with enough drink and he turns into Mariah Carey.”
“Ooo, competition for you, Riley.” I ruffled his hair. “This one here has an amazing set of pipes.”
Riley batted my hand a way. “Certainly not a family trait.”
I clutched at my heart. “How you mock me, little brother. It’s not my fault my voice is an acquired taste.”
“Is that what you call it?” he said, knocking back the rest of his drink.
“Poor Isaac,” Dean joined in, his eyes moving to the door. “Jake?”
The witchcop arrived in clothes similar to Dean’s, holding his phone so tightly his knuckles were pure white.
This wasn’t good news.
“I’ve got something to show you,” he said.
He popped the phone on the table, propping it against Riley’s empty glass.
Tony’s face was paused on the screen. I stiffened, my fist a hair’s breadth away from going through the device.
“What the fuck is he doing now?” I questioned.
The prick stood before a white background, two shimmer witches flanking him. All of them were dressed in white, freshly groomed and ready to be filmed.
“This was from a livestream ten minutes go,” Jake clarified. “Ollie’s on his way. Erin and the Brambles have already seen it.”
Dread pooled in my belly like the thickest of oils.
Shit.
“Ready?” Jake asked once Ollie joined us.
He slid a reassuring arm around my waist.
Thank Hecate he was here.
“Ready,” I answered.
He clicked play, and Tony began to waffle.
“My dear friend Liam, begged Isaac Aurora to help him. The Sun assaulted him instead, as you will see now.” An image of the man I’d punched outside Blood House appeared on the screen. He was lying in a hospital bed in a terrible state, his teeth all broken, face a mess.
Was that supposed to make me feel bad? Because it didn’t. Fuck him. If it wasn’t for the crystal shades showing up, this Liam would’ve been trying to kill me or whatever.
Still, it didn’t stop my insides squirming.
The screen returned to Tony’s face. “This is only the beginning. We know what happened the last time the Aurora witches darkened our doorways. It will be more of the same, maybe worse now that they’re attacking the public.
We live in the aftermath of The Sun’s slaughter of Blood House, of the riot he caused at the mansion.
I know, I loved him once, barely surviving.
And I admit I tried to kill him. But he lives and I’m here to make my case to you, the public. ”
He smiled, pausing, making my soul ache.
I’ll fucking kill you…
“Luckily, a change is coming. A change only I can bring. Who can you trust when the High Coven conspires in the shadows with these sacred witches? You may as well let the shadow witches take over.”
The two witches on either side of him shook their heads.
“Things don’t have to get that bad. I’m here to tell you to shift your trust to me. I can take us in a new direction, one filled with hope. Sometimes you must burn the old to give birth to the new. And I’ll lead the charge.”
A number flashed on the screen.
“Call this number,” he said. “Call this number to change. Call this number and arrangements will be made for you to join the Gilbert Coven.”
The two witches lifted their arms and called, “In the name of Tony Gilbert, we welcome you.”
And just like that, a new player arrived on the gameboard. Tony had declared war on House Aurora and the High Coven, made new magic, and put himself in House Kingwood’s firing line too. Marcus wouldn’t like the fact that Tony was gunning for the top spot of the most wanted fuckhead list.
I stared at him, his eyes feeling as if they were penetrating me through the screen.
I’ll fucking kill you…
I didn’t know how to feel or what to do, other than ponder running outside into the rain and screaming bloody murder into the night sky.
Aaron darted into the room. “Pissing hell!”
“What is it?” Jake asked first.
“It’s Preston. He’s at the gates.”