Chapter 51 Their Questions
Their Questions
Heaven
I’m struggling to remain calm as I head towards the dining hall, knowing there are several pairs of eyes on me.
My mama. I saw Theo’s parents watching us, too. And Uncle Rayhan, Uncle Leo, Sienna, Allie – everyone!
Oh my gosh, that dance was… My cheeks burn, and I’m just grateful for my makeup, so it’s toned down.
“We need to talk about this, don’t we?” Sienna whispers, her eyes wide, a small smile on her face.
No, I write as I take hold of her arm, guiding her towards the dining hall. I spot Allie dragging Theo across the room, and my stomach flutters nervously, wondering what she’s saying to him. There’s no doubt it was about the dance.
Sienna whispers a spell. “Oh, come on, don’t deny it. You like him, don’t you?” she asks, staring into my eyes as if she can see what’s written in my soul.
I don’t respond, not a denial, not an acknowledgement, just-
“Oh my Goddess!” she gasps, hiding a squeal. “Theo! Wait, is he really the reason you broke up with Holden?”
I shake my head, and Sienna smiles. “We’ll continue this later,” she whispers, although she has cast a silencing spell.
I nod. Sounds good, I write, just needing a moment.
The feel of his touch lingers, the way he whispered in my ear, his hand on my stomach. Does this mean maybe, just maybe, he feels something?
No… yes, maybe? Oh, I don’t know!
No. I can’t even think about this.
“That was quite a dance,” Mama says once the first course is served. I smile smoothly, nodding slightly, knowing she’s observing me with those sharp, brown eyes.
Thank you, I respond nonchalantly. The room is filled with a pleasant buzz of chatter and the tinkling of dinnerware as everyone tucks in.
Scheherazade smiles at me from across the large, round table. “It was amazing. I can’t dance anywhere near as well as that.”
Really? It’s really fun. I am certain you dance beautifully, but if not, I’m sure Tatum can help you learn some tricks. He dances well, I write, smiling over at her.
All our family is at this table along with Grandpa Marcel, Winona and their children.
Uncle Leo and Azura, as well as their older children, and Grandpa Alejandro’s family, are seated with the Westwoods.
Probably a strategic move by Aunty Delsanra, who I know organised most of this party.
The only one breaking the formation is Allie, who sits between Sienna and me.
After all, the three of us are together wherever we go.
“I’m sure he will,” Sienna agrees.
“I don’t like to dance,” Tatum reminds us pointedly.
“Oh, I don’t remember you complaining when you danced,” Jaddati says with a raised eyebrow.
“I was a good student, nothing more,” Tatum counters, looking at her, making Scheherazade smile.
Grandpa Marcel chuckles. “Well, I’m sure if your mate asks you, you won’t deny her.”
“Exactly,” Mama says, as Uncle Rayhan chuckles.
“Oh, absolutely, so ask him for whatever your heart desires. He will have no option but to give it to you,” Uncle says with a smile.
Everyone continues talking, and I can feel Allie’s eyes on me, but with both Aunty Delsanra and Mama here, none of us risk casting a spell, so we sit quietly. I know Allie’s impatient to question me, but I don’t know what I’ll say when that time comes.
Yes, I like him.
Ok, I admit it.
But can I admit it to them?
No more secrets.
That was our promise.
Oh Goddess, what do I do?
Speaking of Theo, I can sense his eyes on me a few times. I don’t know how, but I can tell when it’s him. The way it makes goosebumps rise on my skin, the way it burns into me, heating my skin…
And I can sense Holden’s glare, which isn’t so subtle as he stares at me from where he’s sitting with his parents, a few tables down.
“You and Holden aren’t together anymore?” Mama asks quietly as we continue eating, the chatter from around us drowning her out, so I have to lean in to hear.
I shake my head no.
She nods, wanting to ask me something else, but doesn’t.
Once dinner is over, I decide to find Uncle Leo and show him my contract. It’s high time I got a custom-designed suit I can wear when I’m not in Academy uniform.
May I have a word? I ask.
He cocks an eyebrow as he lights a cigarette and nods. “Sure, what is it?”
With a flourish of my hand, my contract is in my hand. I’ve designed myself an outfit, and well, before I hand the design over, I want you to sign the contract that this design will not be mass-produced for others. Taking elements of the design is fine; however, the design is mine, I write.
He looks at me. “You know the Schattenblüte are for war; they’re battle suits?”
Yes, obviously, or I wouldn’t be asking you. It doesn’t mean we can’t go to war in style, I write, raising an eyebrow.
“Does it matter if someone else wears the same?”
It does, I write, folding my arms.
“Women,” he mutters as he takes the file and flips it open. I watch his face, his eyebrows rising even further as he flips through the three-page contract. “You’re smart. I’ll give you that. It’s always good to know how to protect yourself.”
I agree, I answer. He nods as he holds out his hand.
“The design elements you pointed out don’t seem to cross with something I’ve created already, so that’s fine. Pen.”
I hold out the one I had ready and summon my second file, waiting patiently as he signs it.
“Your design will get done, but there might be a little delay.”
That’s fine, thank you. Here is the design broken down with colour swatches and other small notes. Would you like me to have these put aside safely for you? I ask, taking the signed contract from him.
“Sure. That’ll work,” he says, with a small nod.
Perfect. Thanks for your time. I turn just as the lights dim, and I realise a cake has been brought in.
“You missed your birthday, honey, so we thought you should at least get a cake,” Mama says as the spotlight shines on me and on a large cake that is lit with 17 candles.
My eyes widen slightly; I wasn’t expecting this. Soft music begins playing as I make my way to the front.
I smile at Mama, glancing down at the gorgeous cake that matches my dress. I smile at Mama, knowing she probably changed the colours according to what I chose.
Grandpa Marcel begins singing Happy Birthday and others join in. I smile gracefully as I stare at the glittering candles.
As they end the song, Mama places a hand on my arm.
“Make a wish,” she says as she holds my hair back. I gaze down at the candles before closing my eyes.
I wish that everyone always remains safe, and that no matter how hard the war becomes, we can return to our loved ones.
I open my eyes and blow out the candles.
“No fair, I want to,” Kaden says, pouting.
‘Sorry’, I mouth as I crouch down and kiss his cheek.
“I want cake.” He points at the cake as Mama passes me a knife, and I nod at him.
“Heaven will give you some cake, don’t you worry,” Mama says, ruffling his hair.
I cut the first slice, break a piece off and feed Kaden first. He grins happily before I then give Mama a bite, who takes a spoon, and breaking a bit off, feeds me.
Thank you for everything, Mama, I write before hugging her tightly.
Then it’s a blur as everyone in my family wants to feed me a piece.
“My turn!” Sienna says. I smile as I take a piece off and feed her. She feeds me a piece at the same time before hugging me.
Want some? I ask Allie, who shakes her head.
“No thanks,” she answers, before taking a clean spoon and breaking a bit off to feed me a spoonful. I smile at her, my eyes scanning the crowds.
He isn’t here… strange.
Why am I even looking for him? I shake my head, but I’m unable to stop myself from scanning the crowd. The rest of his family is here…
A sliver of worry flits through me when suddenly someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see none other than Holden.
Can I help you? I ask. You have the nerve to show up here after what you said about me. I may not write those words out, but my expression says that enough.
“Can we talk? Come on-”
No, I write. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go freshen up, I lie, before I turn and walk away, leaving him standing there. He’ll find someone better suited to him, and I hope it’s soon so he can leave me alone.
“Hey.” I look at Ahren, who snuck up on me silently, priding myself for not getting startled.
What do you want? I ask suspiciously.
He smirks. “Well, a couple of us are taking the party out back, so… if you three want to join, you’re welcome to,” Ahren whispers to me before he winks at me and walks off.
I smile. Of course, Ahren would do something like that.
Now that the main party is over, he would sneak away. No doubt the Westwoods will be invited, and I’m assuming a few of their friends who are here. I had seen the Nicholsons before as well.
Theo will be there… I need to talk to him, just casually, to figure out if I’m imagining something or if there may be something there. I just need to know, even though I know it’s not a good idea. It’ll be casual… just me observing him.
Yes, just that.
Entering the bathroom, I lock the door behind me, wondering if Endora has found the answers she was supposed to. I’ll ask her later. I’m enjoying my evening, and I’m not about to let her ruin it. I fix my dress, plump up my curls and touch up my lipstick, finishing with a tiny spritz of perfume.
Werewolves’ sense of smell is strong, and I don’t want to overdo it.
Taking a deep breath, I open the door only for Sienna and Allie to be leaning on either side of the door frame. My eyes widen as they both step inside, and Sienna shuts the door.
“You like Theo, don’t you?” Allie asks accusingly.
I cast a silencing spell and raise an eyebrow, but before I can even write anything, Sienna speaks.
“The way your heart was pounding… Heaven, do you like him?”
I turn my back on them, but they simply stare at me in the mirror. I purse my lips, and I tilt my head as I look at their reflections.
Does it matter?
“YES!” they both say in unison.
What did you say to him after our dance? I ask now, turning my attention to Allie.
She looks away. “Not much, just don’t mess with you.”
I raise an eyebrow. I love you both, but I can handle myself and my decisions perfectly. Allie, don’t say anything more to Theo.
“Heaven, this is Theo, he’s a jerk-”
I don’t want to ignorantly say you don’t know him, so what I’m going to ask you is, do you really think he’s a jerk? The Theo you know?
Allie is silent. “He can be…”
But he is more than that. And he’s the reason we got Sienna back, I write.
“You don’t owe him anything for that,” Allie says.
“Let’s drop it-” Sienna tries, but it’s too late.
No. We’re having this conversation now. My words appear in bold.
There is nothing going on between us. We are just friends.
As for my feelings, we all develop crushes at some point in our lives; it’s just that, nothing more.
Now, let’s go out back. Ahren said they’re going to hang out back, I write.
“You really like him,” Allie states quietly. I look at her, our eyes meeting, and I look away, waiting for her to say that I’m not his type or he isn’t mine, but it doesn’t come.
Maybe. I don’t know. I still think it might just be a phase. But when you see the real Theo, the one behind those gorgeous, piercing, blue eyes or cocky smirk, there’s a man my heart aches for.
A silence stretches between us, and after a few moments, I walk towards the door.
“Or it might not be,” Allie says from behind me.
“Time will tell,” Sienna says as we all head down the hall towards the back. Two staff members stand at the door, making sure no one uninvited ends up in the back.
The door is held open for us, and we step outside. All our cousins are there except two. Tatum and Scheherazade are missing, and I can’t help but smile at that. There are also a few people from the Academy. Low music is playing in the background.
A member of the staff is at the bar serving drinks, and Artemis is standing with Ares by the pool, her boyfriend with her. Renji is chatting with Dante, Ahren and a few other young men.
Carter is talking to a group who are laughing over something he just said.
I look over the garden, searching for him when I sense his gaze upon me and instantly turn to see he’s leaning against a tree in the shadows, one leg propped up against it, a cigarette to his lips as he flicks on his lighter.
Is he ok?
I frown slightly. It’s not like him to be apart from the crowd.
Our eyes meet as he lights his cigarette, taking a long drag on it. Once again, my heart betrays me beneath his serious gaze, so different from what I’m used to, but then he gives me a small smirk, yet somehow it leaves me uneasy.
I glance over at Allie. Was there more to that conversation than she told me?
Knowing I can’t go straight over to him without drawing attention, I decide to join the few girls who are chatting until I can slip away…