Chapter 8 #2
“I’m in complete agreement with you, Sera. To our best knowledge, the last time the Nexa actually walked the earth was almost five hundred years ago.”
“The Nexa would need a female, human body to thrive in, wouldn’t it?
If we find such a being, it will make it easier to get rid of the powerful Nexa, right?
” Lily looks up at Gavin under the curtain of her light hair.
Gavin’s gaze roams over her, and my knuckles turn white, gripping my silverware.
Lily is soft and delicate. Gavin looks at her like he could destroy her with his words alone.
“It would take a special kind of paranormal to hold the Nexa in its body and survive. Four types of blood and magic need to be woven in. For the Nexa to thrive and reach ultimate power, there also needs to be a connection with her mate,” he explains to her. His small smile looking pinched.
“It would be impossible for anyone less to hold the Nexa, right?” Killian asks. My eyes snap to him. His brow is furrowed while his gaze stays on Lily.
“Next to impossible for sure.” Shemar chews and swallows, waving his fork with a flourish. “Anyone carrying the Nexa without full acceptance and compatibility would be in pain. Can you imagine walking around all day in pain like that?”
Kilian’s eyes drop, and when he raises them to me again, it feels like a challenge almost. “I can’t. Can you, Madden?”
Narrowing my gaze on him, I let my tone fall flat, almost bored. “I can’t.”
“As I said, it’s nothing we need to worry about right now.
” Gavin flicks his wrist, looking at his watch before taking another sip of wine.
“I did want you here, Madden, because I have an important announcement, one that affects you all.” He glances around the table at me, my group of friends, and Killian.
I feel my mom’s eyes on the side of my face, silently begging me, and I know what he’s going to say before Gavin even opens his mouth again.
“Skallan will be coming back this fall and will also be attending River Falls University.”
Lily’s fork drops to her plate, and Aero reaches out, touching her arm gently.
I’m not sure what happened between her and Skully, but Lily acts terrified anytime she’s brought up.
My memories push forward to the girl in my mind, her head held high, nose in the air like she was better than everyone else.
She didn’t have many friends in high school while she was here because she tended to be a bitch and was rude to everyone.
Except for those few times. My magic swirls and tightens in my chest, but I push it and those memories down.
They were lies. She’s a liar and a vindictive bitch.
I wouldn’t put it past her to have hurt my friend.
Even as I think it, my magic wants to rebel against the idea.
The little tendrils of darkness inside me long for her.
Something I’ll never understand after the damage she left behind.
If Gavin is bringing her back, he must know what I did to keep her away. I glance up, and his gaze meets mine. “Everyone, leave please. I need the room with Madden and his mother.”
As if we’re children he’s scolding, everyone gets up from the table. I see the flare of panic on Lily’s face and the knowing smirk on Aero’s lips. It’s the dark glare from Killian, though, that sets my molars on edge. I know why he’s pissed and know he knows I had something to do with it.
With the room emptied, Gavin pushes his plate aside. “You put a spell on her, why?”
My shoulders lift in a shrug. “She didn’t remember anything or have her magic. I was doing what felt safe. She didn’t want to be here, anyway.”
“That is not up to you to decide, Madden. Skallan is my daughter and has every right to be here as you. You are going to be her stepbrother. You are not her keeper.”
His words sting, and my body revolts against the idea.
I might have been enthralled with Skully when she first arrived, but only until I learned her true colors.
Her father doesn’t know about his precious daughter.
He doesn’t know about her fascination with her almost stepbrother either.
I would love to tell him to rub it in his face, to really ruin her.
She’s coming back, which means I can’t play my cards too early.
A stronger, deeper, darker part of me wants to hoard that information and use it in a way that will hurt her the most. Now isn’t the time; it’s too early.
“Are we done here?” I ask, getting up from the table.
“Madden,” my mom tries to settle the argument. “It’s best that Skallan be here and around others more like her. Lord knows she isn’t getting the best education at the community college she’s attending. Or living with that atrocious aunt.”
Skully loves her aunt, though. That was the one constant with her, no matter how long she had been away from her real home. Still, I snort at the new information. “Community college? How quaint. Let me know when she arrives, I’ll keep myself scarce from the manor during that time.”
Gavin grunts, but his face pinches. “Skallan already secured housing on campus. She won’t be living at the manor.”
This time, my gaze narrows on him. During this time, when there are so many unknowns, how can he let his daughter choose to live outside the manor?
Anger flares in my gut just thinking about the trouble she’ll cause on campus.
Spoiled. Selfish. I’m not even surprised.
Without glancing back, I stalk out of the dining room, through the hallways, and out the front door.
The damp, chilled night air hits my lungs, and I breathe deeply for the first time tonight.
Little Skully is coming home. The darkness inside me rises again, just waiting to see its favorite plaything.