Chapter 47
Rafe
This was not happening.
I’d finally connected with Skye, Wyatt had apologized to Aiden, Aiden let Wyatt stay the night…
We were so, so fucking close to being a normal fucking Chain, and then like a scene from one of my nightmares, my father exited the elevator, coming to a screeching halt when he realized what he was walking into.
Although…he wasn’t the smartest man. He probably had no idea what he was walking into. If he knew he was entering my home after I’d just spent the night connecting with my Key, he would’ve at least brought some backup.
Skye didn’t move from where she stood, semi-blocked by the kitchen island. Aiden was right beside her still. I stood on the other side of the island, and Wyatt was the only one standing between them and my father.
That was a perfect accident, of course, but it was the best case scenario. No one scared my father more than Wyatt.
“Ah,” my father said. His only nervous tick was adjusting his tie, which he did almost exclusively in the presence of Wyatt. “Ms. Aria, I see you have some…visitors.”
“I didn’t know the headmaster could just waltz into a private dormitory,” I commented lightly, trying to draw his attention away from them.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen a glare with such disdain from Alejandro before. He was pissed. We’d clearly ruined whatever plan he had by coming here. In turn, that had me pissed.
“I’m no ordinary headmaster,” Alejandro hissed.
“You’re no headmaster at all, actually.” Wyatt drawled.
Aiden’s eyebrows shot up, just barely, but the menacing look on his face didn’t falter. Aiden hadn’t gotten to witness the dynamic between my father and Wyatt yet, and there was a secret part of me that hoped Wyatt made a good impression. He needed points wherever possible with Aiden.
“What are you doing in a student dormitory?” Alejandro asked, narrowing his eyes at Wyatt. “Relationships between students and staff are not allowed, I outlined it in my–”
“Staff aren’t allowed inside private dormitories uninvited,” Wyatt growled. “I was invited here.”
“He was,” Skye confirmed. Alejandro looked surprised for a moment, then went back to his scowl.
“They’re telling the truth, we’re only here for a visit. What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I will discuss this privately with Ms. Aria,” he said, and Aiden scoffed. “You can go with the other two, Mr. Brandt.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m one of her Links,” Aiden said, crossing his arms. “This is my dorm, too.”
“You–?” Alejandro cut off, narrowing his eyes at Aiden. I couldn’t help but grin.
My father was thoroughly confused, now. All he knew of Aiden was what Lucille whined about, which meant he thought Aiden was a simple fire affinate who was only at the academy because of his family Chain’s money.
He had no idea Aiden now held a second affinity. One that hadn’t been seen, maybe ever.
But he also wasn’t aware that Aiden was a resident of this dorm room, which meant he hadn’t bothered to read any paperwork before coming here. He really just assumed that I’d set up my Key in a penthouse and took off.
Idiot.
“Your mother will be happy to see you survived the attack,” Alejandro said to Aiden, surprising me.
What’s his angle? Wyatt asked sharply.
I don’t know, I replied. My mind was racing, trying to figure out his next move. My father and I did this often, trying to best the other. It was natural on my part, since I was the younger. But a father trying to outdo his son was pathetic.
“Sure,” Aiden said with a laugh. “Tell her I’m alive and well, living here with my Key.”
Alejandro’s eyes narrowed again, then darted over to me, clearly confused.
He didn’t understand how Aiden could be in my family Chain. He suspected Skye was hiding a strong affinity, but he didn’t think enough of Aiden to suspect the same.
He’s confused, Wyatt said.
Indeed, I replied.
Alejandro seemed to remember where he was, suddenly, the confused expression on his face melting away into something carefully neutral.
Wyatt and I tensed at the same moment.
“I’ve come to speak with Ms. Aria about something that’s been brought to my attention recently,” Alejandro said.
“Which is…” Aiden said slowly.
Alejandro glared at him, then regained his composure.
“That she’s been frequently leaving campus, which is forbidden while term is in session.”
What?
Who would even–
Carissa, Wyatt snarled, though his face remained blank. I’ll fucking kill her.
I told you to turn that location off, I hissed back, because I could never turn down a chance to say I told you so to Wyatt.
Skye laughed, shocking every man in the room.
A shadow prodded at my shoulder, and my eyes darted to my father.
Now, as possessive and jealous as I could be, I’d always understood I’d have to share my someone with some other someones. Even as a child, I somehow knew I wasn’t going to be a Key, and I’d accepted that pretty easily.
Seeing Aiden and Wyatt react to Skye? That was fine. They were the other pieces of her soul, they could look at her any way they wished.
But seeing my father, a man I’d come to despise, giving her the same look of concern?
The ground began to vibrate, but this time, it wasn’t Wyatt.
Rafe, Wyatt hissed. Don’t.
He’s fucking looking at her like–
I know. But you can’t freak out. Stop.
“Who even told you that?” Skye asked, flipping her ponytail.
She leaned back against the countertop, letting my t-shirt ride up her bare legs, and fucking fuck she wanted me to kill my father.
Was this her secret signal to me? Was she trying to communicate to me that now was the time, all I needed to do was…
Skye gave me a sharp look, and my mind went blank, instantly. She then looked back to my father, crossing her arms so the t-shirt rode up even further.
Wyatt’s eyes widened, and my stomach clenched. My father straightened up, adjusting his tie again.
“I can’t share the details,” he started, but she laughed again, a little loudly.
“Seriously. Who told you that?”
“I–” My father swallowed thickly. “I’m not supposed to tell you.”
Wyatt pursed his lips so hard, I knew he was trying not to laugh. How the hell did he think this was funny? My father was stumbling over his words because Skye was being…flirty?!
“Mr. Sombra,” Skye said.
“Alex,” he croaked. “You can call me Alex, Ms. Aria. We’ve met before.”
Skye flashed a smile. “Well, Alex. Whoever gave you that information is a liar. And they should probably be dealt with accordingly.”
Alejandro looked as if his brain stopped working, like having the attention of a pretty young thing like Skye was so overwhelming, he couldn’t possibly react appropriately.
God, I fucking hated him.
“Well, there you have it.” I clapped my hands together, then gave Skye an apologetic look as she jumped. “Anything else? No? Have a good day.”
A shadow pressed the elevator button, and a ding sounded before the doors opened.
My father only gave me an indulgent smile while he made no move to leave. He adjusted his tie again before he spoke.
“You know, son,” Alejandro said next, and the shadows began pooling at my feet. “I’m glad you’re here. We can discuss how you’d like to announce Ms. Aria as your Key.”
“I’ll be doing no such thing,” I scoffed. “Ms. Aria does not wish to be announced.”
“Ah, well,” Alejandro gave me a smug grin.
More shadows began to seep from the walls, but as usual, his dumbass didn’t notice.
“That’ll be a problem. You see, you’ve claimed her publicly, several times.
” He pulled out his phone, tapping away before he started reading from a list. “Most recently, you identified her to Marion Holmes, Palace Healer, while in Alaska. And you even claimed her once in the islands. I believe she was getting a ticket? To be retested? How could that have happened if she weren’t leaving campus? ”
“That was during break,” Aiden said.
My mind whirled, and I wanted to throw myself off the nearest cliff when I realized.
While wrong about the ticket, Alejandro was right about Alaska.
I’d told Marion that Skye was my Key, but I hadn’t expected her to report it.
But I’d also told that dickhead Stevens that she was my Key, not thinking it would get around.
Fuck.
“Not only that,” Alejandro went on. “But you, my dear, made your own public claim. When you had yourself moved to this room, did you not?”
“What does that mean?” Skye asked me, ignoring Alejandro. Her silver eyes darted back and forth between me and Wyatt with well-concealed alarm.
“Why, it means you must be officially announced. There’s already talk in the islands, news spreads quickly. The Gulf will be delighted to see one of their own is now the Key to a Royal Chain. Have either of you checked the news lately?”
“No, father, the gossip rags are your cup of tea, not mine.” I replied with a sigh.
“They’re your mother’s, as well, if I remember correctly,” Alejandro said. “I wonder what she’ll have to say when she learns this is where you’ve been spending your time, keeping a partially connected Chain from her. The press can be quite ugly, as you know.”
That…was true. But what was he getting at?
“I’m sure you’ve all heard that the King failed to name a successor,” Alejandro went on conversationally.
“Nope,” Skye said, popping the P. Alejandro looked to her, confused. “From the islands, remember? We don’t care.”
Alejandro gave her what I could only assume was a genuine smile after a beat. “Well, the King failed to name a successor. If the courts cannot come to a decision on whether or not the Princess will ascend the throne, then the title will be passed on to her son.”
Skye’s eyes darted toward mine, clearly confused.
I knew what he was getting at, though.
“That’s not happening,” I said slowly.
Alejandro ignored me, going on speaking to Skye. “That means you, my dear, will be Key to a Royal Chain. How does that sound?”
Skye’s eyebrows rose slightly. “You say that as if I care,” she said carefully.
“You don’t?” Alejandro cocked his head to the side. “A simple air and water affinate from the Gulf, made into royalty. No more staying in that dumpy beach café. No more handing your paycheck over to your brother. You can have anything you want.”
Skye didn’t react, but my lips parted in shock.
I was…stunned.
Somehow, Alejandro had outmaneuvered me. How could I have underestimated him so severely? Had I really been so distracted by Skye and this recent disaster of a Chain that I’d completely missed what he was planning?
Although…his stalking Skye didn’t tell me anything. I still didn’t know what he was planning.
Either way, I couldn’t catch up fast enough.
But I didn’t have to.
Wyatt took a step forward, making my father flinch away. He tried to straighten up and appear unaffected, but it was too late. We’d all seen it. He failed to regain his composure, adjusting his tie that was already tight at his throat.
Wyatt took another step forward, his voice dark as he spoke, “Thanks for the info, Alex. But since we’re all making public claims, let me tell you this: Skye is my Key as well.
If you ever come into this dormitory again, invited or not, I’ll finish what I started, and this time?
The Princess won’t bat an eye. No one will, and you know it. ”
Alejandro tried to clear his throat, but instead he made a sort of squeaking sound as a shadow wrapped around his ankle, keeping him from moving further.
“One more thing,” I said, striding right up to my father. He nearly fell over as he tried leaning away from me, but another shadow curled around his knee, locking him still. I grabbed his tie, pulling him close to me. “I told you not to call me son.”
I pushed him back, and all we heard was a yelp as he fell into a pit of shadows.