CHapter 23 #2
“Kai is your cousin, and his mom is the head of the witches,” she said. “So… you’re like a prince?”
I snorted, and it turned into an outright laugh. A real one. Oh gods, I couldn’t wait to tell Kai.
“You could have just said no,” Rani grumbled, and I patted her thigh in apology.
“I’m sorry,” I replied, still chuckling.
Shit, there were tears in my eyes. “But if you understood what my life was like growing up, then you’d understand why I found that hilarious.
Yes, my aunt is the head of the faction, and Kai is the heir.
I’m his second, which makes me at the top of our faction’s food chain in terms of power. ”
You’d think that position came with respect, but that’s the one thing I’d learned to never expect from my people.
Even when my father officially recognized me as his heir, even when Kai declared me his right hand, all everyone saw was that I was half-human.
They thought me weak, yet felt my magick each time I flexed it, even from four hours away.
“Despite my high rank, you won’t find support for me among my kind.
Not from anyone except my father and Kai.
” I felt her gaze and knew she saw the hurt and anger I tried so hard to bury when I talked about my reputation.
“My aunt and siblings are the worst, since outright disrespect isn’t tolerated from the rest of the faction, but I hear the whispers. ”
“What whispers?” Rani seethed, her face scrunched in outrage. “Are they seriously judging you for the unsavory acts that your position requires you to perform? Tell them to get off their fucking high horses and get their hands bloody for a change, then maybe—”
“It’s because I’m half-human.”
I spit it out before she had the chance to grow her indignation for the wrong reason.
Unsure whether I’d told her before or not, I waited for the confusion or, gods forbid, the disgust. I wasn’t expecting silence.
Was it just now sinking in; that her bond was an outcast?
Perhaps she didn’t care now, but she would once the rest of the faction rubbed off on her.
Once she saw where I lived and how they pushed me to the side. Her silence made me nervous.
“Those cowardly, simple-minded, contemptuous bastards!”
My lips twitched, and my chest filled with warmth. “Any more adjectives you want to throw in there?”
Rani pushed at my shoulder with a scowl. “It’s not funny, Ezra! Those fuckers seriously care that half of you doesn’t come from magick?”
I wish I could say it was more complicated than that, but she was right.
Small-minded, that was the supernatural community.
Anything different or weak was eradicated.
Anything too strong to control as well. Just look at what happened to the nightmares and now the sirens.
And look at me… taking my bond right into the fucking middle of it all.
“Human genes usually mean the offspring won’t be powerful,” I explained. “In a world where each faction vies to stay at the top, power is everything.”
“Well, that’s just elitist. And stupid.”
I didn’t disagree. Everyone else…
“I swear to God, let someone say some shit about you where I can hear,” Rani snarled, little fists clenched on her thighs. She was so cute when she got worked up. “I told you I can make spikes out of raindrops now, right? I’ll send little spikes right into their damn eyes!”
As much as I loved the idea and the visual that came with it, Rani already had a target on her back, and I was only making it larger by introducing her as my bond. She needed to hold onto that temper and not rock the boat. At the very least, until she learned our laws.
“I didn’t tell you this to upset you, babe, but to prepare you. There are some who may lash out at you to get to me. My position will only solidify now that I’ve found you.”
The turnoff from the main highway to the obscure, unmarked road of the “nature preserve” was up ahead. There was so much I wanted to tell her—so much she needed to know—but we were out of time. Hopefully, I could catch her up quickly because my people weren’t going to take it easy on her.
My truck made quick work of the dirt road, and before long, the gates of the factions appeared ahead.
You couldn’t see all of them from here; only the entrance to the oracle and vampire lands were up front.
The other four gates were further back. Arranged like a wheel, each faction claimed a section of land for their people, where they could rule as they saw fit, as long as the common laws of the community were upheld.
The center of the tribunal held the shared meeting spots: a small town, restaurants, shops, and the like.
Going onto another faction’s land was forbidden unless invited, making my faction’s land the safest place for Rani.
I could only think of a few instances where that law had been broken and the consequences were severe enough that it didn’t happen often.
As my truck made its way around to the witch gate, my palms began to sweat.
I wiped them on my pants, but it wasn’t much use.
A tense silence took over as the barrier around our land recognized my magick and allowed me entrance.
I was only half surprised. Every time I came back, I expected my aunt to have revoked my access.
She probably would have by now if it were legal to do so without due cause.
Heavy tree cover blocked many of the houses, but the main road was kept wide and clear.
It led directly to the family compound. Modeled after English country houses of old, the manor was enormous and able to comfortably fit all those related to the direct ruling line; my aunt, Kai and his sister, Eryn with room for her parents, my father and siblings, and any staff who needed to remain close to better perform their duties.
There were also a plethora of over-decorated guest rooms.
Made entirely of stone, the manor was all peaked roofs and paned windows. Triangles and rectangles galore. With ivy covering every surface, it was beautiful, but the rot on the inside went a long way in tarnishing that beauty. Four witches already waited outside as I put the truck in park.
It was customary to meet with my aunt when I arrived, like a sickening play we had to act out every time I came home. It was better to get it over with.
“We have to greet my aunt and request official permission to stay within the faction’s land,” I warned Rani, voice low as the witches approached. “Say nothing unless spoken to directly. Please. I don’t trust myself to not commit treason if someone threatens you.”
A solemn, but pissed-off, nod was all she managed before a guard opened her door.
I had to look away, already I was itching to break bones over their lack of manners.
We were escorted inside, straight to the meeting hall my aunt had designed for visitors.
The insult was old. I hadn’t been allowed further than here since I was old enough to live on my own.
When the doors opened and I saw Kai standing behind his mother, my relief was instantaneous. My aunt couldn’t deny us sanctuary, not when she knew her son would stand against her. My cousin’s shoulders were stiff, but I knew all his tells, and he was just as relieved to see us.
“I’m so glad my son’s self-indulgent second could finally return to perform his duties.”
Kai rolled his eyes, and I kept my mouth shut. I knew better than to react to her barbs. Grabbing Rani’s hand, I gave it a squeeze in a reminder for her to stay quiet, and by the way her entire arm shook, it must have taken all her control.
“Hello, Auntie Mira.” A large table, the kind that had enough seating for twenty, sat between us.
My aunt held court at one end while Rani and I stood at the other.
“I’m pleased to introduce for recognition, my bond, Rani Whitmore, and request permission for her to live with me as we navigate the courting period. ”
The scowl on my aunt’s face would have made me laugh any other time.
It would have gotten me punished as well; something I couldn’t risk now.
Rani’s nails dug into my hand as she stood silent beside me, head held high, as my aunt took her time examining my bond like one did livestock you were interested in purchasing.
“A siren, I’ve been told?” I nodded, and she sneered. “Makes sense that your bond would come from human lineage as well.”
“ Mother ,” Kai growled.
Her sneer didn’t let up, but she did lean back in her seat. As passive a sign as we would get from her.
“She is under our protection, as is the law,” she declared, sounding anything but happy about it. “But if either of you steps one inch out of line, I won’t hesitate to revoke your welcome. Have I made myself clear?”
I ground my teeth against the words I knew would get us immediately kicked out.
Another sting from Rani’s nails brought me back from the brink, just barely.
My aunt waited, her lips now twisted in a cruel smirk as she watched me get my temper under control.
How else did she expect me to act after she insulted my bond and then threatened to feed her to the wolves?
Kai sent a pointed glare from over his mother’s shoulder.
He, too, knew how swift I was to anger. Bastard.
Would it be in bad taste for me to ask him to off his mom?
It took concentrating on every muscle in my neck to get my head to nod, but I did.
How my mouth formed the word ‘understood’ was a question for the gods themselves.
“Wonderful,” my aunt deadpanned. “You know where to go when your presence isn’t needed. Get out of my sight.”
My control was a thread away from snapping.
Keeping a tight grip on Rani’s hand, I tugged her along as I sped from the room, leaving my cousin alone to deal with the scathing tantrum my aunt was soon to throw.
Shame burned the back of my neck and nothing I said would shake it.
I could only hope it didn’t grow once Rani saw where we’d been banished to. Her new home.