53. Bay
Bay
We’re finally on our way home from the familiar New York beach.
Mariano’s driving, and Luca’s next to him, constantly throwing questioning glances back at us, mostly at his wife.
As usual, he doesn’t like not getting answers right away.
Alin and I are both mentally drained from everything that happened, and Miguel’s face before he died is etched into my mind as if someone carved it into my brain with a knife.
It’s been years since I’ve seen him. Why did he come to the surface? How did he get legs—someone gave him something forbidden. I glance at Alin, knowing it’s not the right time for either of us, but when is it ever the right time with everything going on around us?
“Why was Miguel on land? How did he get legs?” My questions come out more like an accusation, but I know I’m the only one to blame here.
I should have found a way to get him into the water first before anything else.
A tear escapes down my cheek before Alin sighs heavily and answers,“he had the Mal-El’s pendant. ” I gasp.
“Do you remember the necklace my father gave me as a gift on the day of the celebrations when he brought me back to the ocean?” she asks, avoids looking at me.
“Why would you give him something like that? Unless—” I choke on my words. “No... Alin...”
She finally dares to look directly at me and nods in confirmation.
“Why didn’t I know about this? Why did you hide it from me?” I swallow hard. How many things has my cousin kept from me over the years? She gave him the pendant because he was the one she ran away to land with when she wanted to see her adoptive parents. He was her anchor— not me .
I want to see him again; I want to talk to him.
I have so many questions. Another tear slips down my other cheek, and Pedro places his hand on my thigh from my left, saying nothing.
This man beside me is my family—he’s the only one who’s ever put me first— for the first time in my life.
I place my hand on his, quietly thanking him for the gesture.
And yet, once again, my dear cousin isn’t answering... What did I expect to hear? An apology? An admission?
You expected to be important enough to someone that they would blindly bring you into their world.
The Guardian’s answer burns in my heart this time, not in my chest.
My not-so-dear dragon, do you always have to interfere when no one wants you around? I scold him in my mind, but I know he’s right.
First of all, you’ll learn to always want me. We are one—that’s not going to change. Second, you may call me by my name—you’ve earned that honor.
A nervous chuckle escapes my lips suddenly, and everyone in the car turns to look at me now. “Thanks so much for the honor, Your Highness ,” I mock out loud.
“The Guardian?” Pedro immediately understands, and I nod with an apologetic smile. His body tenses suddenly.
As much as I love the title ‘Your Highness,’ I’d prefer you call me by my name—Mykonian. Or Myko, for short.
I hear the sarcasm in his voice, but there’s something about his response that makes me think very few people have ever heard that information.
“Myko,” I repeat as a whisper. The name doesn’t suit your enormous size at all.
I love how you compliment me like that. He teases, and I hear his snort of disdain echo in my head right after.
“I’m sorry, Bay,” Alin’s words suddenly come from my right.
She’s sorry? I turn my gaze to her, waiting for her to continue.
Her eyebrows knit together in a pitying look as she lands her eyes on mine—it’s clear the pain on my face matches the pain I feel in my chest. No Alin, don’t you dare pity me.
“I never told you because I knew your parents were strict, and I didn’t want you to get into trouble because of me if they caught us…” she explains, as if reading my thoughts.
“Miguel didn’t have anyon—”
“Neither did I!” I cut her, my voice way louder than I expected, as more tears escape my eyes and begin to well up in the corners of her eyes too.
“You always had me!” she exclaims, matching my tone.
“Miguel took into account the death penalty he could face if he was caught with me. I would never have let you take that risk, Bay.”
“You didn’t even let me choose!” Our shouting match echoes inside the car, and the three men with us know better than to say a word.
“Because you always chose me!” she yells back, her voice trembling now. “That’s why you were exiled...” she adds quietly. I swallow the lump stuck in my throat, fighting back the tears threatening to storm out again.
“That was my decision. You never let me make my own choices, you always decide for me.” This time I lower my voice, making sure she understands that fact, turning my gaze away from her eyes.
“Bay…” She’s starting to lose her words. Yeah, she knows I’m right.
“And now Miguel is dead,” slips out of my mouth as an accusation before I even have time to think about what I’m saying. I immediately freeze, turning to look at her again. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to blame you.”
“But you should,” her eyes fall to her feet. “Better Miguel than you.”
What? What the hell did she just say ?
I have to agree with her, for once.
Shut up. My mind is a cloudy storm now.
“Do you even hear yourself?” I don’t hide the shock in my voice.
“You heard me. It hurts me too that he’s gone. But if it’s between you and him—my choice is clear,” she clarifies, and I gasp.
“He made that choice too, Bay. He saved you because he felt the same as I do! You were his choice too!”
I’m starting to like your messed-up family. Myko groans .
Every nerve in my body is tingling, and it takes me a few seconds to process everything happening in this car, while Myko’s remarks don’t help at all to calm me.
Do you even have a heart? My childhood friend was murdered, and now my cousin is telling me that my life is worth more than his? I have no idea why I even bother sharing it with him .
She’s right, my huntress. His life wasn’t worth even a strand of your hair.
“Myko!” I roar his name in frustration, trying to shut him up and turns to Alin—anger is evident in my voice.
“This is the last time any of you make decisions on my behalf! Is that clear?” I glance between Pedro and Alin on either side of me, and neither of them dares to say another word.
They only nod in agreement. Pedro’s hand tightens on my thigh under my grip—I’ve gotten so used to his touch that I forgot it was even there.
I lean back and close my eyes for the rest of the ride as Miguel’s face haunts me.
I’m sorry, Miguel.
He was already at the point of no return when they brought him.
Especially after he took that drug-laced arrow for you—even if you had sent him to the water first and risked yourself, he wouldn’t have survived.
Myko explains, and I really want to believe him.
But there’s still this small prickling burn in my chest that raises the question, what if?
I take a deep breath. You’re lucky I’m not in the mood for a fight right now because you have a lot of explaining to do too! You freaking came out of my chest!
His roar now thunders in my head, making it clear he’s also not in the mood for questions either. But when it comes to annoying me, he’s a pro.
“Bay, we’re here.” Pedro’s voice pulls me back to reality, and I open my eyes to see the familiar building—my forever home.