by Rachel Jonas
My heart raced wildly still, but for a very different reason than before. It was because of him this time. Hearing him speak this way ignited a flame within me that sometimes felt in danger of being suffocated by this new life. But not with him. With Aaric, it was alive and blazing bright, burning away in the pit of my soul.
“You’re not a traitor.” The words fell from his lips with such certainty, as though I’d told him my thoughts.
I brushed another tear from my cheek, but didn’t back away from him. “Feels like it sometimes,” I admitted.
He shook his head, disagreeing. “Anyone who doesn’t realize everything you’ve done is because of your love for the people, they’re blind. If anything, your sacrifice has been an inspiration.”
His hands slid from my face, down the sides of my neck, finally settling on both shoulders.
“My team was off the grid for a while to lay low, but I swear to you, the moment we were back online and connected to the others in real-time, they’ve only sung your praises,” he assured me. “No one’s judged. No one’s thought of you as anything other than brave and loyal. Because … that’s exactly what you are.”
My stomach twisted in knots. It was rare to sense someone’s admiration in just a look, but that happened as I stood before Aaric. Whereas I’d once felt ashamed of the strange splotches of silver taking over my brown irises, I didn’t bother shielding my gaze from him now.
“Is this the first sign?” he asked thoughtfully, letting his hands slip from my shoulders, returning them to his pockets.
“No. The other day, when you took me down onto the pavement from the bike, when you … saved me,” I added, “I hardly felt a thing. Which explains why I was able to spring back to my feet, why I was able to still get the shot.”
There was another surge of triumph that filled me when I envisioned it. When Aaric showed a hint of a smile, I realized I was smiling, too.
“And I noticed again,” I continued, “when I stepped between you and Levi. Under normal circumstances, I never would’ve been able to overpower him.”
Aaric nodded and I didn’t miss the hint of shame that passed over him when I mentioned that part. Then, his gaze met mine again, intensifying even more.
“Have you had any episodes since you’ve started transitioning? Any evidence of your condition?”
I breathed in but held it a moment. “How’d you know about that?”
The question made him shy away, just a little.
“It’s kind of what makes you such a legend,” he shared. “Not every day a girl who suffers from your condition completely ignores it and continues to brave this world. Some think it’s a complete farce, but there’s a select few who never doubted. Myself included.”
My heart quickened again, and my gaze suddenly left his. A girl could only take so much.
“The last was on the day Julian bit me,” I admitted.
Aaric nodded slowly.
“It’s been the one bright spot,” I tease, lightening the mood.
I glance up again, and when I do, I’m undeniably drawn to him. The one I once believed to be one-hundred-percent monster, but now knew to be a good person.
A sudden knock at the door made me clear my throat as I took two small steps back. Aaric let his stare slip from mine, too, and just that quickly, the spell was broken.
“Come in,” I called out, and just a moment later, Elle entered.
I felt her stare volleying back and forth between Aaric and I, likely picking up on the strange tension mingling between us.
“Am I … interrupting?” she asked. The question felt loaded, but it was hard to tell with her these days. She’d mastered the human art of evasiveness.
“No, not at all,” I answered cheerfully. It wasn’t until then that I realized I’d completely come out of the foul mood in which Aaric found me.
Thanks to him, I guessed.
“I just wanted to let you know the princes are waiting downstairs. They’ve already asked for you a couple times, so I volunteered to check in.”
A curious smile touched her lips and I knew there would be questions about my interaction with Aaric later.
“Thank you,” I answered. “I’ll be down in a moment.”
“Should I help you finish preparing for the day?” she asked chipperly. “Unless…”
When her eyebrows bounced suggestively, I interrupted, saving us both the embarrassment of whatever she was going to say.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Actually, I’ll leave you ladies to it,” Aaric chimed in. “Corina, when you’re ready, I’ll be in the parlor. We can head into the dining room together.”
Never in a million years would I have pegged him as a gentleman. Swallowing that thought when it tried to escape my lips as a statement, I nodded.
“Okay, I’ll be down in five.”
I stared unashamedly as he left. In fact, my stare lingered so long in that general direction, Elle cleared her throat to get my attention.
“Well,” she crooned, “you certainly do have options, don’t you? And this one seems particularly eager to get in your pants.”
The off-color comment elicited a huge laugh from me. One I’m certain could be heard throughout the entire second floor.
“Elle!”
If she’d been human, I believe she would’ve blushed. The look of pure mortification on her face told me so.
“Was that not appropriate to say? I’ve heard the princes talk freely about such things many times over the years.”
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind she had.
She glanced down when I took her hand, holding it in my own. “Among friends, you get a pass, but do yourself a favor and don’t say it aloud in mixed company.”
She nodded dutifully. “Noted.”
What was I gonna do with this girl?
“See you downstairs in a few,” she said over her shoulder, shutting me in by myself the next second.
Already, this morning had been full of color and surprises. There was no telling where things would go from here.
Chapter Sixteen
Julian
Her hand slipped into mine and I felt Aaric watching. As if she belonged to him just as equally as she belonged to my brothers and me.
Corina peered up and that’s when I noticed it—the strange marbling in her irises, their usual brown but silver, too.
The instant she realized I noticed, she looked away, but kept our hands linked.
“I believe breakfast is ready,” she announced casually. It became clear to me that she didn’t want to discuss it, so I didn’t force her.
“After you,” I replied just as casually.
She took one step, and then seemed to suddenly remember something. I didn’t miss how her eyes slipped toward Aaric before continuing.
“There’s someplace we’d like to take you all after we eat,” she announced. Her gaze wandered the room where we all stood silently, likely wondering the same thing.
What on Earth was next?
And something stood out about her statement. A single word that had left her mouth so naturally.
We.
It took a moment, but I put my ego aside and chose to ignore that detail.
“Where?”
Corina put on a brave face when I asked. It was more like a mask than her actual expression. She couldn’t have possibly still been so upbeat with how grim things had been since bringing us here.
“It’s … kind of a surprise,” she answered, which didn’t exactly detract from our collective skepticism.
The false smile she wore dimmed a little, as I questioned whether I was up for more of her surprises. However, when the smile faded altogether, giving way to the look of defeat that flashed in her eyes the next moment, my heart betrayed me. It jolted once inside my chest, contradicting the course of my thoughts.
Knowing my brothers would strongly resent that I was about to speak for us as a whole—or at least Levi would—I nodded.
“If you feel it’s necessary.”
As expected, Levi turned sharply, shooting a glare in my direction that I chose to ignore. Corina nodded once in thanks, and then continued toward the dining room.
The others followed, including Elle, Aaric, and his shadow, Paige. There was definitely a feast being prepared, but I wasn’t convinced it was wise to consume anything here. Corina’s guard may have come down, and she may have chosen to trust the enemy, but I wasn’t of the same mind. I’d give things a chance because I promised her, but I had no plans to make this easy for Aaric.
We ate mostly in silence, aside for the few attempts Elle and Corina made to start conversation. After a while, even they gave up trying to smooth things over. We were doing well just to keep Levi in his seat, but there was nothing to be done about the ferocious way he watched Aaric while we dined.
I don’t think anyone was as eager to get up from that table as Corina. Without question, the tension among us all was suffocating. Considering her sudden interest in forming an alliance with this team of strangers, I imagined the lack of progress thus far came with some measure of disappointment.
When it came time for us to travel with Corina to the undisclosed location—per her request—I spoke up, suggesting that the two of us ride alone. Elle, Levi and Silas agreed to ride separate from Aaric and Paige in another of his vehicles on the property.
Mostly silent, we followed a black sedan down a winding, dirt road that didn’t seem to lead us off the premises. Surprisingly, my thoughts were split equally between where we were headed and where Corina’s thoughts lie. Being apart had been torture. And being here felt like some strange, out-of-body experience.
I reached for her hand, and without turning to meet my gaze, she squeezed it. My thoughts were on a visual from earlier, of those oddly marbled irises of hers locked on mine. Imagining it, a truth that had once seemed so far off was now a reality.
She was transitioning.
“You’re okay?”
“No. Not really,” she answered with a sigh.
Her warmth seeped into my skin and I was aware of the fact that, in the coming days, that heat would fade.
Immediately, I felt an overpowering sense of guilt. I hadn’t made things any easier for her. From the moment she met us at the location she’d chosen in the woods, looking less like a captive and more like a willing participant in some vague scheme, I erected walls between us. My suspicions only deepened when she led us to the estate. No, I didn’t think she intended to lure us into a trap, but I questioned whether she’d done so by being naïve. How was it that she now seemingly had so much faith, so much trust, in the one who’d been the author of her nightmares?
Corina wanted us to trust these circumstances without question, but that wasn’t in our nature. Not when it came to protecting her. Not when it came to … him.
My grip on her hand tightened even more, because I simply needed to be closer. What she needed from me—understanding, trust—I wanted to give her more than anything, but I couldn’t make an empty vow.
So, I made one I hoped we both could live with.
“You owe me nothing, but are you willing to show me?” I asked. “I’d like to understand why you believe in all this, understand why you’ve changed your mind about him. If that happens, I promise to deal with Levi and Si myself.”
It was a lofty promise—wagering that I could convince my brothers to be compliant—but I meant it. If she could help me see that this was all real, I would fix the rest on my own.
She didn’t answer as we came to a stop behind Aaric’s vehicle, seeing Elle, Levi and Silas pulling up behind us. Her silence left me wondering if she, too, now believed it to be a lost cause. Yet, she faced me with those oddly colored eyes, and nodded with a sigh.
“Okay,” she answered, “but you have to agree to toss out everything you’ve believed about this world. Your world in particular.”
My brow quirked with the latter portion of that statement and I didn’t miss the gravity in her tone.
“You have my word,” I vowed.
And, with that, the agreement was made. Corina would have her shot at making me see things from her perspective, and I reserved the right to stick to my beliefs if she failed.
The burden of proof fell on her shoulders.
She released my hand and it wasn’t until then that I turned to see there were two other cars parked in front of the large building where we’d come to a stop. One of which was unmistakably familiar.
Shocked by what I suspected, I didn’t move quickly enough to open Corina’s door, so she exited on her own. Meanwhile, my eyes remained glued to that car. Even after recognizing the driver’s face, I didn’t believe it. Not until I saw her. Decked out in an expensive, black pantsuit and tall heels, the one I thought to be a figment of my imagination was helped from the backseat.
I had once thought my heart incapable of racing, but it did now, as she turned to face me. All doubt was erased then, and I suddenly understood what Corina had meant when she warned that I had to set my prior notions aside.
Even with the warning, I hadn’t expected this.
I exited the car and stood in silence as I was approached. Mother’s arms flung around my neck. Still, there was a disconnect between what my eyes were seeing and what my brain was capable of processing.
“As I’m sure you’ve guessed by now,” she whispered while we embraced, “there is much we need to discuss, Son. However, for now, I’m simply pleased to see you.”
I couldn’t even form words to respond.
As if the day hadn’t already brought enough surprises, the sound of gravel crunching beneath tires drew my attention to another car arriving. Mother’s arms loosened around my neck and, as the new arrival climbed from his vehicle, I laid eyes on a face I hadn’t seen in years. My estranged grandfather, Glenn.
Before passing me without so much as a proper greeting, he gave a nod and what I thought to nearly be a smile. Whatever the case, it was the most he’d interacted with me since around the age of fifteen. At which point he deemed me nothing more than a carbon copy of my father, whom he hated. So, I suppose the acknowledgement was a step in the right direction.
A very small step.
There hadn’t even been time to have a meaningful conversation with my mother, because the large, metal door of the building opened, and we were urged to come inside by another stranger.
I walked toward the entrance in disbelief. What were members of my family doing at a place like this? Conspiring with Aaric, no less.
The moment I was close enough to Corina, I took her hand, torn between my gut telling me to be on guard, but also naturally trusting I wasn’t walking into a trap simply because Corina and my mother were present. There was no other reason to believe stepping into that building was safe.
And yet … I entered anyway.
A penetrating glare from Levi as we crossed the threshold made it clear he hadn’t quite figured out what to make of things either. However, there were too many ears in the room to discuss it.
We were ushered through yet another set of doors, and this time we passed through to a wide-open space where chairs had been arranged all over, town-hall style. And the seats were filled. All one-hundred-plus of them. My instinct was to back out for fear of being recognized and further ridiculed for my recent behavior, but the looks that passed my way conveyed no judgement.
“It’s okay, Son,” Mother said quietly from beside me, placing a hand on my back. I guessed she sensed my hesitance. “They’re all part of the resistance. Just like you are.”
Her statement was perhaps just as jarring as walking into a room full of Ianites, humans, and Roamers all seated amongst one another peacefully. She said I was a part of the resistance, and I suppose before now, I hadn’t quite thought of it that way.
Had I aided Corina and her team? Sure, but I hadn’t considered the motivation behind those actions until now.
I was a part of the resistance.
<
br /> “Please make room for our guests to be seated,” an unfamiliar, human male said from a podium situated at the front of the room.
Those in attendance eagerly moved in closer to one another, until an entire row in the front had been cleared for those of us who had just arrived. You could have heard a pin drop as we filed down the center aisle, and then sat.
The human who had given the order smiled down on us from his post. “Good morning, Empress Westower. Pleasure seeing you again so soon.”
Mother nodded graciously, but didn’t speak. However, it was very clear she was somewhat of a regular here.
“We are beyond elated to have you all here with us today,” the man went on to say, bearing a wide grin beneath his full beard. “When word came in from Aaric a little while ago that the princes and Blackbird would be joining us, you cannot imagine the excitement we shared. To know that not everyone with authority takes their positions lightly. Having your support will take our movement to higher heights.”
I winced hearing Corina’s moniker used openly, but when no one but my brothers and I reacted this way—including Mother and Glenn—I could only imagine her true identity was no longer a secret. They knew exactly who she was, and had allowed her to continue breathing.
Aaric had been standing near the podium, and when his constituent began to gush a bit too much for his liking, he smiled politely and gestured for the man to wrap it up.
“My apologies,” the man uttered quietly, unable to hide his embarrassment. “I can imagine everyone would prefer that we just get on with our business. So, that’s what we’ll do.”
He paused briefly to fumble through a stack of papers, pulling one free.
“It appears the first speaker on our agenda is Empress Westower,” he announced with a smile. At which time a brief applause accompanied mother on the short walk to the podium.
“Thank you.”
The statement left my mother’s mouth with surprising grace, considering I never imagined the day would come when I’d see her addressing a crowd quite like this one. There wasn’t even a hint of pretention in her tone, which was a far cry from the usual. My mother had never worn her crown in secret. She loved playing her role, being wife to the most powerful man on the planet. Only, now, I wondered how much of that could possibly be true, seeing as how she was here. My mind reeled, trying to distinguish truth from lie, real from imagined.