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 ismyKey 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.
Chapter 48
Aiden
“Holy shit,”I said, blinking at the empty spot where Alejandro had been. “Where’d he go?”
Even Wyatt looked stunned, staring at the same empty patch of floor while Rafe sauntered over to Skye, then promptly tried making out with her.
She kissed him back for a few seconds, then pushed him off with her affinity. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes a little wild as she looked to me in disbelief.
Rafe furrowed his brow, looking thoughtful as he considered my question. “Hopefully his office.”
“You don’t know?” Skye asked breathlessly, her chest still heaving.
Rafe grinned, attempting to pull her close again, and Skye’s back arched as she tried to lean away from him. Her squirming was making the t-shirt ride up her bare thighs, and I was beginning to think that was Rafe’s goal. “Ihopeit’s his office. I’ve never tried using the shadows as a portal before, but I saw it in one of those old-ass books you’ve been reading.”
Skye’s eyebrows shot to her hairline, and her hands stilled on his chest.
“You’ve been reading my books?” she asked, her voice sweet.
“Rafe,” Wyatt said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I know,” Rafe said, suddenly sober, letting Skye slip from his grasp. A shadow twirled around her leg as she stepped away. “Wyatt, did you file the Chain paperwork?”
“Of course not,” he snapped.
I cleared my throat. “I did.” Wyatt and Rafe both groaned, and I continued on quickly, “It was just me and Skye, though. I wanted to get away from my parents. Is that a prob–”
