It’d been years since I ran into someone who’d known any of my parents. Zephyr and I had left the Capitol after the massacre, moving to the smaller atoll where we now had our café. It was only ever when I ventured to the other islands that I found someone who might’ve known our parents.
“I’m sorry to have bothered you,” his voice was a harsh whisper. He was rattled, his eyes taking on a glassy sheen like he was fighting tears. He ran a hand over his jaw, his skin ashen, his expression a little lost. “I’m so sorry.” He looked at me one more time, his eyes tracing over my every feature as if he were trying to memorize it.
I gave him another tight smile before I felt a prickle of awareness at the edge of my mind. I glanced over my shoulder, looking for Aiden or even Rafe, but neither of them were close. Even in his shadow form, I would’ve felt Rafe. I furrowed my brow before I turned back to the man, who was slowly backing away from me, gaze still locked on my face.
“Avery,” he said, slightly breathless. “That’s my name. Maybe…Nevermind. I’m so sorry.”
He disappeared into the crowd, looking like he was ready to pass out.
I chewed my lip. That was weird, but it was possible some of my parents’ friends still didn’t know they’d died. Especially if they weren’t from the islands. And if he was here for this cult gathering, it was a good thing he’d left me alone, anyway.
My phone buzzed with a message reminder, and I looked down to see it was a message from Aiden with a location pin.
Aiden
Come get me, baby. I have a not so nice surprise for you
Chapter 16
Wyatt
Dad
I saw you on the news with the Prince again. I’ll call Alex if I have to
Willow wants to see you
I grimaced.
If Willow wanted to see me, she’d have texted me herself. Or called incessantly. Chances were that she hadn’t actually mentioned anything about me, my dad just liked to guilt trip me about her.
Unfortunately, that was pretty easy to do. I wasn’t the best brother.
I wasn’t a great son either, now that I thought about it. I groaned before scrolling through my shopping apps, trying to find something for my mom. As usual, I’d completely forgotten about the holidays. I hadn’t been home to see her in a while. I’d gone to the Palace with Rafe the last two breaks.
I definitely wasn’t going to my father’s house if I could help it. His attempts to get me home now were related to Skye being my Key, I just knew it.
My father scared me.
Even the people he kept as friends scared me. Minus Rafe’s dad, ofcourse. But the day I’d defended Rafe against his father was the day I became truly afraid of mine.
It was odd, really. I’d been wanting my father’s approval for such a long time. I just never realized what I’d have to do to get it.
The day I’d defended Rafe, I’d been in a Palace dungeon for all of ten minutes before my father was there to free me, because of course my scary dad knew the ins and outs of the Palace dungeon. Rafe’s mom never would have let me stay locked up for long, but my father couldn’t resist coming to my aid.
When my mother found out what I’d done, she didn’t speak to me for a year.
My father tried speaking to me every day.
My mother was horrified.
My father wasimpressed. Maybe even awestruck.
He’d been disappointed initially when we learned I’d only be a Link, but after I attacked Alejandro, he’d become slightly obsessed with whoever I’d been fated to.
I was powerful. That meant my Key had to be powerful. And after connecting, we’d be evenmorepowerful together. I was already stronger than anyone in my family before me, and yet he wanted me to domore.
I worried what his plans were. I worried that he’d threaten Willow or her mother to get me to comply with what he wanted. I quickly reminded myself that he hadn’t actually done anything like that before, so I had no reason to think it now, but I’d never been good at self-soothing. The anxiety remained.
