“We have to be realistic about what all of this means. We don’t know where you come from or how you ended up here. You seem to have been designed as a perfect weapon, and we’d be stupid not to recognize that, and prepare against it.”
I flinch, as Silva and Lachlan’s words hit me like a brutal slap across the face.
“Why am I here?” I growl.
Lachlan stares at me as confusion flashes on his face at my question.
“Did you rip me away from the life I built because I’m your blood and I deserve a life filled with family, magic, and love? Or am I fucking here to become whatever weapon you seem to think I am? To be used if possible, and put down if not?”
Once again Lachlan doesn’t answer, and that’s answer enough for me. Any hope I ever had that we could develop any kind of familial relationship shrivels into nothing.
“You’re right Silva. We don’t know what my magic will be like after I come into my full power, but you fail to realize that it will still bemymagic. If any of you would pull your head out of your asses long enough to know anything about me, you’d know that I’m not some heartless, bloodthirsty monster.”
No one says anything, and it stings like the betrayal it is. I scoff at my stupidity. I’m here because they wanted to keep theirpotentialenemy close. It was never about me finding my place as a caster or being wanted. Rage sears my insides as I look at each of them. I would have been better off not being found.
“Fuck you guys.”
I start up the stairs, and someone calls my name and moves to follow me. I call on a throwing knife and fling it at the feet of whichever asshole is behind me. It thunks into the wood and someone yelps in surprise.
“Just trying to live up to my hype," I seethe over my shoulder.
35
Ireach my room and slam the door shut. I close my eyes and lean back against it while I take deep slow breaths and try not to scream. I’m startled when I hear someone approach me, and I find five pairs of eyes filled with concern.
“What are you guys doing in here?” I ask and then clear my throat at the emotion that just leaked through in my voice.
“Being nosy. We thought the best way to get some answers was to ambush you," Valen explains. The playful smile on his face quickly falls away when he takes a closer look at me. “What happened?”
“Well long story short, the elders wanted in on my reading to better assess how much of a threat I might be. Don’t worry though, Lachlan’s coven didn’t allow that to happen.”
I watch as a few of their shoulders relax and then tense up again as I go on.
“Oh, they didn’t keep the elders away for the reasons you’re thinking. They weren’t protecting me. They’re fucking protecting the elders. Big, dangerous, and scary Vinna will be dealt with by the asshole paladin who are supposed to be her coven, so there’s that to be grateful for.”
“Wait, what makes any of them think you’re dangerous, or a threat?” Knox asks just as confused as I was.
“To quote Lachlan--the newest recipient of the shittiest uncle award--they don’t know where I come from, and I’ve beendesignedas the perfect weapon. They all think that because I’m capable, I’m automatically culpable.”
“Fuck that," Bastien snaps.
“Yeah that’s more or less what I said, then I threw a knife at someone who tried to follow me upstairs. Probably not my finest moment.”
I hear several snickers as I walk over to the bed where a white dress, a pouch of herbs, and a glass vile that’s filled with clear liquid sit. I’ve been waiting for this reading and what it will tell me about my magic since I got here, but there’s no excitement about it anymore. All I feel right now is a little broken and a lot pissed off.
The wood box containing Laiken’s ashes catches my eye, and I stare at it and berate myself. Why am I so hurt by this? I should fucking know better by now. I followed perfect strangers to the middle of nowhere out of sheer desperation. Should I really be shocked that this is how it turned out? I take in the details of Laiken’s box, and a decision cements itself in my mind. I’ll get through this reading, and then I’m done with the paladin.
I can tell that the guys want to say or do something that will make all of this better for me somehow, but everyone stays silent, understanding that the damage has been done. I pick up the white dress that’s laid out and throw it over my elbow. Grasping the pouch of herbs and the corked bottle I head into the bathroom to get ready for my reading.
* * *
An hour later I step into the dress. It’s white, long, and flowy. The top part is a halter that ties around my neck and fits snugly against my chest and sides. There isn’t a back, and the waist drops low on my hips. The accordion-esque fabric starts just above the crack of my ass and flows nicely over my curves to the ground.
I’ve used my magic to style big loose curls into my hair, and I’ve parted it to the side. I grab what’s left of the contents of the stoppered glass vile, and open the door that separates the bathroom from the bedroom.
“Knox, can you put some of this on the middle of my back. I’m not sure if I reached everything.”
My voice trails off, as I stare at the five gorgeous men in front of me decked out in white from head to toe. They’re all in identical white linen tunics with fitted pants in the same material. The clothing has an old and otherworldly look about it, and a mixture of heat and awe fills me as I take the guys in.
