“I want you to know that I don’t personally hold you responsible,” he said and I flinched.
“For what?” I asked, bracing myself for the bird to be an actual omen of death.
He looked at the bird warily again.
“Your mother—”
“I don’t call her that. I never knew her,” I corrected and he nodded.
“Fair enough. Marissa Bane murdered Ariyon’s and my parents,” he said matter-of-factly and it felt like the floor fell out beneath me.
“Wh—what?” No wonder Ariyon hated me! My birth mother killed his parents!
He nodded. “And your m—Marissa had a familiar”—he glared at the bird— “who was the one who killed my father in the attack.”
I reached up then and grasped the bird tightly in my hands, pinning him to the table as rage washed over me.
Ayden released my hand, looking shocked at my sudden outburst.
“Is that true?” I growled at the bird, pinning him by the neck to the table.
His little black eyes flew wide with panic. ‘How should I know, I’m not your mother’s familiar! Though Claudius did have a temper.’
“It wasn’t him!” Ayden blurted and I released the raven. Yanric stood and shook his feathers, glaring at me.
“Marissa’s familiar was a poisonous snake.”
I looked at the raven again and winced. “Sorry.”
He ruffled his feathers a final time. ‘It’s all right. You clearly weren’t raised with manners.’
I turned to face the prince. “Listen, I’m so sorry for any part that Marissa had in the loss of your parents. Truly I am,” I told him and he nodded.
I looked at Yanric. “And I’m sorry if this bird reminds you of how your father died. I’ll try to get rid of him.”
‘You can’t,’Yanric said at the same time Ayden said, “You can’t.”
I sighed. “Please explain.”
Ayden squinted at Yanric. “As an heir to the House of Ash and Shadow, you have a familiar. A familiar is only something that your house has. They are dark creatures that can turn to shadow and carry powerful magic. And they are tied to their chosen heir for life.”
‘It’s true.’Yanric puffed his chest up. ‘At your service.’He bowed deeply again and I glared at him.
“You are relieved from duty. Nowgo,” I told him.
The bell had rung a long time ago and we were going to be late, but this seemed important.
‘I will do no such thing. I am an extension of you and I’ve been searching for you for seventeen years. I will only leave you in death,’Yanric pledged.
I sighed. “Thanks for explaining that to me. I guess it is what it is?”
Ayden nodded, giving me a small smile. “Nothing you can do about it.”
“We should get to class.” I grabbed my three giant books.
Ayden dipped his chin in agreement and stood.
As I followed him, with my bird familiar hot on our trail, I wanted the Light to reach down and swallow me up forever. The first day of school officially sucked.
