“I’m not actually your brother.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Is this your pathetic way to get out of this?” His fucking nerve.
“I’m only telling you what I know.”
“And what is that?” I snapped.
“That the Fates convinced my aunt and father to alter their memories, making them believe I was his nephew and she my mother,” Jaxon spat, his words dripping with venom. “That my brother isn't actually my brother but my cousin.”
“Sounds convenient,” I hissed, and Jaxon snarled.
“It's all here in this fucking letter.”
My temper flared. We didn’t have time for whatever lies he was trying to spew. We would be discovered soon, and we needed to end this. Now.
“Read it then,” he snapped, and on a gust of wind, the parchment flew toward me.
With a flick of my palm, the parchment ignited, and Jaxon lunged forward, but it was already ash. A barking laugh escaped my lips, and it sounded just as deranged and cruel as Morgana’s.
“All my life, brother, I've been tricked, poisoned, experimented on, and cut open. And you're trying to convince me.Tell me. That you get a happy ending while I'm destined to be the sacrifice, the martyr. Where's my happy ending? My happy anything?!”
Light shot from my palms, and I was ready for this to be over. I was tired. So, fucking tired. Bright, hot light speared for his chest, and I saw his eyes blow wide as he shadowed out of its path, appearing a few feet to his right. I shot again and again.
Jaxon moved each time, avoiding my blast. His angry growl reverberated through the air, echoing off the trees. “Have it your way then.”
Jaxon appeared in front of me, tackling me to the ground.
I roared, but the grip he had on my arms as he tackled me prevented me from stabbing him with my dagger. A grunt of surprise tore from his lips as he was thrown backward.
Lex loomed over me, glaring down as Jaxon plummeted through the air, branches and limbs snapping as his body crashed through them.
No, what was he doing here?!
“Get up,” Lex ordered, and he pulled me up beside him. “What is he doing here, Lana?”
Jaxon rolled to his feet, confusion etched across his face as he took in Lex, who was now standing in front of me, snarling. Movement to my left had me spinning, but it was only Rasha,appearing through the dense trees, her large yellow gaze fixed on Jaxon.
“Did she tell you?” Jaxon demanded, and Lex clenched his fists at his sides.
“Tell me what?” Lex eyed me but kept his full attention on Jaxon.
“Nothing,” I interjected, but I could feel Lex's suspicion.
He wasn't supposed to be here yet…not before…
Lex slammed into the icy barrier between our bond, trying to break through, and I flinched, my eyes burning with betrayal as I kept it tightly shut.
“What is he talking about, Lana?” Lex questioned, his focus still on Jaxon.
“I told you, it is nothing,” I breathed, trying to think, to plan.
Vines shot up around Jaxon as I held him in place, and he cursed, fighting to break free.
Lex turned to me sharply. “Why won't you let me in, Lana? You have kept me out for days now. Something is clearly going on. Tell me,” Lex snapped, but I could feel his pleading through the bond despite it being shut. Powerful emotions had a way of doing that.
Jaxon tore out of the vines and took a step forward, but Rasha let out a menacing growl, making him pause.
“Tell him, Lana,” Jaxon yelled, and I shot him a glare. He simply crossed his arms, and I could tell he wasn’t going to try to advance again. Not yet.
