SAY IT AGAIN

ERYX

After dinner, I head to my room and take a shower. I change into gray sweatpants and pair them with a sleeveless jersey top. Vesper loves saying I wear these just to show off my abs and perfect muscles. I've heard it so many times that I don't even bother reacting anymore. I hardly wear anything complicated. I like keeping things simple and comfortable.

I settle behind my study desk and turn on my laptop. The screen illuminates my face. Then it happens again. Velora's face flashes through my mind. I stare at the screen, but the words in front of me barely register. I can't concentrate. All I can think about is her. Her scent. Her eyes. The way she looked at me. The memory of her scent still sits in the back of my throat. I want to go back. The pull is constant, restless, and it’s starting to fray every edge of my control.

The chair scrapes against the tile as I abruptly stand. Maybe I made a mistake. Maybe I shouldn't have held back. Maybe I should have claimed her when she was burning and already reaching for me. Maybe holding back was the real failure.

Magnus had been ready. And truly, I had been ready too. One mark, one decision, and the bond would have been sealed. Instead I walked away and left her there, still unprotected, still surrounded by people who treat her like she doesn’t matter.

I pace the room, one hand resting on my hip, forcing the thoughts into some kind of order before they take over completely.

My phone lights up on the desk. I glance at the screen from where I stand. Vesper. I walk back and pick it up before answering.

“You've got ten seconds.”

“Eryx, you seriously need to stop talking to people like that.”

“Ten seconds, Vesper. Talk.”

He sighs. “Anyway, I've done some digging on the girl.”

I lean against the desk.

“Her name is Velora Mayes of Hollowfang.”

“Skip.”

He pauses. “Fine. She's the invisible daughter of the Mayes.”

I frown. “Invincible?”

“Exactly. Nobody seems to know she exists. Not at school. Not in the pack. It's like the family deliberately kept her out of sight.”

I straighten. Something cold and sharp cuts straight through me. So she's really a Mayes. It explains everything. Aveline and I grew up in the same circles. Our families have known each other for years. I sat at their tables many times. I attended their gatherings. And somehow an entire daughter was erased from every conversation, every introduction, every memory. They hid her so completely that even I never knew she existed, until….

The thought sits heavy and ugly in my chest. How long has she been living like that? How long has she been treated as something to be kept out of sight?

“Is Kevin really her father?” I slide one hand into my pocket, waiting for his answer.

“Why don't you come over and we continue this conversation?”

I narrow my eyes. “Vesper.”

“Remember Ross?”

I say nothing.

“Dude's hosting some sort of party tonight. It's been forever since we've actually had some fun.”

“You have too much free time.” I glance at my laptop. “I should give you more work.”

He laughs. “Anyway, I'll send you the address. Come over if you need me.”

I don't respond.

“And one last thing, man.” I hear the grin in his voice. “Live a little. We're fucking twenty. You can't blame me for wanting a little fun.”

The call ends before I can answer. I stare at the phone. My jaw clenches. A party is the last thing on my mind. Not when Velora is somewhere out there. And not when I still have no idea why my instincts are screaming that she's in danger.

***

VELORA

Dinner is served in my room, just as Father instructed. Rose waits until I've finished before instructing a maid to clear the dishes.

I barely eat. Every bite sits heavy in my stomach. Part of me is still waiting for the first sign that something is wrong. Maybe a strange taste, a sudden wave of dizziness, anything that means the food had been poisoned.

“Do you feel better now?” she asks calmly.

I nod. “Yes. Thank you, Rose.”

She gives me a sweet smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Alright. I'll let you rest.”

I nod again. On a normal day, I'd still be downstairs helping with the dishes or scrubbing the kitchen floor. Sometimes, I'd end up going to bed past midnight. But tonight, everything feels different. It's almost like a miracle. And miracles in this house have always come with a price.

A knock sounds on the door before Rose can take another step. She turns toward it. Aveline walks into view, completely dolled up in heavy makeup and a short, expensive-looking dress. My eyes travel over her from head to toe before I quickly look away, as if I’m already dismissed.

“Mother, can I use the red car?”

She doesn't spare me a glance.

Rose sighs. “Isn't it a little too late for a party?”

Aveline frowns. “It's only nine, Mother.” She adjusts her hair in the mirror. “After everything that happened tonight, I deserve to at least clear my head.”

Her eyes finally find mine. The glare she gives me is enough to make my stomach tighten. Then she looks away.

Rose studies her daughter for a moment. “You're still upset about Eryx?”

Aveline's expression hardens. “I'm not going to sit in my room and cry over him.” She holds out her hand. “I just need to get out.”

Rose hesitates. Then she sighs and holds out the keys. “Don't stay out too late.”

Aveline snatches them from her hand. “I won't.”

She turns toward the door. Then stops. Her eyes slide toward me again. For a second, something cold flashes across her face.

“Actually…” She smiles, the anger disappearing from her face and something almost amused replaces it, her voice soft and precise. “You really don't know, do you?”

My brows pull together. “Know what?”

She glances at Rose. Then she leans closer, lowering her voice so quietly that only I can hear her, she adds, “Why do you think Mother hates talking about Gemma?”

I freeze. Gemma? My mother? Before I can ask what she means, Aveline straightens and smiles innocently. “Goodnight, Big V.” Then she walks away.

The door clicks shut. The room feels colder than it did a moment ago. Rose is still standing there, watching me with that same careful, sweet expression, but all I can hear is Aveline’s voice repeating in my head.

My mother.

Whatever they know about her. Whatever they’ve been hiding, Aveline just made sure I understood one thing: it is not something they ever intended me to learn. And the fact that she chose tonight, of all nights, to say it again only makes the dread sit heavier in my chest.