Page 45 of A Spark in the Ash

"You really want him to be the miserable, moping mess he was for the first year after he and Carly broke up?" Chantel asks. "No thanks."

It's not acceptance from his siblings. But do I really need that? No. At least this feels like a bit of a truce.

"Well, I am excited to throw your wedding party," Vivian says. She attempts to give a smile, but there's something…off about it. I guess that's what happens when you have embraced the dusk. "We have quite the guest list building. I've had the grand ballroom on hold for the past two weeks. My bank account will be pleased that it's finally happening. I hope you two are ready for a multitude of congratulations."

I always imagined the life of a criminal family to be an isolated, lonely one. I'm realizing that maybe I was wrong about that.

"We look forward to it," Jaxon says. He rises from the couch, reaches his hand down for me and helps me to my feet. "We'll be back later for dinner, okay?"

Vivian stands and nods. "We will get the whole family together. I know they are all anxious to get to know their sister-in-law better."

Jaxon nods, and suddenly I'm nervous. "We'll be back at six."

Just then, the door to the penthouse slams open. The room gets even fuller as Griff, Scarlett, and Aaron come barreling inside.

It all happens again.

Jaxon's eyes widen with rage and panic. His hands flash brilliantly hot. Everything in his body stiffens.

"We found them," Griff says. His voice is filled with adrenaline. "The guy that killed AJ."

"We have to go now," Scarlett says. "He's at home, and he's asleep. If we wait, it might take us another month to find him again."

Jaxon is burning. I look down and find light splintering over his hand again. I step closer, trying to block out the view of it. But thankfully, the attention has finally shifted away from Jaxon.

It's kind of beautiful actually, the unspoken and immediate call to arms. Blake and Chantel, and Vivian all rise and go to the closet just behind the front door. They pull it open, and there, I see an entire arsenal.

They load up. They strap guns to their bodies. They tuck knives into their belts.

I look at Jaxon again. His pupils are huge, his eyes wide open.

This isn't about Vivian. He had gained control. And then he lost it the second three of his other siblings walked in the door.

Vivian is not the only member in his family that is possessed.

He didn't react to Scarlett when we met her at the elevator. So, it has to be either Griff or Aaron.

Great.

"Jaxon!" Blake barks. "You can't get out of this one. AJ was with you when it happened. Don't you dare step out on us at a time like this."

Jaxon stands there on the balls of his feet. This is complicated in more ways than one. It's not simply about him reining in control when he’s surrounded by two family members that are possessed. This is about him remaking himself. This is about not being controlled by the choices of his mother, and the life she has built around them all.

I know how this night ends. And that is with the death of the man who killed their youngest brother.

Jaxon has only ever killed one person in his whole life. Does that number go up to two tonight?

Is that what he wants?

There's a faraway look in his eyes. I can see the internal debate going on inside of him.

In the end, he rolls his hands into fists. I watch darkness overtake the light in his eyes. I see his jaw tighten.

His eyes shift over to me. "Wait here, Serena," he says as he turns and walks to the closet. He arms himself, just like the rest of his family. "I'll be back later."

The others file to the door and stalk out of here like they're going to war.

I stand there, stunned. Too much is happening, it's too fast. There are too many implications that will follow.

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