Page 34 of Hopeless Sacrifice
“Jaylee, gather everyone downstairs. If the upstairs guests are busy and unwilling to stop … ” A pause lingers on Lady Ivory’s tongue. “Bang on the door and tell them you think there’s been a minor outbreak of syphidia.”
I arch a brow.
“Yeah, that might get their attention.” My mumbled words go unnoticed.
Once Jaylee’s footsteps fade away, I turn my attention back to my aunt.
“There’s a war coming.” Is that the best way I should be starting this conversation? Her lips part as her brows pull together. “Creatures, violent creatures, will be coming in from the coast of Juvar.” The image of their claws shredding through my leather boots and flesh rips through my thoughts.
“When?”
I feel helpless. Power broods within me and still I feel like I’m fumbling to save the ones I love.
“I don’t know.” It’s a worthless answer. Not even an answer at all. “Soon, as soon as they can cross the sea. Within a day at most. I’ve brought help from the Hopeless realm but it isn’t safe here. Get a bag packed and take these people as far west as you can go.”
Her small palm runs down my arm, lingering against the inky Hopeless mark on the inside of my wrist.
She’s never seen me as a fae. And yet, she doesn’t question it.
Maybe she’s always known.
“This is our home. Your father built me this house.” She swallows hard as she looks back at the few women sitting in the dimly lit living room. They speak in quiet, murmuring tones but their eyes shift to me every few moments.
The warmth of the house starts to sink into me but it isn’t enough. A shiver chills my skin.
“It’s just a house, Ivory.” I never knew my father built her this house. The memories she has of him as her brother must outnumber the few memories I have of him as my father. Does she cling to those memories the way I do mine?
“I’ll get them ready, but I’m not leaving.” Her long hair sways as she tips her head up with refusal.
“Ivory …Celeste… ” I breathe out her real name. One I’ve never actually used. It’s what my father used to call her. Before she was an escort. “You can’t stay here. He wouldn’t want you to stay here.”
Her gaze levels me. The look reminds me that she’s the only person I care about in this realm. She’s the only person I want to save and she’s the only person who’s going to be a pain in my ass about it.
“He wouldn’t want me to leave you either.” And she never has. She’s always been here for me.
A mother when I didn’t have one. A parent when there wasn’t one. A friend when I needed one.
She’s not going to leave me no matter how hard I try.
“If they come,”when.When they come is the proper word, “I need you to stay in the cellar. Don’t open it for anyone. Will you promise to do that?”
A smile almost pulls at the corner of her thin lips.
“Of course.” She swallows before a real smile forms against her beautiful features. “If you promise never to use that name for me ever again.” I breathe out a smirk and she turns from me before I can even reply.
In low, hushed tones she instructs the three women who are sitting with perfect posture on the swooping settee against the living room wall. The small couch makes them look more delicate. Breakable.
I exhale a heavy breath and turn back to run out into the rain. My chest hits hard against Streven’s and he looks down at me with a piercing gaze.
Something about him gets under my skin. A petty part of my mind wonders if it’s because he’s so close to Darrio. Or maybe it’s just because he called me out when I wanted him to accept me. Darrio trusts him entirely.
I should too.
“Sorry,” I say stiffly, stepping back from him with tension filling my spine.
“The village is packing up as we speak.”
My eyes narrow on him despite how impressed I am.
