Page 65 of Destruction of Two
My mother wraps me up in a surprisingly tight hug for an aging human woman. She smells distinctly like written words on paper. Like books. She’s still coddling me against her when heavenly wings and a sinful gaze passes Phoenix.
My mother’s eyes widen, her mouth opening with shock as her attention settles on Syko’s pure white wings.
I can’t help it when my lips part with a sudden breath. Syko’s here. He actually showed up.
... and Izzy didn’t.
That fucktacular feeling in the pit of my stomach churns bile like it’s preparing for sickness and heartache all at the same time.
My lashes brush my cheekbone and I try to breathe through all the shitty feelings attacking my body.
Phoenix doesn’t know how lucky he’s had it to miss out on things like scrambling anxiety.
How did I fuck things up so monumentally with Izzy and not even realize it? I can’t lose her. I fucking can’t!
“Sister Tilly?” a small voice whispers from nearby.
My eyes open, and the closest thing to an actual angel as I’ve ever seen stands in the center of the room.
Izara Castillo.
The tired remains of the blood in my veins rushes my heart so fast I swear it beats for her.
My mother shifts, the long black fabric of her habit swooshing over the tile floor delicately. The excited inquiring way my mother looks at my girlfriend is the opposite of how my father is idly judging the petite girl in front of him.
“Professor Shade told me you’d just arrived, and I rushed here as soon as I could,” Izzy says with a small smile.
Professor Shade?
Why is that asshole always lingering in her life? When everyone leaves, we’re all going to have alongtalk.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” my mother asks.
My palm smooths along my mother’s back and I can’t take my eyes off of Izzy as I guide the woman at my side closer.
I’ve never in my life done this before.
“Mom, this is my girlfriend, Izara.”
Have I even called her that out loud? Why am I so fucking happy right now over introducing someone? Jesus I need to calm down before I drop to one knee and ask to take her hand in unholy matrimony.
Izzy’s wide smile matches mine though. Maybe I’m not the only one irrationally happy right now. Maybe I didn’t screw everything up.
“Izara, what a pretty name. Is he being kind to you? My Saint can be a bit misunderstood sometimes.” My mother’s statement is followed by an annoying snorting sound from my quiet twin behind me.
I arch an eyebrow at her. “Where’s Sasha, Heaven?” I ask flatly, pointedly, and yes, lowly.
The scowl my sister gives me is one she’s thrown my way for decades now.
Love you too, Sis.
“Who is Sasha?” The even tone my father speaks in hides his intent well but I know by the time he walks out the door the Vampiric Citadel will already know everything about Sasha down to the color of underwear her great great grandmother was buried in.
Thorough. My father is nothing if not thorough.
“No one, father,” Heaven doesn’t smile. She isn’t like me in that aspect. She doesn’t hide her lies behind smirks and sarcasm. When it comes to dear sweet daddy, she’s all serious respect. Which is why she’s the favorite.
My mother turns to my twin and instead of crushing her against her like she did me, she takes her hand in hers and I can feel the distance between the two women.
