Page 44 of Desolation
Oh fuck.
They look otherworldly.
Of course, my guys have to outdo everyone in the looks department, even fucking Fae, it seems.
Putting the thought out of my head, I sit on the edge of my bed, uncertain of how to greet them or if I should speak first. They filter into the small sitting area and deposit themselves where they can. The twins lounge on the couch, Ash on the chair, which leaves Zedd on the floor. Hale stays by me, hovering and not taking a seat.
Playing with my fingernails, I sneak glances at each of their faces, trying to get a read on them. They look like zombies, beautiful zombies, but still. It’s freaking me the fuck out. Maybe I need to get my apology out there quickly so I can figure out how to make this better.
Taking a deep breath, I start in a rush, “Listen, guys, I owe you all a huge apology. The way I treated every single one of you was out of line. I understand why you don’t want to look at me. I’m disgusted with myself right now for the way I acted. We all lost our mom and I know this will be a big change in our lives. We will get through this together though, I hope.” I finish lamely, staring at the floor, ashamed that I’m now offering to support us in getting through this when I put them down so horribly yesterday.
I can’t bring myself to look at them, the betrayal and sadness likely painted on their faces.
“Lana,” Zedd says. “We didn’t come here to discuss that right now. When we went to our rooms tonight, something happened to each of us and we thought you and Hale should know, in case it happened to you as well.”
I groan aloud and facepalm. Once again, I rushed into an apology without waiting to see what the conversation is actually about.Foot, meet mouth.
“Explain,” Hale clips out, looking at Zedd.
Zedd’s eyes widen and he looks around the room nervously, gulping and almost obsessively looking back at Ash. The poor guy looks like he might vomit.
“What he’s trying to say is,” Leo interjects, saving Zedd from the pressure. “We think we all have some form of magic power or that we might be losing our fucking minds.”
Welcome to the fucking party, boys. We’re all a little mad around here, apparently.
I can’t help but laugh out loud at the Mad Hatter reference my mind supplies and the guys all shared worried glances at my reaction.
You look like you belong in a straitjacket in the looney bin. Pull it together.
Struggling to contain my giggle at both that fucking awesome joke and the comical looks on their faces, I manage to get out, “I’m laughing at a joke I made in my head. Not you guys.”
Everyone facepalms.
Really, this shouldn’t have surprised anyone. I’m still the funniest person I know. That hasn’t changed.
“My Queen,” Luke says, worried, “We’re being serious right now.”
Oh, they don’t think I believe them about the magic. But yay for the nickname being used again—that’s a positive sign for me.
I wave them off like it’s just another Wednesday, trying not to freak them out any further and like they really should’ve caught up by now. “Oh guys, I know about the magic. I believe you. Gaia turned out to be a real Goddess and she visited me in my dreams as Hale carried me over here. I was going to tell you about it after you’d had a chance to rest.”
A startled cough comes from Ash. “I’m sorry. The fuck did you just say?”
One more time—louder, for the people in the back.
I roll my eyes. “Isaidthat Gaia is real and she visited—”
“My ears aren’t fucking broken. I meant explain what you said.”
I scowl at him.Rude.He’s lucky I still feel bad for what I said to him earlier or there would be no answer until he changed his tone of voice with me.
“Well maybe you should have worded your question differently then, huh? I’m going to repeat what happened when I lost consciousness to now and I don’t want any questions until I’m done. Got it?”
I give them all a stern look, daring them to interrupt my epic storytelling. Dazed faces nod back at me, probably wondering ifthey’recrazy or ifI’mcrazy.
Surprise, motherfuckers. We’re all crazy now.
After sharing my experience with Gaia in the dream realm, which happens to be a memory from the Fae realm, my tongue is dry as desert sand from the constant talking. I explained everything Gaia had told me—the rebirth, the dark Fae on our Earth, and Beth’s role in it all.
