Page 43 of Wicked Heirs

“Xavier,” I breathed.

He was sporting his usual down-to-earth casual look in a brown leather jacket with a gray hoodie beneath that matched his jeans. His layered brown hair was a little wilder than normal and his espresso eyes were glinting from my magic in the darkness.

“I didn’t mean to scare you. I scented you while I was walking about out here and I just wanted to make sure you were okay out so late.” He gestured at my magical creation. “Now I can see that you’re absolutely fine—in more ways than one.”

“It’s just a magical model. No big deal.”

“It is for you.” He sauntered closer. “My father told me about these magical models of yours, that it was a way for you to perfect your control over your magic. He actually was so impressed with the method you’d developed on your own that he had me craft a couple myself.”

“Wow, that’s—”

“Comforting that we share that connection?”

I smiled. “Yeah.”

“I know. It is for me too. And I’m sorry I couldn’t admit to that when you so bravely put yourself out there to come to me and try to strike up a friendship.”

“I get it. It’s complicated for you with those two dickheads being your best friends.”

He chuckled. “Dickheads,yeah, they can be.”

“You know, it didn’t escape my notice that you sent me on a roundabout route to my classes a couple of times.”

“About that, I was just—”

“Sending me out of harm’s way? You’d gotten word that Talon and Orpheus were lying in wait and planning to come at me in some way or another?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Youhave nothing to be sorry for. I actually thank you for going out of your way to do that for me, and for stopping that fire in ourFoundations of Spellcastingclass.”

“Well, you didn’t deserve any of that. Your mother doesn’t deserve their hate either.”

“A lot happened during theCataclysm, things that weren’t ideal. I get people being upset and even some—like Orpheus—putting the blame on her. After all, with Constantine Vale dealt with, she was the only one left.”

“Aside from my father. He got away without any blame because ofSabre Tech, how much us supernatural beings need and depend on his products.”

“I think my mom took the full blame because she’s a bit of a martyr. You know, angel complex and all that?”

He smiled at my attempt at humor. It wasn’t exactly something I was known for. I was the brash and straight to the point type, not the joker type. Once in a while I could bring it though.

“It might’ve been more than a martyr situation. She cares for my father a great deal.”

“It’s definitely mutual. He was there for her a lot when we lost my dad.”

“The number of times he was over at your estate and he couldn’t have once brought me along, huh?”

“It was my mom not wanting me to mix with any other supernatural beings until she’d deemed me ready. With my power potential, she was afraid I would hurt someone until I’d mastered my abilities and learned control. Elliot Sabre was the exception because of how insanely powerful he is. He’s probably the only being alive who could survive against my mom or me if we lost control.” I lifted my shoulder. “Not that she would. She’s pretty damn infallible, honestly.”

“No one is. And don’t sell yourself short.” He gestured at my castle. “May I?”

“Sure.”

He walked past me and I noticed that he went really wide, avoiding getting close to me at all.

He studied my castle, looking at all the intricate details of the sparkling gold.

“This is incredible.”

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