Page 81 of Wicked Heirs

I’d managed to make the distinction between her and her mother, to move beyond all that, and I didn’t want anything dragging it all back.

And there was also the matter of the personal aspect attached to it. I’d have to reveal that along with the rest and then she’d see deeper into me than I was ready for at this juncture. She’d see vulnerability from me. I didn’t do that. I didn’t reveal anything that even came close to being classed as a weakness. Especially not at this early stage with someone. My boys were the exception, but we had grown close for a long time before I’d even been able to let my guard down slightly.

I’d already given Alena a little bit of that when I’d droppedObsidian’stargeting of her. It had shown her that I’d been affected by her. Anymore right now didn’t sit right with me.

I gritted my teeth as I watched Alena throw her head back in genuine and utter carefree laughter in response to something that Xavier had just told her.

I watched as he made a theatrical hand gesture that Elliot Sabre was known for, one of his signature moves when he was performing magic, and it had Alena laughing again and Xavier joining her when she responded with one of her own. Well, it wasn’t one of her gestures when she performed a spell, I’d seen hers for myself already. No, it had to be her mother’s.

I was well aware that their parents were familiars.

So X was drawing on that bond right now between them.

Something I didn’t share with her, that I couldn’t because of who my father was.

Even Tal had a bond to her from the past, one he was aware of now—her attempting to save his parents.

Mine wasn’t a bond and the thing itself was immersed in nothing but hatred.

Not the greatest foundation to build something on.

And if I told her about it, that would be exactly what it would become.

But if I didn’t, she’d keep blowing me off and keeping me at a distance.

Motherfuck,it was a quandary and a half.

There was a positive side to it, though.

She wouldn’t be pushing this if she hadn’t wanted to get closer to me, which suggested that the night we’d spent together had gotten under her skin as much as it had mine.

I looked to see Alena handing her hot chocolate topped with a ton of whipped cream and multicolored marshmallows over to Xavier. He took it easily—he had a bit of a sweet tooth aswell, when it came to those sublimating Red Vines of his. He surprised me as he took a sip, then ran his tongue over his lips, savoring it while locking eyes with her. He was flirtingandeven doing a little more than that. Alena’s eyes lit up as she got the message—he was opening up to her a little from his sexually-repressed standpoint.

It was much faster than I’d anticipated.

Then again, she did bring that need out in a man.

Fuck,did she.

Or maybe it was justuswith the whole allure of darkness that the four of us shared. We were namedObsidianfor a reason and she had her deep issues with the dark that she’d expressed to me in no uncertain terms. That could be what was drawing us together, the thing that was predominantly behind the pull we felt toward one another.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to see a text.

Talon:How’s your afternoon working out?

What?Since when did he check in on me like this?

Orpheus:You angling for a taste of my cock?

It had been a while. I just hadn’t felt so inclined. It was all Alena’s fault, getting inside my head and entrenching herself there.

Talon:Nah, took care of it myself. Rain check?

Orpheus:What’s going on?

Talon:Nothing. Why?

Orpheus:As soon as I mention it, you jump right on it. No matter where or when. Quite literally sometimes.

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