Page 27 of Tye

I could only imagine the articles should my birth become general knowledge. Ice’s fans would tear me apart. An inbred nobody with their precious star. I’d logged onto several fan sites and read the comments there with amusement. Ice was called broody, gorgeous, desirable, and panty-dropping hot. The fans’ words amused me. Though there were some I thought were concerning. I had started to read them when Ice had surprised me at the rink.

Tucking the thick duvet around me, I pulled them back up on my phone.

The not-so-nice ones ranged from mildly disturbing to damn right worrying. They started with remarks about the possibility of him being raped on the streets, these had started soon after Carmine’s revelations. They went on to claims of wanting to pay Ice to fuck him like a prostitute and attacking and fucking him. Some were really sickening, and I could see they’d been reported, but they were still out there for everyone to read.

It was awful to think that there were people like that out there. Trolls were an everyday thing, but some of those comments seemed like threats. Worse, some had even described in detail their sickening fantasies. How easy it was for them hiding behind a screen and keyboard. None of them would have the balls to say it to Ice’s face. Fuckin’ keyboard warriors.

I closed the fan site down and hoped Ice read none of that. It was destructive and damaging. With a yawn, I put my phone down and snuggled down into the mattress. My bed at home was comfortable, but this was sheer luxury. I’d learned a lot tonight, not just about Ice but about the Michaelsons as a whole.Naturally, I’d know who Phoenix Michaelson was, but I hadn’t known much about her kids. They’d never interested me.

But holy crap. A car designer, ice hockey player, baseball player, blacksmith, model, and actress, the Michaelsons were making a name for themselves. Two others helped run The Trusts, and one was an amateur kickboxer while another was heading for the NFL. The talent in the family was outstanding, but they had the money to develop it. If they’d been everyday Joes, I don’t think they would have achieved the same. Then again, who was I to say differently?

Finally, my eyes closed, and I drifted off to sleep. But my last thought was of Ice’s smile as we danced together on the ice.

???

There was something in my bed.

It was running across my toes.

I opened my eyes as my body stiffened, and something once more tickled my foot. What the hell? A tongue flickered against my big toe, and I yanked off the bedclothes.

With a hiss, a snake rose by my feet and weaved back and forth.

I let out a blood-chilling scream and fell out of bed. As I scrabbled on the floor, I screamed again as it appeared at the edge of the bed and looked down at me. My shrieks continued as my door flew open, and Uncle Deke rushed in.

“Demi!” he yelled as my screams faded and I clutched my chest. My breathing hitched, and lungs closed. I began struggling for air as I grabbed my throat. Panicking, I collapsed to the floor and kicked my heels.

The bedroom light was thrown on, and Pops and Uncle Carter ran in, followed by Phoe and Drake. I was now going blue as I struggled to breathe.

“Where’s her pump?” Pops yelled.

“Here,” Uncle Deke cried as he spied it on my bedside table. He tossed it to Pops, who caught it and, despite his age, crouched by me and pushed it in my mouth.

“What’s wrong with her?” Phoe asked as more people arrived.

Ice shoved his way into my bedroom, his eyes on me, but I was still gasping.

“She needs her nebuliser,” Uncle Gideon said as he opened a bag, which was always near me. He yanked it out and plugged it in as he inserted the medicine.

“Demi has asthma. Usually, she controls it with a pump, but something shocked the shit out of her. Like that!” Uncle Carter growled out, seeing the snake finally.

“Fuck!” Ice hissed. He turned to face the door, looking for someone. “Eddie!”

“What?” the girl replied, appearing.

“Did you put Scout’s snake in Demi’s bed?” Ice demanded.

Eddie caught sight of me on the floor with a face mask over me and realised something was seriously wrong.

“She was horrible to you!” Eddie retorted, but there was no heat in it.

“And we resolved that. What the hell were you thinking?” Ice yelled.

“Tell me you didn’t do this!” Phoe exclaimed, staring at her daughter.

“Demi was mean to Tye and upset him. So, I paid her back for being judgemental!” Eddie cried. “I did not know she was asthmatic!”

“Yet again, you’ve gone too far. You could have seriously hurt Demi or Slither. Did you even ask Scout? I love you, child,but your father has clearly overindulged you, and worse, his punishments have no effect on you. Tomorrow morning, you and I will discuss your punishment and what comes next. I’m deeply ashamed of you,” Phoe said firmly.

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