Page 31 of Cursed Heirs

“I’m sorry sweetheart,” she said, rubbing my shoulder. I flinched, then jerked away.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. With what happened at the Academy, I guess I’m still just a little jumpy.”

I couldn’t tell her about what had happened with Constantine, him invading my dreamscape, seducing me… none of it. Especially not the part about how I’d responded favorably. More than favorably.Urgh.I was disgusting. I was sick, demented, a traitorous—

“Alena?”

I blinked and looked to see my mom eyeing me with a whole lot of worry.

“Did you say something?”

“I did, but you spaced out.”

“Oh… must be the whole exhaustion thing.”

“Darling, is there something more happening? Something you’re reluctant to tell me?”

Damn her and her over-perceptiveness.

“About Talon Creed and Orpheus Hart, perhaps?”

Oh, that was where her mind had gone.

I swallowed hard. “What about them?”

“Alena, I’m well aware of the existence of a relationship between the four of you.”

“How? And… when?”

“Let’s just say that Saryan isn’t the only parent watching their child closely. Did you think I’d just send you there and wash my hands of you? I know I’m busy with work, more so than most, butyouremain a priority to me alongsideExemplar.”

“And yet you haven’t said a word about it? I don’t understand. Especially with Orpheus being in the picture.”

“He’s good for you.”

Shockeddidn’t even cover it. The words that had come out of her mouth just didn’t compute.

She smiled and took a seat on the lounger opposite me, perching on the edge. “Alena, you’ve always struggled with your power, always been afraid of its potential to corrupt, and to lead you toward darkness. Orpheus has experienced a similarstruggle in fighting not to turn into his father. He’s also a dark being, but he isn’t dark hearted. He seeks out the light, hence his deep interest in you, being drawn to you to such an overwhelming extent. In you, he's found both. He’s also been training at an extreme level his entire life. He has the know-how and experience to help you with your own struggle. The phoenix, Talon Creed, provides some much-needed levity and passion that you can also connect well with due to the free spirit that you are at heart, despite years of repression of your magic. And Xavier, well, he’s the pure heart and safety that balances all the rest.” There was a faraway look in her eyes as she said, “He’s very much like his father in that respect.”

“He’s been a great friend to you, Mom. All these years.”

She smiled. “He has. And not to worry, that’s all it is for either of us. Companionship and friendship.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore with Xavier ending things.”

“This is an awful transition period for him, Alena.”

“Yeah, a time when we should be pulling together.”

“He has that loner disposition, like Elliot again, when something befalls him. Give it time and give him space. The latter will be easier to do with you returning to Electi Academy first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Return?” As much as I wanted to see Orpheus and Talon and be around them again, I couldn’t just go back to classes and return to student life like nothing had happened, like nothing wasstillhappening.

“That’s right,” she said firmly.

“I can’t do that, Mom. You must realize that. I’m needed. After what I was able to do to Constantine—”

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