Page 28 of Legacy of Chaos

He could hear his mother’s gentle scolding as if she was right next to him. She’d said things like that to him at least once a week when he was growing up. Then she’d hug him and tell himthathegave her joy and that nothing anyone did would take that away.

Wanna bet, Mom?

Maybe he should go to the party after all. Then they’d all see exactly why his presence was a huge mistake.

And if nothing else, he could at least look forward to the I-told-you-sos.

Chapter 7

Walking along the pathway from DART’s Harrowgate, lit by holiday lanterns that made the walled courtyard festive, Stryke tried to quell his nerves. He was rarely nervous and couldn’t even remember the last time he’d so much as felt a stirring of anxiety. But right now, as he stood at DART’s private side entrance, his gut roiled and twisted, and sweat made his palms clammy.

Fuck this shit. He’d made dictators and demons alike shake in their boots. He could handle an hour of cake, champagne, and hostile stares.

Inhaling deeply, he shoved his unease aside and opened the door.

The cheerful sounds of music, clinking dishes, and laughter drifted down the narrow hallway from the building’s main-floor lobby. All office doors were closed, but ahead, a crowd gathered near a buffet table loaded with food and a punch bowl. More people stood at round tables, drinks in hand, smiling and chatting while classic 2030s music played in the background. In the center of the lobby, in front of the fountain, a five-tiered pink-and-silver cake decorated with Runa’s name waited to be cut.

As much as he despised parties, he was happy to see such extravagance in honor of his mother.

He stepped out of the hallway, and everyone went so instantly silent he thought a switch had been thrown.

He was used to being stared at. Females gazed at him with lust, and males watched him with envy. The rich and powerful observed him with calculating eyes. Intelligent people regarded him warily. Generally, he ignored it all.

But not this time. This time, he was acutely aware of every eye in the room tracking him. Their stares burned into his skin. Most of these people knewofhim, but he doubted they understood his history with his family. Those people gawked.

But those who knew…

Shit.

He walked past Rade and Blade without sparing them a glance, but the heat of Blade’s dark eyes left scorch marks on the back of Stryke’s skull. It was different with Rade, though. His stare caused frostbite.

Stomach churning, Stryke swiped a glass of champagne off a server’s tray and downed it in a single gulp, washing away the taste of the current pop song. He freaking hated bell peppers. Why did music always taste like things he hated? Just once, couldn’t a song taste like a chocolate truffle? As he went to replace the empty flute with a fresh one, he froze.

Cyan.

She stood near the fountain, laughing with a male in well-worn jeans and a black sports coat.

Parker.

Her plum dress hugged her curves from mid-thigh to her full breasts, then wrapped around her shoulders and throat in delicate straps—straps Parker was probably fantasizing about biting through.

She looked incredible, her short, platinum hair styled in spikes that suited her personality and made her violet eyes seem even bigger. That female was a menace to all things male, and when Parker leaned in to whisper something in her ear, thosegemstone eyes flashed with amusement. She’d liked whatever dumb thing he’d probably said.

Not that Stryke gave a flying fuck about the males she hung out with. But, man…she was so unbelievably gorgeous. Stryke slowed, curious about the state of Cyan and Parker’s relationship, even though he didn’t care. He really didn’t.

But then, a few feet away, he caught sight of his mom. He drew in a quick breath, his palms growing damp with nerves and anticipation. Runa was stunning in a black cocktail dress, her caramel hair twisted into a loose braid that hung over her shoulder and partially blocked thedermoirethat identified her as Shade’s mate. She looked like a queen, standing there with his father by her side. Stryke hadn’t seen his mother in years, and he suddenly felt like a naughty schoolboy waiting at the headmaster’s office for a parent to pick him up.

He’d been there too many times to count. For some reason, his “smart mouth and arrogance” got him into a lot of trouble when he was a kid. People got so offended when you pointed out how stupid they were. Facts were pesky things.

Time seemed to stop as she hurried over, her eyes misty and a smile trembling on her lips. He wasn’t sure what to do, say, or feel after so much time apart, but his body knew. It craved a mother’s comfort, and he instinctively opened his arms to her.

“I can’t believe it.” She hugged him close, the way she used to do when he was little. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

His father came up behind her and mouthed, “Thank you.”

Runa’s warmth flowed through him, and he forgot all the turmoil—both around him…and inside him. All at once, he was young again, but a youth whose mom was proud, and he surrendered to the solace only a mother’s embrace could deliver. For a precious moment, nothing but the familiar scent of her favorite Chanel perfume and the soft sound of her breathing existed. Peace filled his heart and head. Closing his eyes, he lethimself sink into the first moment of serenity he’d known in years.

In the background, people began talking again, and soft laughter floated in the air. There was so much joy here. So much love for the woman who had given him and his brothers life.

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