Page 54 of The Daughters of Nyx

I did, but I wasn’t going to tellherthat. “Mom, please. We’d need to catch an Uber if we wanted to make it, and you know how pricey that can be…”

Her frown only deepened. “SurelyEliaswants to meet your sisters?” Then Kerry turned her wide eyes on the shifter beside me and batted her lashes. “We would all love to have you with us.”

Elias remained tense as he offered her a pained grimace. “I’m sorry, Ms. Sullivan—” At my mother’s glare, he quickly added, “—Kerry, but my work schedule is pretty tight at the moment. And Ivy and I haven’t had much of a chance to discuss this weekend.”

I could almost feel the burn of his eyes on the side of my face as I tried to give Kerry an apologetic smile. “Anyway, I don’t think Eloise will be that disappointed. She doesn’t want to be embarrassed by her big sister.” The truth of those words sent a burst of pain through my heart, but I squashed it down hard and fast.

It was my mother’s fault that my sisters and I didn’t have a good relationship. Kerry had never treated me like a daughter once Eloise was born, and my soon-to-be thirteen year old sister knew that. She was a cunning, observant little creature who saw far too much, and despite how badly I’d wanted to protect her, in the end, I was nothing but a stranger.

Ginny was marginally better, mostly because I wasn’t there as much. I’d stayed with Thea’s family more and more, thanks to Kerry’s second husband. And when Maisie was born, I was practically out of the house until my step-father fucked off with his mistress, which forced me back into Kerry’s orbit to help with the kids.

They didn’t see me like a sister because for most of their lives, I was their glorified babysitter.

But I couldn’t resent my sisters for that.

That was on Kerry.

I wasn’t sure what changed for the shifter, but I felt his hand tighten around mine. “We should get going. We’ve both got some work we need to do,” he offered lightly, smiling pleasantly down at Kerry, despite the discomfort shining in his eyes.

Kerry released a dramatic breath. “Alright. But baby, answer my calls next time. I worry about you living all the way out here.” I tensed, but nodded, pressing my lips into a thin smile.

She opened her arms wide, indicating she wanted a hug, and without flinching, I managed to tuck myself into her stiff embrace.

Her voice lowered. “And my offer still stands for that gym membership. I know you walk everywhere, but this weight won’t come off on its own.”

I stiffened, a familiar rage pounding behind my ribs as I pulled back. I couldn’t bring myself to answer. I never did when she brought that crap up.

Apparently, it was so hard for her to believe that I was comfortable enough in my own skin that I didn’t care about dropping a couple of pounds. Neither did Thea. We’d worked hard to love our bodies despite what everyone expected of us. Thea’s grandmother was our biggest advocate for self-love.

I just wished Kerry could see that I was happy the way I was.

Clearing my throat, I wrapped my arms around myself. I felt Elias step into me, his warmth like a comforting blanket, one that calmed the racing of my heart. His hand brushed my lower back as if to tell me‘I’m here’.

“I’ll see you later, mom.” I looked down at my baby sister, who stared up at me with wide, shining eyes. “Be good, okay?”

Kerry shrugged and tugged Maisie’s arm sharply, making me wince. My mother said nothing else, instead passing us with her chin raised.

For the first time since running into her, I felt like I could finally breathe again. My chest loosened with each breath, the ice in my veins thawing. My muscles relaxed, and whatever burning anger I’d felt slowly dissipated.

Elias’s warmth left me. “Let’s go. We can’t stay in one place for too long,” he said gruffly, jaw tight with annoyance.

I nodded silently and followed him down the street, keeping my eyes on the place between his shoulder blades, where his muscles grew tenser with each step.

The sidewalks thinned out, and before I could react, Elias grabbed my wrist. “What in Nyx’s name was that?” Elias hissed, pulling me into a dark alley. His body caged mine into the grimy brick wall, forcing me to breathe in his scent and stare into his almost furious face. Almost furious, because something else lingered in his gaze that I couldn’t identify.

I tipped my chin up and glared at Elias. “That was me dealing with my mother. Unfortunately, she’s had it in her head for a while that I have a boyfriend.”

This was the last thing I needed. I’d hoped he would let it go, or at the very least, wait until we’d gotten home. But no.

Apparently being associated with me in front of my family was the very last thing he wanted.

“And you decided thatIhad to play the part of your false lover?” he seethed, pressing in closer.

“Well I didn’t expect you to be so damnedmadabout it,” I muttered, jaw clenching. “And anyway, it’s just dinner at my mom’s house. It’s not like we’re getting married, Elias.”

He chuckled darkly, shaking his head. Something else played in his eyes—something that didn’t look like the anger he seethed. “Why the hell did you lie?”

WhydidI lie? Was he talking about in general, or me pretending he was my boyfriend?

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