Page 31 of Buried Secret 295

“Can I talk to him?” Even though we were different, we still had a bond. I miss him. They had him somewhere before moving him home, but he has only been home for a day. Already she wants him to be sent away, so she doesn't have to deal with him.

“He will only pollute your mind, as I said before. He needs to be heavily medicated. It would seem that school has only made his condition worse.” She huffs, and I grip the phone more tightly. “I wanted you to be informed about what is happening. He isn’t stable, and I think he needs different medications. I believe we will have to send him to Fae’s Edge.” I wonder how many medications they have been forcing down his throat.

“Mom, seriously, let me try. I can call him or write something. Let me try. I miss him. Maybe I can come home for a while, or can he come to the Academy? I will help with the adjustment.Being around his old friends might help.” I’m not sure why I am trying to reason with her, but I am.

“Gage, you are embarrassing yourself. I don’t like you hanging out with those trash friends you subject yourself to. They only will make him worse by encouraging his delusions. This is the best way to improve him, and you need to accept that I know best for my son.” She hangs up without saying goodbye or giving me a chance to argue. I think I will have to get some help to get information, and I know the exact person to help.

I have the urge to put my fist through the wall. Walking into the cafeteria, I grab a tray and head over to the table where Knox and Atticus wait for me. I sit next to Knox, his red eyes narrow on me. “You smell of bad perfume.” His nose is so much more sensitive than anyone I know.

“Not by choice, I assure you. Lulu cornered me about her artwork in the Hub entrance.” How she can keep the fliers up, I don’t know. It seems like she has most people under her thumb. If not her thumb, then her daddy’s thumb.

“I almost feel bad for whoever got on her bad side, but that means they had a relationship with her.” Knox rolls his eyes and almost growls it out.

“I don’t think it is by choice. It’s her sister or half-sister, the one that kicked Gage’s ass yesterday.” Atticus explains to Knox, which has Knox’s attention, and I don’t know if I like his interest in her, probably because I want her. I would not back down without a fight. I shake off that thought. What is wrong with me, wanting to fight one of my best friends?

“What else do you know?” Knox asks Atticus, assuming he has found out some information. If you put Atticus on something, he is bound to find out more than you usually want to know.

Atticus runs his hand through his brown hair in frustration. His deep green eyes look like they have a fire behind them. The guy had a dark side that he didn’t let many people see. “Nothing!It’s like the girl didn’t exist until a few weeks ago. Everything seems to be out of sorts lately. Too many whispers and secrets to collect.”

I hesitate, not wanting to add more to the man’s plate. “About that. I have a favor to ask.”

That statement snaps his attention to me. I don’t think I’ve ever asked a favor before. The most I’ve ever asked of either of them was to stay over, so I wouldn’t have to return to my house growing up. I can feel the intensity of his gaze. “What’s up?”

“Mother called. Leo’s back, but they want to ship him to Fae’s Edge. Something is off about the whole thing. I am tired of the bullshit, and I think we might have to arrange a snatch-and-grab when they come to get him.”

Atticus nods at me. “Of course, man. Anything for Leo.”

Chapter twenty-one

A knock at mydoor has me raising my eyebrows, but I know it can only be one of probably three people. However, two of those people don’t believe in knocking. When I open the door, Ember stands holding pizza boxes in her arms. “I don’t remember ordering pizza.” I smile at her as she rolls her eyes.

“You can thank me later, after your stomach is full. Plus, there is a bonus of you getting to avoid the cafeteria...” She gives a slight shudder. “…considering it looks like your posters aren’t coming down soon. I figured this was safer.”

A groan escapes my lips. Lulu is such a pain in my ass. She always was, and I don’t understand how she gets by with the things she does. Marcus owns Dean Campbell, but how did Lulu also get that grace? “How they allow her to keep those up is amazing to me. Do you think she is doing sexual favors for the Dean?”

Her eyes widen before a smile takes over her face. “It wouldn’t surprise me! She has a rotation, you know.”

She opens the pizza boxes, and the smell of cheese and garlic fills the air. Ember takes a big bite, and my mouth slightly waters. How long has it been since I have had pizza? “What do you mean by rotation?”

She continues to chew and pauses her eating. “It’s weird, but she has probably six different guys that all seem okay with sharing her. It’s not a relationship because I’ve seen them with other girls, but maybe she just likes a different cock every day of the week? Like changing underwear. Free love and all of that.”

I shrug. “Good for her, I guess? They have no taste, but yeah, good for her.”

“I think it’s more about daddy issues than anything. Let’s face it, Marcus isn’t exactly winning any Daddy Of The Year award.” Her eyebrows waggle. “Speaking of daddy–”

I throw the crust of my pizza at her. “Do not finish that thought! Constantine is off limits for any sexual speak.” I glare at her. “I finally started calling him dad and can’t go there.”

“Boo! Fine, for the sake of our friendship, Daddy Constantine is off limits.” She tilts her head and pauses. “I hear you have some hot uncles. Maybe they would be into a hybrid.” She waggles her eyebrows.

That makes me laugh as I think of the Seven Deadly Sins. They are more of a made family. The demon fae have so many branches, and the strongest created a bond. They didn’t want any group to have the most power, so they created a magical bond between them all that binds them for life. It’s something that is closer than DNA-related. None of them are DNA-related, to my knowledge. “Considering I have yet to meet any of them, you are welcome to them.” I pull out my necklace to show her. “I get to wear their symbol, though.”

She reaches forward, sitting on her knees on the couch, and takes the pendant between her fingers. “That’s so badass. You should flash it around. Flaunt it a bit. You don’t even want to show off the Blackthorne name. I would own that shit.”

I level her with a look. “Seriously, I already have a huge target on my back, and I don’t need another one.” People were already gunning for me. I can’t imagine what it will be like when they realize my father legitimized me. He even surprised me by making me his heir. Part of me wonders if it will ever change if he finds a mate one day. I only want to be in his life. I don’t really care about the perks that come with that title.

Ember smirks at me as she grabs a piece of pizza. “You already have another target on you from Gage. That guy seems like he wants a slice of Salem.” Ember seductively licks her slice of pizza.

I snort and roll my eyes at her before leaning back and falling on the loveseat cushion. “Don’t remind me. He is hot.” I think about Gage, and it does something to me. Is it because he is the first guy I am physically attracted to? With 203, it’s an emotional connection because I’ve never seen him before. “All my awakened parts want him, yet I am the one who stands in the way of it.”

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