Page 27 of Omission: Part 2

Not so much as a guard standing watch on this floor. At least, I don't see any.

Ignoring her brother, Isa tilts her head in my direction, her lip twitching at the corner. “Nice to see you again, Aya. How was your morning shower?”

“Refreshing.”

“I'm sure. You missed quite the interesting breakfast.”

“Did I?” Something I've learned since meeting Isabella and Gabriella: they're both playful with those they care about. Never in a mean way. The jokes, innuendos, and moments like these once again show me that I'm part of something. That I have a real family, and if in the past I wondered what a true sibling relationship would feel like—if Ruben didn't hate me—it'd be like this. “Although I get the feeling I missed a bonfire, instead. The scent of ash permeated my room, even after Leo's shower before I woke up.”

“How can you signal out the scent?—”

“I'm sensitive. It's that way for most fae, but being a royal, mine picks up on differences others might not. Like in Chiara’s case.” My nose crinkles at the memory. “Even while living on fae lands where I dealt with the pungent smell daily, it was hard to keep a straight face among Larue's closest circle. Raw sewage isn't something one can get accustomed to.

“How did we miss that?”

I shrug, not understanding either. “My guess is dark magic.”

“Pure-hearted faes are easier to distinguish when you know what you’re looking for, my little Aya. Those with the dark sickness reek of it—it clings to their being—and you need to heed that warning, young one. Those high-priced sentences are paid for by their magical essence, rotting them from within, for wielding forbidden magic.”

“How long have they been practicing blood manipulation, Anaya?” Isabella asks, and beside her, Gabriella gives a low snarl. “Did you ever see them bleed anyone?”

“This started long before I was born. When our lands were allies, not enemies.”

“Gods. We should’ve eliminated?—”

“Gabriella, there are good faes there. Not all are evil.” Their mates walk in at the tail end of that statement. Their expressions are grim. “Identifying the pure-hearted ones becomes easier when you know what you’re looking for. The stench, the dark seal, is unmistakable—permeates everything they touch—and no amount of expensive perfume or spell can cover it for long. That’s why I picked it up on Chiara and Lena; it just took me a minute to decipher why my being was repulsed by them. At the time, so much was going on around me and I?—”

“Breathe, Anaya.” Gripping the back of my neck, Leo turns my face in his direction. When he took a seat beside me, I don’t know, but I’m thankful, nonetheless. “I’m so proud of you. No one here picked up on such an important fact. It’s because of you that we know Chiara’s the daughter of Silla and a vampire enemy to the crown. That entire bloodline is a curse.”

“Did you say Veltross?”Why does that name seem familiar?

“Do you know them, Anaya?” Theodore cuts in before anyone else can ask. “Meet anyone in the family?”

“I want to sayyes, but at the moment I don’t remember when. But that’s a name I’ve heard multiple times over the…” I trail off, recalling something. It’s not the clearest memory, but my gut tells me it’s important. “A woman. That’s where the name comes from.”

“Are you sure?” They exchange glances between themselves, but it’s Xadiel who speaks this time, the same gruff, yet warm timbre I heard the day they stormed into Larue’s building. When he saved me from Brice and the head scientist.

“I am.”

I’ve been tasked with delivering refreshments to Brice’s office at my father’s request with the help of one of the court’s live-in maids. She carries the wine and glasses, while a specifically designed charcuterie board weighs my arms down. Between the butcher block, fine China with a few spreads, and the slippery crackers between cold cuts: I want to toss the entire thing against the nearest wall.

“I’ll knock, ma princesse. Let me—” We’re stopped by a loud female moan. The high-pitched squeal reverberates down the hall, and we look at each other. Both uncomfortable. “Maybe we should come back?”

I’m shaking my head before she finishes. “No. We’re dropping this off.”

“It’s for the best.” Her expression shows how much she disagrees with her own statement, and I understand this is awkward, but my father will punish her to hurt me if we don’t follow his instructions.

“We’ll make it quick.” Striding forward, I take the lead and knock on the door. All noises cease, and the heavy sound of footsteps nears until the door is yanked open, revealing a bare-chested Brice with a small female behind him.

“She was a brunette with a small linear scar near her?—”

“Temple,” Isabella finished for me. “Who do we know with a scar like that? That fits the description?”

“That fuckin…!” Gabriella snarls at the same time her mate moves toward her, his speed faster than I could follow with my eyes, and he’s cupping her face. His grin is dark and sinister. “That family?—”

“It’s time we hunt, pretty girl. Let’s go play.” She nods, and he lifts her at the same time Xadiel pulls Isa’s chair back, each couple exiting the room while calling out that they’ll meet us at a later time. One says soon, while the other promises later tonight.

Moreover, we’re alone within seconds, and I’m lost. Have no clue what just happened.

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