Page 75 of Baneful Magick

Without a backward glance or a chance to find my words, she had abandoned me.

A theme when it came to the women in my life.

My mother, now Isla... Couldn’t I catch a single fucking break?

Rolling over, I curled up in my bed, trying to breathe quietly and be as still as possible. If I didn’t move and no one heard me, maybe I wouldn’t have to exist for a little while. I could just drown myself in every crazy, unreasonable idea. Too soon, my self-deprecating thoughts gave way to flashbacks.

Our home was always quiet and somber, but it was worse today. The tension was explosive the moment Aizel opened thefront door. We shared a concerned look before he took a deep breath, slipped on his wide-grinned mask, and ambled inside.

I never managed to plaster a smile on my face, especially aroundher.

The house was one of those old brick mansions, a sprawling building with lots of rooms that were never used. Each was filled with just the right amount of furniture so it didn’t feel as empty as it truly was. Appearances meant so much to our mother, and that was obvious in everything she did. From where we lived, the clothes we wore, people she associated with... They were all carefully crafted and calculated moves on her part.

Except for Aizel and me.

In our society, incubi were viewed as throwaway. While one could be viewed as a fluke of fate, two was an abomination.

And twin boys... Mother never recovered from that particular cruelty.

On more than one occasion, she told us if she would have rather slit her own throat than give us even one gasp of air. Aizel made himself smaller, funnier, and palatable for her. Even after all these years, he wanted her approval and love.

I knew I’d never get it, though. I was never, not once, under the impression that she had the capacity to view me as anything other than a disgrace. Her love and affection were reserved for our sisters, who cared for us in their own way. Even then, their affection came in carefully measured doses that could be concealed from our mother’s eyes.

Slowly, I quietly followed my brother. I joined them in the living room where Mother was flanked by two people I’d never met before. One was a succubus, her lips curled in distaste when I came to a stop beside Aizel. She raked her eyes over us then looked haughtily at our mother before flicking her gaze to the man standing by the window.

Our sisters were nowhere in sight. My gut twisted with worry as to what that might mean. Nothing good happened when she decided to not have a familial audience for something. I’d learned that at a young age.

“Where have you been for the past two days?” the man asked. He didn’t deign to look at us because that would have given us the tiniest ounce of respect as people.

“Feeding,” Aizel replied with a nonchalant shrug. “We didn’t violate any rules.”

Mother sniffed disdainfully. “As ifyouwould be powerful enough to break any rules.”

“A human party disappeared three nights ago. It took place not far from here.” He continued speaking, ignoring our mother. He was older, with short graying hair and deep wrinkles on his face that showed he rarely smiled. “Would you like to reconsider your answer?”

“The comings and goings of humans are not our concern,” Aizel answered while I blankly stared in space.

“Are you the only one that can talk?” he snarked, his blue eyes now on me.

“No. I can talk,” I replied softly, carefully keeping my voice even.

“What do you have to say about this?” he asked, glaring at me as if that would make a difference.

“I don’t make it a point to follow the comings and goings of humans near here,” I told him, looking up to meet his gaze with a blank one of my own. “I’ve learned my place.”

Mother’s hands clenched even though she kept her expression pleasant. Aizel tried to step in to draw attention to himself, but the anger was already directed at me.

“There are reports that two incubi were seen approaching the party, and you two match the descriptions. Human police are sniffing around, trying to find out what happened,” thesuccubus said sharply. “It’s better if you find other places to be than here.”

“That will be arranged,” Mother cut in primly. “We will, of course, cooperate with what you think is best.”

“What would have been best is if you had put them down like the dogs they are,” the woman snapped. “Too bad you kept them around.”

She stormed out with the older man trailing behind her. He said something about coming back to make sure we were gone in the next few days, then he was out the door as well.

It was so quiet after the door shut that you could have heard a pin drop.

“Aizel, pack your bags. You’ll both be out of here tonight,” she ordered.

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