Page 259 of His Sunshine Baby

“What?”

“When I asked him, he said he couldn’t answer. I know he wouldn’t lie to me, so it wasn’t him, but he probably couldn’t tell me the truth either.”

“Why would he–”

“Clark, I need to see Iris.”

“What the heck? Elena, NO!” yells Chris.

I ignore him to address Clark.

“Clark, Iris knows what happened. She probably didn’t say anything on purpose. My cousin might be a mythic bitch, but I must admit, she’s a freaking mastermind when it comes down to manipulating people.”

“Elena, if it’s really the Blood Moon clan who did it, it could make things worse.”

“I don’t think they would have done this without a reason. I want to know exactly what happened. Moreover, I’m sure that Iris can help us convince everyone to rally with the Blood Moon.”

“Elena, that’s the shittiest idea ever,” growls Chris. “My sister’s been locked up for four years since we found out she falsified several documents of the clan for her benefit. You think she’s going to be happy to see you? No way she’ll agree to help you!”

I chuckle.

“You know Chris, one thing about being locked up is that by now, she might be craving some fresh air.”

He shakes his head, unhappy. I can see they are all in disbelief, or seriously wondering if I’ve gone mad about letting my worst enemy out of prison.

Truth is, I’m not as sure as I want to sound, but at the moment, I’m more concerned about changing opinions in the White Moon clan. I know a lot of people missed me, and are happy to see me back, but a lot of them don’t trust me either. Even if Nora and Damian did most of the job by erasing the borders, I know the White Moon clan still isn’t ready to fully cooperate. Both times we did, we lost people, like Eric. We will probably lose a lot more this time, unless we unite as one with the Blood Moon clan. Not as a gathering of several packs, but as one, large pack. One pack of wolves, ready to defend one city. It’s a crazy idea, but it’s our only shot, I realize that now, especially since it will be the only defense between Estelle, James and the baby, and that Dark Witch with her army of vampires.

“You want to ask Iris for her help to convince the White Moon to unite with the Blood Moon?” repeats Levi, when I tell him my full idea on the way there.

“It’s already starting, Levi. The Sapphire Moon and the Blood Moon are unified through Nora. Smaller clans will follow unconditionally. The only big clan that has always worked alone is the White Moon. It became worse after I left, didn’t it?”

“Because our people thought you had been driven away by Black! And they killed one of our own, Elena. Even if it was Diego, it was–”

“I know. But I feel like there’s something that still can be done about that.”

“… The situation is already complicated, and you have to ask your psychopath cousin for help? Of all people?”

I sigh. Yeah, I have to.

I always imagined Iris to be locked away in some dark, creepy dungeon, but this is the twenty-first century. We don’t have a prison on our turf, but we do have a hospital with a psychiatric ward. It’s easy to throw someone in a tiny room, lock it, and forget the key for a few years.

So, my cousin is and has been confined in an all-white, rather spacious room with the simplest furniture and a few books. Her hair has grown a lot, so her lavender curls are now pushed down by her blonde roots. It kind of annoys me that, despite having been locked away all these years, she’s still as pretty as before and looking fine. I take a few seconds to observe her from behind the tiny window; she’s wearing some dark jeans and a sexy white top. Nothing like the quiet, shy Iris she pretended to be for years. I guess she has no more use in pretending. She’s barefoot, but I bet she’d be wearing killer heels if she could.

I take a deep breath and walk in. She raises her eyes from her book and, as soon as she notices me, sneers.

“Look who’s here. My dear cousin. How have you been, Elena? It’s been a while! Did you bring me something, since you’re visiting?”

Behind me, Levi clicks his tongue.

After a long argument, we decided it would be better for only him to accompany me. Chris strictly refuses to see his sister again, as it upsets him deeply, and the younger Lewis siblings are unrelated to her. Even Clark refused to come.

“I’m not here to play your petty games, Iris,” I reply coldly.

She sighs.

“I know. Since you’re showing up here, I guess you have something to ask me. I wonder what that is and, more importantly, how you’re going to get me to comply.”

She’s not going to make it easy, I know. Behind me, Levi’s already growling. She chuckles.

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