Page 76 of Trial of Deceit

It just couldn’t.

As the car parked in the driveway, Jediah barely had time to rest his hand on the handle before the door was yanked open from the outside.

“Jed!”Reine cried, throwing herself at him.Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him close and holding him tight while her face nuzzled into his neck.

“Reine,” Jediah complained, though he wrapped his arms around her small waist.“Wa mi tell yu ’bout making me look soft?”

Reine didn’t pull away.She held him tighter, a choked sob escaping her as wetness gathered on the crook of Jediah’s neck.“Mi did so worried,” she forced out, her lips trembling against his skin as he spoke.

Jediah sighed.Tightening his grip around her waist, he turned his head to the side.Jediah pressed his mouth against her head.“I’m here.”

Sniffling, she pulled away.Tears hung off her eyelids as her lips trembled.“Mi know, but it did so frightening.Yu don’ go in a waa cell since—”

“Reine,” Jediah interrupted, his voice stern.“I’mgood.”

She continued to stare into his soul for a few agonizing seconds, bringing up harsh memories Jediah wished to forget, before she nodded and a relieved smile formed on her face.A throat clearing made her look past Jediah to Dimitri.

Cameron chuckled.“Memba him don’ used to seeing sibling affection.”

“Stop gwan like you have bredda or sista,” Dimitri hissed.

Jediah rolled his eyes, causing Reine to chuckle as they broke free.Reine helped him out of the car despite his protests.They walked side-by-side toward the porch while Dimitri and Cameron bickered behind them.

“Mi have a bredda.We just don’ close,” Cameron rebutted.

“Only thing yu close wid a yu likkle online girlfriend.”

“If she’s real,” Jediah threw over his shoulder, causing Dimitri to snicker.

Cameron grumbled an answer as they arrived on the porch.The door opened from the inside, revealing Bryony.Everyone stilled as Bryony stood in the doorway, slowly crossing one arm over the next as her cold eyes locked on Jediah.Jediah stiffened, hesitant to take another breath as Bryony took in his appearance.As Bryony’s eyes dragged upward from his feet to his eyes, holding his gaze, a shaky breath passed Jediah’s lips.

“Dinner is on the table,” Bryony stated, turning to walk back into the house.

Reine patted Jediah’s arm.“Yu naa go hear the end of it,” she said before moving into the house.

“Good luck,” Cameron added, following behind Reine.

“Yu gon’ need it more than me when yu find out seh yu girlfriend don’ real,” Jediah spat.

Dimitri’s eyes lit up.“Exactly!”

Jediah chuckled as Cameron flipped them off over his shoulder.When he could no longer see Cameron or his sister, he looked to the side.He wasn’t surprised to find Dimitri already looking at him.“Yu really think Ash behind this?”

“Yes,” Dimitri answered almost instantly.

A heavy sigh escaped Jediah as he looked into his house.He rolled his shoulders, the knot of uncertainty forming in him again.He hated this feeling.He needed a clear mind immediately.“Weh Cedella and Reka?”

“Dungeon,” Dimitri said, resting a hand on Jediah’s shoulder.“Come wi go inside.Yu outta it, and mi don’ like dat.”

Jediah stepped backward, causing Dimitri’s hand to fall to his side.“Soon come.Need fi do something first,” Jediah said, walking off the porch.He heard Dimitri sigh before going into the house.

Jediah slipped his ring off his finger, rubbing it between his fingers and feeling the ridges of the fox emblem while walking past groundsmen to get to the backyard.He opened the gate to a garden of a wide array of colorful, fluffy flowers.A concrete pathway was between them, the flowers leading the way toward a white wrought iron arch.Green vines wrapped around the intricate patterns of the arch, welcoming the occasional visitor to the highlight of the garden.

A sudden chill tightened around his neck and made it difficult to breathe.He stopped fiddling with his ring and reminded himself to breathe.

Jediah inhaled a sharp breath, his lungs indulging in the sweet oxygen as his feet moved forward.One step.Two.Three.Four.

He stopped before the grave.

---