Page 6 of Ashes

I shake my head, color creeping up my throat. While I used to stick to speeches and charity events, recent years have seen a surge in high-profile reality TV appearances. Nearly all of them excruciatingly embarrassing.

“Voice Battle. The time you sang against Brad Bennett.” She’s smiling wider now, her eyes dancing.

I tip my head back and laugh. Thatwasa good show. I clear my throat and give her a snippet of the rock ballad I performed. “When you’re in my arms, I see nothing but…”

“Starrrrrrs,” she finishes, giggling. When she finally stops laughing at herself, she says, “Did you ever want to be a singer?”

I shake my head quickly. I’ve practiced this answer many, many times over the years. Every time a journalist tries to trick me into saying that, really, all I ever wanted was to be a celebrity and my charity work is just a means to an end. “No. I guess I just always wanted to do something worthwhile. You know? Make a difference to people. I’m lucky I found a way to do that.”

Nova nods. She looks impressed. People usually do. “You’re brave,” she says.

I blink at her. “Brave?”

She doesn’t explain herself, just adds, “I’ve done nothing worthwhile or impressive my whole life.”

“Now, I know that’s not true. I saw what you did. You saved us from that witch. From the werewolves.”

Nova presses her lips together. “Maybe. But I wasn’t adopted into a nice family, Nico. A few weeks ago, my life wasnota good one. I worked crappy shifts in a pharmacy. I barely had money to eat.” Her fingers move to her chest. The place where the tattoo peeks through the fabric of her sweater. Once again, her eyes fill with tears. “I killed our parents, Sam.”

I wince at the name. It doesn’t feel right. “Please, call me Nico.”

She doesn’t answer me, just says, “Did you know that? Did you know I started the fire?” Tears are rolling down her cheeks now. Her shoulders start to shake. Looking at her makes my chest hurt. She’s in pain. So much pain.

“It wasn’t your fault.” I dip my head, put my hands on her shoulders, force her to look at me. “I don’t blame you, Nova. It wasn’t your fault.”

Nova holds my gaze. She’s barely breathing. Finally, as my words sink in, her shoulders droop. She sighs and allows herself to lean forward, pressing her forehead to my chest. She breathes heavily, her back trembling.

“It wasn’t your fault,” I say again, softly. My arms are at my sides. My pulse is loud in my ears. I rest my hands on her back. She’ssowarm.

“Thank you,” she breathes. “Thank you.”

3

NOVA

PRESENT DAY

“Come away with me and I’ll take care of you.” Nico pulls me into his arms and holds me tight against his chest. “I’m your brother. I’ll take care of you.”

I’m trembling, but Nico feels calm. His heart isn’t racing like mine. He’s on the floor where Tanner threw him. He sits back on his heels. With his hands on my upper arms, he looks into my eyes as he waits for my answer. I hold the bedsheet tight around me. It feels strange to be so close to him when I’m wearing so little.

Behind me, the energy coming from Kole, Tanner, and Mack is making the air quiver. I look up at them. They’re standing in a triad, each of them wearing nothing but their underwear, forming an arch around me.

Kole is clenching his fists.Little star…His voice drips through me.

“Nova,” Mack says, his tone measured but his eyes flashing orange. I can almost feel Snow pawing to be let loose. “We need to talk about what to do next.” He turns his gaze to Nico, who still has hold of my arms. “Reacting on impulse isn’t a good idea,” he says purposefully.

Ignoring Mack completely, Nico moves his head and catches my eyes again. “Nova, I’m not sure you understand the gravity of this.” He grips his phone and waves it at me. The video is playing on repeat. A gruesome loop. Again, and again and again.

“You brokethe treaty. The entire world was out for blood when they thought youattemptedto break it. What will they do now they have video evidence of you eviscerating a human?”

I open my mouth to speak, but no sound comes out.

“He was a woman beater,” Tanner spits. “He deserved worse than Nova gave him. Trust me—if we’d got our hands on him first, we’d have broken the treaty too.”

“But you didn’t,” Nico snaps. “Shekilled him. With magick.” He sighs and shakes his head. “Supers and humans rarely agree on much, but they agree that a witch using her powers against a human is illegal. The worst of the worst. A crime so bad—”

“You’re scaring her,” Kole says darkly as a shudder runs through my body.

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