Page 66 of Made in Malice

Off in the distance, I can see the cottage where we held our parties and the colorful furniture—that never really felt right but was what everyone expected—sitting unused and forgotten. We haven’t had a party since the night my parents died.

I remember Gertrude banging on the bedroom door early in the morning, tears streaming down her wrinkled face, and I knew something was terribly wrong. I’d never seen that woman cry, I wasn’t even sure she was capable of it, but the night before while I was drinking and getting my dick sucked by no less than three girls—at the same time—in an audition for whom I would fuck later, my parents suffocated to death, and I had no clue.

“Lucian?” Nox calls, a hint of worry in his voice as I turn away from the memories, making sure I’m wearing the same apathy that has gotten me through the last eighteen months while my brother grieves.

NOVA

My head is on a swivel as we pass a pool that has a waterfall and a slide with an attached hot tub, past what looks like a guest house, and farther still until all I see is sand and clear blue water.

I can see the mainland opposite the shore, but it’s far enough away that we wouldn’t have to worry about skinny dipping. I cram that thought down because there is no way I would skinny dip with Lucian anywhere around. He doesn’t need that kind of fuel to hurt me.

I glance over at Nox as he pulls his shirt off over his head and drops it in the sand. A tingle of regret settles in my chest. I think we could have been friends in another life, but I know I shouldn’t be here, and the reason why I agreed is all blurred. I told myself I would allow him to come so I could get answers, but I haven’t even thought about my questions since I got back in the car with him after stopping to get my suit.

“Do you need to change?” Nox asks, running his eyes over me.

“Nah, it’s a bit chilly.” It’s true, but it’s also not the real reason I’m not swimming. He tricked me, just like I warned him not to do. If he would have told me the beach was his, I never would have agreed to go, plus the hulking shadow behind us means I’m keeping every bit of clothing I have on. Lucian would probably take pictures of me and send them out to the school in a mass text just to try to embarrass me. No thanks, I’m not that dumb.

“Come on, we can jump in the hot tub after a dip,” he pleads sweetly, or maybe he has me fooled. Nox might be as big of a jerk as his brother and just playing a role. I hate that I have to question everything and everyone.

Life was a lot less confusing while I was struggling to make ends meet and riding the bus. I didn’t owe anyone anything, least of all loyalty.

“Go ahead.” I smile, playing along, pretending I’m not in the middle of an identity crisis and wondering how I allowed myself to get here again.

“I thought you northern girls had thicker blood,” Nox challenges.

“Ha, you wouldn’t make it a single winter in Michigan,” I retort without much effort.

Nox tilts his head as if he’s picked up on my mood shift. “She didn’t mean anything bad, Nova, she’s just looking out for us.” He assumes I’m still upset about Gertrude, but there’s a whole slew of reasons my disposition has darkened.

“I get it,” I tell him. “Let me see if you really have the guts to get in the water.” I wave him on with my hands.

Nox doesn’t hide his disappointment, but he doesn’t seem to dwell on it too much either. Instead, he takes off running toward the water and hops into the surf. He lets out a growl of a sound made of heavy breathing and a shiver before diving in and swimming under the softly lapping waves.

When he pops up, he shakes out his dark hair and screams, “Fuck!” but he’s grinning.

I walk a little closer to the water so my toes sink into the heavy wet sand, then plop my rump down where I’m out of the tide. The sun is warm enough to make me think that getting in might not be too bad, but Nox’s lips are a little blue while he bobs around in the water, only keeping his head out.

“Come on, Lu.” He waves at his brother, who surprises me by streaking right past me and running straight for his brother. They tumble in the water, both coming up spluttering and spitting water out of their mouths. It’s the very first time I have to work to tell them apart. Nox hops up and plants his hand on his brother’s head, dunking him, but Lucian is quick to retaliate by scooping Nox up and throwing him back into the water.

I start to smile, then I wonder if this is more manipulation, and my smile flattens. I turn my eyes to the left, spying a cheery blue house with a bunch of sun loungers. I grapple with the colorful scene, wondering if I’m seeing someone else’s property, but then I realize it’s far too close to belong to one of the other families. It doesn’t seem to fit with the Morningstars’ aesthetic, but I can’t deny it’s there.

“Change your mind?” Nox huffs over me, dripping icy water on my sun warmed legs.

“No.” I shield my eyes so I can see him.

“Time for the hot tub then.” He leans down as if he might try to pick me up, and I scramble back out of self-preservation, getting to my feet. Not only is he soaking wet and freezing by the looks of his purple lips, but who knows what he would do to me if he was actually able to lift me, which I’m not convinced of anyway. I’m solid.

“I wouldn’t hurt you, Nova,” Nox says, sounding bewildered and maybe even a little hurt. I still need to salvage this visit and hopefully get some answers, so I placate him.

“I know your game—you’re just trying to get me all wet.”

“I bet you already are from watching us,” Lucian goads.

I grit my teeth, trying not to rise to his bait, but I lose the battle when I say, “Jealous the waves do a better job lapping at me than you ever could to get me wet?”

“Is that what you were sitting up here thinking about, lamb? Me lapping at you?” Lucian’s hand snaps in my direction, but I’m not fast enough to get away from him before he grabs the back of my neck tightly and pulls me closer to his face. My head is tilted up slightly from the tight grip he has on my hair. “It would never happen, because I don’t lap at pussy, I eat it—tongue, teeth, and mouth—but you can keep dreaming.” He shoves me away, and I stumble in the uneven sand, falling on my butt as I reach my hands out behind me to brace for the landing.

“What the fuck, Lucian?” Nox shoves his brother’s shoulder—who manages to keep his footing—then kneels down in the sand in front of me. “Are you okay?” He’s searching my face with what seems like genuine concern.

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