Page 75 of Created in Chaos

“They have a reason, just like we did. Maybe they were playing the long game all along, planning on using him against us in some way,” Lucian speculates. “I told Hershel to draw up the original documents of everything he has on Albert and his family. Once I know for certain Alden is still a Morningstar, I will submit them so he can officially be blacklisted. I doubt it will be effective retroactively, but it won’t stop me from killing him.”

“Should we tell her?” I know it’s not the best idea to keep things from Nova, especially after last night, but there’s no way her knowing could help anything, and she’s already dealing with enough.

“Let’s figure out what we know before we tell her.” He almost sounds reasonable, or maybe I just think that since he gave me an excuse not to tell her.

“Did that Bridget chick say anything else?” I press.

“Other than she’s convinced there was something going on with Nova and Alden? No.”

“Did she see anything?” I ask doubtfully. I trust Nova, and she said there was nothing between them.

“She saw him going to her room a hell of a lot, letting himself in with a key.” Lucian’s eyebrows are high, challenging.

“She didn’t mention that.” I don’t like the idea of him having that kind of access to Nova. Did she give it to him, or did someone else?

“She sure as fuck didn’t, but you can bet I’m going to ask her about it.” Lucian seems calm, but I know he isn’t capable of keeping a level head when it comes to Nova.

“Don’t accuse her of anything,” I warn. “That chick could be lying for all you know.”

“She was too fucking bitter to be lying.” He snorts.

A few seconds pass in silence, and Lucian looks around the room. It’s easy to read what he’s thinking and feeling, like something is missing. This place feels empty without Nova. “How long has she been gone?”

I tap the screen of my phone on my thigh. “A while, nearly two hours.” Unease unfurls in my stomach. I should have gone with her. Maybe being alone wasn’t what she needed, or maybe I’m just nervous about Lucian being a dick when he asks her about Alden.

“That seems like a long enough walk to me.” He checks his phone, and his brow furrows almost immediately. “What the fuck would she be doing over there?”

“Over where?” I stand up to look over his shoulder, even though I could check her location on my phone just as easily.

“Near the docks and dry storage.”

“The coast guard is probably still out on the water. Maybe she wanted to see what was going on,” I suggest.

He huffs and pockets his phone. “Let’s go get her.”

NOVA

An hour into my walk, I don’t feel any different than I did when I left. My thoughts are still muddled and chaotic. I thought gaining a little space from Nox would give me some perspective and help me wrap my head around the fact that I’m not running for the hills after everything I know about this island and what the people here are capable of, but it hasn’t.

He doesn’t have some magical power over me, and there’s no Kool-Aid I’m sipping that has made any of this more tolerable. It’s just me and my willingness to accept them as they are, and the knowledge that I would do whatever it takes to protect them.

It’s frightening, but also the tiniest bit freeing too. Maybe next time—because I’m certain there will be a next time—my world gets turned upside down, I won’t feel the need to examine the reasons behind how I feel.

When my phone rings a short time later, I don’t even bother looking at it before answering it. “Hello?”

“Nova, I’m glad you answered. Don’t hang up. You’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”

“How did you get this number?”

“I thought you would understand by now the lengths people will go to when they are backed into a corner,” Astrid answers, and my blood ices over. Does she know what Lucian did?

“What do you want?” I manage not to sound as worried as I am.

“We’re past wants, my dear girl. It’s time to talk about needs. I hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but the Morningstars have forced my hand.”

“What are you talking about? They haven’t forced anything.” It’s as natural as breathing to defend them.

“That’s where you’re wrong, and in turn, I must now force you.”

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