Page 49 of Above (Darkness Reigns #1)

Nova

“Today Mama told me about love. Not the love that I have for her, but a different kind. One that is extra special. She called it soulmates, like her and Dad. I don’t want a soulmate though, I just want us all to be together forever and ever.”

T ime with my family swiftly turned into Mama fawning over Altair while Celeste and Dad watched on suspiciously.

I had given him the tonic, watching as he drank it in one pained gulp, and immediately noted the change in his demeanor.

Somehow, he had become even more charming as his wits found him once more.

He laughed at all the right places, was on his second helping of what he likely considered eadi slop, and even complimented Celeste’s art—much to her dismay.

“My mother tried to get me to learn how to paint, but I ended up doing much better with the piano than the paintbrush. I admire how much skill and creativity goes into art like yours.” Smooth little shit.

My fingers instinctively gripped the edges of my chair, my teeth clenching. Altair’s eyes flitted down, holding steady on my hand. A broad smile overtook his face, showing for a rare moment what he could’ve been if he hadn’t been born into a hateful family ruling a wicked world.

Blinking, I shook the thought out of my head, the movement making my headache intensify. Why was I making any sort of justification for Altair? He was a monster.

“She sounds lovely,” Mama said, smiling just as wide as Altair. “Tell us about your family. Are they shaytan?”

Across from me, Celeste brought her finger to her open mouth and feigned gagging. Dad chuckled softly, earning a glare from Mama. But Altair didn’t seem to mind, instead choosing to let out a slight huff of laughter, his pale cheeks turning a soft pink.

“Yes, they’re shaytan. They’re very traditional, and as an only child I’m afforded all of their attention, but I also have to bear the weight of their expectations.

It can be overwhelming, but I’m very lucky.

” More like sycophants who want to take over the world.

“It must be so lovely to have a sibling though. And the four of you seem so close. So happy .”

We all froze, staring at Altair in disbelief.

Even I did, because how devastating it must have been to not know the care of a family.

To be starved of affection from those who were biologically meant to unconditionally love you.

It was criminal. And again, I found myself internally making excuses for the snake.

“Well, we have our moments,” Mama whispered, her voice thick with emotion. I could see the wobble of her bottom lip from my spot next to Dad. She would cry if no one stepped in.

“We own an apothecary, you know,” I chimed in. Altair’s head whipped from Mama to me, those bright eyes holding my gaze as if trying to read my thoughts. “The four of us all work there, but it’s my mother’s passion. She has spent her entire life dreaming of helping eadi.”

Scrunching my eyes, I dared him to say something bigoted. To prove to me he was the hateful creature he had always shown me. I was forgetting beneath the veil of his charm, and I needed to remember.

“That’s incredible. Honestly, I’ve never met someone who was that selfless. That hopeful. It’s rare, and I’m so glad there are people like you who are eager to change the world.” A wistful, awed tone made his voice softer than normal, his cold and deep rasp fading into something warm.

We stared at each other for what felt like years, not so much as blinking, before Dad cleared his throat, startling me back into reality.

His deep set eyes were slitted, narrowed in on the table, where Altair and I had simultaneously placed our hands, barely an inch of space separating our fingers.

Altair snatched his away, running it through his hair and turning to face Mama.

As he peppered her with questions, Dad and I entered into a silent conversation.

Even when I was younger, I could always tell what he was thinking just by looking at his face. He was like a living journal, a story that needed only to be seen to be understood. Now, as he stared me down, I could tell what he was thinking just as clearly as ever.

Dad knew I was keeping something from them. His full lips were tightened into a thin line, his thick brows so low they nearly forced his eyes closed. His beard had grown out more in the last two months, and he stroked it slowly as he accused me wordlessly.

What was I meant to say? The truth wasn’t an option, and more lies felt pointless. Talking would only bring more fury. Like she so often did, Mama saved me.

“My love, do you want some more food?” Dad’s eyes flicked toward hers, softening and lifting the corners of his mouth.

“No, darling, I’m full. It was delicious,” he praised. Then a mischievous smile appeared, and I readied for his next comment, watching Altair rather than either of them. “Just like you are.”

Altair’s eyes widened, the comment that was relatively tame for my parents seeming to scandalize him.

Mama blushed, bringing her fingers to her lips to stifle her musical giggles.

She was the most lovely thing the world had ever seen, and it crushed me to watch her disappear and fade before my eyes.

But when she laughed like that, her vibrance was momentarily restored.

“You naughty man,” she cooed, winking at Dad. Celeste groaned, slumping in her chair and letting her head fall back. I couldn’t stop my laughter as she feigned hanging herself with her short hair, not quite succeeding.

“You’re both so gross,” she muttered.

“Agreed,” I added, smiling at my sister. She sat up straight, not returning the grin.

“So are you two.” I reared back, sticking out my tongue in disgust.

“We are not together.”

“We are not together,” she parroted, lifting her hand and folding her fingers as if her hand were talking.

“We are not together,” I shot back, grabbing my fork like a weapon and tilting my head as I mocked her in return. We went back and forth three more times, our chests both leaning over the table, before Dad cut us off.

“Girls, really?”

“I’ve never seen two people so in love,” Altair whispered. We all turned to him, jaws slack. Beneath our gazes, Altair almost appeared shy. His shoulders rose, his immaculate posture slumping somewhat, and a deeper pink spread across his cheeks. “Apologies, I didn’t mean to be inappropriate.”

“Not at all,” Mama reassured, placing her hand on his and tapping it gently. “That was so kind of you, Az.”

Death’s fur tickled my slightly exposed ankle, stealing my attention.

I bent low, swiping her up and placing a soft kiss to her damp black nose.

She purred, rubbing her tiny head against my chin, then turned toward Altair.

A grimace stretched his lips into a slightly downturned line, his light brows knitting together. Was he afraid of cats or something?

Death meowed, shimmying out of my hold and forcing me to drop her onto my lap, where she promptly bent low and leapt onto Altair. He froze, his hands up and shoulders pressed into the back of his chair. For her part, Death only purred and shoved her head into his lower stomach.

“That’s Death, she’s friendly.” Though I wished she weren’t.

“She’s also not supposed to be at the table, but she’s stubborn like Nova.”

Crossing my arms, I leaned forward and looked at my mother. She was smirking, a sparkle in her eye that terrified me.

“Thanks, Mama. I’m actually quite—”

“When are you going to tell us about Elite Academy?” Celeste cut in. I looked at her, mouth open, wishing she’d just let us have a nice dinner for once.

“What more do you want to know? I’ve told you everything in my letters.”

“Yeah, right. We know you’re leaving things out.” She paused, placing her chin in her hand. “I just want to make sure you’re safe. You’re my little sister, it’s supposed to be my job to protect you.”

“I’m fine, I promise.” A lie. A horrible, necessary one. Celeste knew it too. I had admitted the opposite to her in a letter.

“Nova is actually doing more than fine,” Altair said.

Stars I wished he’d disappear. Scratching Death, his eyes on Celeste, he continued, “She’s the smartest in our trainee class by a mile, and she’s improving steadily in every other aspect.

In fact, she is in the same division as Caleb Dofrel, and she has outshone him every step of the way.

She even saved our entire class when we were poisoned.

I’ve never seen anyone brew an antidote so quickly. ”

“There’s a core boy in your trainee class?” Dad asked, his voice shrill and panicked. “Has he tried to hurt you?”

“Thanks for that,” I muttered to Altair. “I’m okay, Dad. I swear. Please, can we talk about something else? How is the shop doing?”

Mama saved the day again, chatting about the apothecary and going on to ask Altair more questions.

My mind lost focus, my head swimming with panic and dread, the illusions seeping into my thoughts.

When Celeste kicked me under the table, I startled and looked up at her, only to see blood dripping from her eyes and mouth.

I shook my head, the image gone as soon as it appeared.

My sister looked horrified, my expression apparently setting warning bells off in her head. So I smiled, quickly looking away.

Death had left Altair’s lap, opting instead to run to the entryway and gnaw on his expensive shoes he refused to part with, the leather likely now peppered with tooth marks.

For the rest of dinner, I allowed Altair to steal the show, though I’d normally rather stab him in the neck. But he was an expert at charming people, and he even won over Dad as he chatted about his family home and the architecture behind it.