Page 51 of Light in Your Eyes

I feel like I'm about to cry. Now that I think about it, the last time I saw Kellan he was freaking mad at me.

Maybe he gave me this tattoo to punish me, not to protect me.

"You did the best you could," Stas says to Zoe, ruffling her hair. He gives her a kiss on the forehead. "I'm so proud of you."

Zoe smiles with tears brimming in her eyes, and I don't even know whether it's a sad smile or a happy one.

"I think it's better to wait for Kellan to announce it himself. I don't think that anyone would be ready for this." Stas straightens up.

Zoe quickly nods and hurriedly helps me wear my clothes back to cover my tattoo.

"Go with her for breakfast," Stas says to his daughter.

My heart is beating like a drum in my chest.

"Don't worry, Layla," Stas says while Zoe and I are heading to the door.

I glance back at him, only to find him looking at me with a serious expression.

"Everything will be all right."

That's the last thing I hear before Zoe drags me out of their home.

Zoe and I make our way to the kitchen. She only gives me silence and an apologetic look when I ask her about the tattoo again along the way.

"Please, I need to know what will happen to me." I halt as we almost reach the kitchen.

She shakes her head, and my heart sinks with disappointment again. She places her palm over my heart and gives me a reassuring smile, as if she's trying to tell me that everything will be okay. But it's not enough for me.

Someone bumps into me, and when I turn my head, I see Nina, the girl whom I met when I first stepped into this mansion.

"If it isn't the girl without the tattoo." She sneers and then tosses Zoe a degrading look. "You've got yourself a friend, Layla. A stupid mute."

My heart burns with anger after hearing how she spoke about Zoe.

"Just leave us alone," I bite out.

"Layla,"someone booms, and the entire room's attention is immediately on me.

Shivers run down my spine as I spot Luca walking toward me with his two friends. One of them indeed resembles Marco, and I snap my head around to find the other brother, hoping that he will show up and knock some sense into them again.

"I think it's about time that Kellan trashes you." Luca stops in front of me while everyone else goes silent. "He hasn't said any warning again after the first one, and as far as I can see, you're the one who's always on his tail."

"Do you not have anything else to do other than bullying someone?" I speak through gritted teeth. "An important mission, perhaps?"

Luca clenches his jaw, and I know that I just hit the right spot. His ego is bruised.

"Watch your tongue," he snaps, advancing toward me.

Zoe steps in front of me, shielding me from him.

Luca chuckles, eyeing her with pity. "Step away, you fucking mute. Don't interfere in my business with her. It's about time that she knows who's in charge here."

Zoe shakes her head firmly. When Luca takes one more step forward, she daringly pushes his chest, earning gasps from the surrounding people. It's not every day that we see Zoe picking a fight with one of the knights' right-hand men.

Rage takes over Luca, and before I know it, he pushes her with such force that she hits a table around the corner. My eyes widen in horror as I watch her fall onto the floor.

"What the hell did you just do to her?" I shout angrily at Luca before rushing to help her.