Page 49 of Little Wing (Shades of Fairhaven #1)

B efore me, pinned to the ground, was the true monster. I barely felt the thick tears roll down my cheeks as I spat down at him with words laced with rage and betrayal.

“You think this has been a kindness?”

I watched Luca writhe beneath Silas’s weight, but his eyes remained steady on mine. Not a single hint of remorse could be found anywhere in his orbs.

“Oh, please,” he managed a cackle even as Silas pressed harder against his throat.

I stepped close enough to look down upon his wretched face. My blood, like spilled ink, dripped beside him. “You truly believe you showed me love? The scars on my body certainly paint a different picture.”

What remained of the sweet young man I once called my brother, my best friend, was lost to time and his treachery. The man who once protected me from creatures in the forest as well as the young men who had less than chivalrous ideas involving me. But now? I could no longer see that man.

For years I wondered what it would be like to see him again. I wondered if I would cower beneath his power over me. Would I let him drag me back like a disobedient child? Perhaps had it been years prior when I was still settling in, but not now. Never again.

“What, Lotus?” Luca continued to strain beneath Silas. “You spread your legs for someone new and you forget all I’ve done for you? All I covered up for you?”

“Enough!” Silas snarled, gripping Luca by his throat as he slammed his head hard against the floor.

I barely winced at the sound.

“The last time you showed me any true kindness, your blood still ran red.”

As the words left my mouth, I bowed my head at the memory that continued to haunt me each time that I closed my eyes.

The sight and sound of Luca kicking Wesley’s limp body like trash for me to pick up.

Had it not been for Luca’s involvement, perhaps Wesley could have lived a long life.

Perhaps with a lovely young wife and children.

No. Enough.

I would not carry this as my guilt when it was my brother's fault.

It was because of Luca that I lost someone precious.

It was his fault that I lost control and suffered.

I should have died. All those years ago, Luca should have let me die, but instead I now stood towering over him.

With my eyes finally peeled away from him, I asked Silas to move Luca off the ground.

That, of course, did not go without Luca attempting to headbutt Silas.

“You’re a fucking prick, you know that?” Silas groaned, spitting black blood onto Luca’s face. He gave him a swift whack to the head, effectively knocking him out.

After we bound his arms and legs with whatever spare sheets and butcher twine that I could find, I finally stopped to take in the state of my home.

It looked like a tornado had gone through the unit.

I felt so violated. The violation of my sanctuary hurt more than the gash in my neck that still hadn’t healed completely.

“Here,” Silas whispered, bringing a damp cloth to my neck. “Let me help clean this up.”

Though I sighed at the first contact of the wet towel against my skin, I allowed his help without wanting to push away.

His apologies for not moving fast enough continued to spill from his lips.

Over and over, he repeated his regret for not acting smarter or getting me out right away.

I felt the pain in his voice, but there wasn’t a single second where I pushed any of the blame on him.

I just needed to endure Luca a little longer. I could do a little longer if it meant it would soon be over. One way or another… it would finally be over.

As I gazed upon my unconscious brother, the reality of his presence struck me.

Shit, he found me. This is happening. What do I do?

What can I do? I felt my breaths thinning.

It was hard to breathe. The air felt thick.

My head was spinning. On the other side of the apartment, I watched Silas working on picking up my belongings off the ground—hoping to salvage what wasn’t completely shattered.

It only took moments for him to notice me and rush right back to my side.

Eyes wide, he wrapped his arms around me, sheltering me in the cocoon of his embrace.

“What do I do now?” My hands trembled now when Silas reached between us to hold them with one hand. My teeth chattered uncontrollably and I felt like my chest was about to cave in. Though the words were not spoken, the answer was clear, wasn’t it?

Luca was wanted and he had to be turned in.

That poor family needed the closure, but where would that leave me?

Where would that leave me as his kin ?

“I… I have to call,” I sniffled.

Silas brought my hands to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to them before resting his chin on my head. “Whatever you need to do, Lo, I will stay beside you.”

Luca groaned as he stirred back to consciousness. He helped himself up to his knees, but Silas watched him in case he had to put him down… again. “What do you think is going to happen once I tell them everything about you?” Luca sneered.

“I—”

“Remember—they can lock me up, but you’ll still be bound to me. I fucking made you. You can’t just erase me.” Luca laughed then and leaned against the wall. “Or are you ready to let this shitshow finally end?”

“We’ll find a way to break that bond, you fucking piece of shit. She’s your sister!” Silas snarled, pushing me further away from Luca who just stared past him, demanding my attention. “I will break that bond myself if I have to.”

“Right,” Luca smirked. “You do that.”

While Luca’s words stung, I allowed myself to hold on tight to the hope in Silas’s promise. Maybe one day I would finally be free of Luca’s hold on me. Maybe one day I would heal from this.

Convincing Silas to let me step away from him, I moved to stand in front of Luca once again.

I did not cower in fear or tremble, or even growl.

Instead, I smiled. Bright fangs, free of cracks, framed my grin as I spoke.

“You might have made me, Luca, but you hold no power over me. Not anymore. Never again.”

With those words hanging between us, I stepped away while Silas moved in on Luca to ensure he wouldn’t follow. I pulled my phone out of my bag I had thrown to the ground and dialed the emergency line .

After a few rings, I listened to an operator read off her script before I requested to be transferred to the department that handled vampire affairs.

While I listened, I watched Silas manage the situation on his end.

Without asking, he remained by my side and handled Luca so I didn’t have to alone.

In all the madness, my mind wandered to Sylvie Reverie.

Had it not been for her books tipping the domino piece, would my present situation result in a different outcome?

I huffed a short laugh and waited for the line to connect.

“Hello, ma’am?”

I blinked and stared at my phone, quickly pulling myself out of my trance. “Yes—hello?”

“How may I help you?”

“Um yes… I would like to report a crime.”

Keys clacked on the other line. “Okay, are you in immediate danger?”

“Not anymore,” I admitted, bringing my hand to my neck to touch the finally healing wound. “I have information on the whereabouts of Luca Everett.”

The clacking stopped and I could hear the buzzing of her microphone being adjusted on her headset.

“Ma’am, are you certain? Where did you last see him?

” The intensity of her questioning made my chest tighten.

Clearly Luca’s name must have alerted the operator, because I could hear more chatter beginning to increase in volume around her.

Whatever would happen next… I would have to be ready.

If all I had to hold onto now were the new memories Silas and my friends gifted me, then that would have to be enough.

If the tether broke and I perished, then all this would have to have been enough.

“Ma’am, are you still there? Where did you last see him?”

“My home.”