Page 71 of Twisted

“Holy shit,” I exclaim, leaning in closer to look at the map.I can’t make out a precise location, but one thing is for certain: they’re here.

CHAPTER29

“You’re bleeding.”Xavier appears before me the second I step into the house.Sunlight touches his skin, searing it.He doesn’t even flinch at the pain.Dressed in black pants and a black button-up, he looks elegant and deadly as usual.I’ve yet to see this man in anything but a suit.

He takes my hand and brings it up to his face, looking at my finger.“You pricked your finger.”

“It wasn’t on a spindle cursed by an angry fairy, so I’m fine,” I say, trying to pull my hand away.

“You were doing magic.”Devon steps in behind us and closes the door, sealing out any and all natural light.Xavier’s gaze flicks from me to him and back again.“You were both doing magic.”

“I was merely a spectator,” Devon says, though he’s holding the maps and my little bag of supplies.I have the book in my other hand and my heart is still racing from seeing the circle around a vague area on the east coast.

“My parents,” I start.“They’re here in the US.Somewhere by Connecticut or Massachusetts.”

“Wren,” Xavier says gently.“I told you, they’re dead.”

“No, you’re wrong.”

“I’m not,” he presses and I jerk my hand back.“Why would I lie?”His eyes search mine, trying to convince me to just believe him.

“I had nowhere to go before,” I counter.“You knew I wasn’t going back to the Order.But if I had family, I could leave.”

“If you had family, I would take you to them,” he says and I don’t want to be stupid and believe him.“But you don’t, Wren.”

“Everyone has a family.I literally couldn’t be born if I didn’t.”

“You know what I mean,” he continues.“Your parents and your aunt were killed the day you were taken.”

“How would you know?”

“I looked into it,” he presses.

“And what?You just expect me to believe it?”I widen my eyes and shake my head.“What’s my last name then?”

“Wren,” he tries.“This isn’t going to solve anything.”

“Yes, it will!”I reply, voice getting high pitched.“I deserve to know where I came from!”

“I tend to agree,” Devon says apprehensively and Xavier growls.

“Why won’t you tell me?”My brows furrow and I look at Xavier.“If you really know, why wouldn’t you tell me?I don’t believe you.”

“You really want to know?”

“Yes!”

“You won’t like what I have to say.”

“I probably won’t believe what you have to say.”

“Wren,” he tries, and I can tell he’s losing his patience.

“Tell me,” I say through gritted teeth and the light above us starts to hum as they grow brighter.

“You need to learn to listen.”

“No,” I snap.“My locator spell worked.My parents are somewhere on the East coast and I’m going to find them.”