Page 16 of Twisted Souls (Twisted Souls #1)

Zara

I stared at the painting, my thoughts racing. I had to tell Jaxon. My mother… I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. He had said his mother was a shapeshifter. What if? My stomach churned violently, and I rushed to the desk, gripping the edge for support as I stumbled toward the wastebasket. I began to vomit, the contents of my stomach spilling into the basket.

Was my mother their mother?!

“Zara,” Xavier said, his voice softening with concern as he knelt beside me. His hand hovered near my back, unsure whether to offer comfort or maintain distance. “Are you alright?”

My mind raced back to last night, to Jaxon, and a new wave of nausea washed over me, causing me to vomit again. I was aware of Xavier's hand lightly holding back my hair, and I swatted away his hands. “I th- think we ar- are related,” I manage to say, my voice shaky.

Xavier let out a sharp, barking laugh, and I turned to him, stunned, my eyes wide with disbelief. His smile wavered as he continued to laugh, but it turned joyless as he spoke. “We are not related, Zara.”

“How can you be sure?” I snapped, narrowing my gaze at him.

“For one, my parents are dead,” he hissed, a growl barely contained in his voice. “Another reason is that I can detect such things. I would be able to smell it from your scent. You aren't related to me or my brother.” He huffed, shadowing a towel and a glass of water and placing it on the desk near me. He stood and took a few steps away from me as he did.

Relief surged through me at his declaration, and I shakily stood, drinking deeply from the glass of water and wiping my face with the towel.

“You need to know something,” I said, my voice still trembling. “About Jaxon and why he opened the realm.”

Xavier’s expression darkened, and he growled.

“He believes your mother is alive and has the book you’re searching for. He believes your mother got trapped in my realm when your father sealed the door.” My voice wavered as I spoke, watching a wave of emotions ripple across his face.

His eyes hardened into an icy resolve. “My mother is dead.”

“Then why have I seen her before as a child? Why does my mother wear her necklace?” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. This man was infuriating. I understood Jaxon’s frustration now.

“You were a child. You don’t know what you saw, and none of what you said proves that she is alive.” Xavier's face smoothed into an emotionless mask, and I tilted my head at him in evaluation. Did he do that a lot? Hide his emotions?

“It proves something,” I stated, trying to control my frustration.

“Maybe.” Xavier’s response was curt, and he turned, striding past me with purposeful steps toward his bed.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my eyes tracking his movements.

“I need to sleep,” he replied, his tone flat.

“What?” My gaze fixed on him, confusion swirling within me like a storm.

“Sleep. The thing you rudely interrupted when you appeared in my bed,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

My cheeks heated with anger. “And what exactly am I supposed to do?” I demanded, holding out my arm with the silver chain wrapped tightly around it. “You’ve trapped me with this thing. It’s not like I can just leave.” My gaze darted toward the door, the impulse to bolt making my pulse race.

“You can go ahead and try,” Xavier said, his gaze steady and arms folded across his broad chest. He glanced at the door and then back at me, a smirk on his lips. “It’s locked, but knock yourself out.”

I marched over to the door stubbornly, cursing him as I went. My hand reached for the handle but met an invisible barrier that resisted my touch. I shot a furious look back at him, only to freeze at the sight.

Xavier had discarded his robe and was sliding back into bed. He lifted the sheet to his stomach as he settled against his pillows. His arm draped casually behind his head as he turned to look at me, his gaze both challenging and indifferent.

“Julian reinstated the wards. I suggest you get some sleep. We can talk more in the morning,” he said, his voice dropping to a dismissive murmur as he closed his eyes.

He couldn’t possibly think I would sleep in the same bed as him, especially with him naked?!

“I am not sleeping in the same bed as you,” I barked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Xavier’s lips curved into a mocking smile, his eyes remaining shut. “You had no problem before,” he purred, flashing his teeth. “You’re welcome to sleep on the floor if you prefer,” he said, casually tossing one of his pillows onto the ground beside the bed.

“Why can’t I have a room of my own? You must have some sort of guest accommodations,” I demanded, my hands going to my hips.

“I do, but you aren’t a guest; you’re my prisoner,” he grumbled, lifting one eye open to regard me coolly. “And I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

My mouth fell open at his blunt declaration. Before I could respond, he added, “Good night,” and with a snap of his fingers, the room was plunged into darkness.

You’ve got to be kidding me. I lunged forward, found the edge of the bed, then threw myself onto it. Just as I was about to lift my fist and strike where I remembered his face had been, I collided with an invisible barrier. The force of the impact flung me backward, and I landed on my ass on the floor, the discarded pillow cushioning my fall.

Xavier’s chuckle echoed around the room, infuriatingly amused.

I glowered in his direction, seething. “Ass,” I muttered under my breath, flexing my now sore hand.

After a prolonged internal struggle, exhaustion finally overpowered my frustration. I grudgingly curled up at the very edge of the bed, determined to stay as far away as possible from the insufferably smug man on the other side. The only thing that made the situation bearable was knowing the invisible barrier was in place between us.

My thoughts swirled uncomfortably. I wondered if Jaxon knew where I had gone and how long it would take for anyone other than him to realize I was missing. The thoughtchurned my stomach.

How would I explain my absence? I’m sorry. I was magically transported to another realm and held prisoner, but don’t worry—I’m back.

A small, humorless laugh escaped my lips, and I heard Xavier shift on the bed beside me. My mother was somehow entangled in all this, or at least her necklace. How had she come to possess it? Why was their mother in my castle when I was a child? And where was she now?

Endless questions swirled in my mind until the thoughts made me dizzy. I closed my eyes, feeling a tear slip down my cheek as I rolled over and curled into a tight ball. I needed to convince Xavier to release me so I could tell Jaxon about the necklace.

My brows knitted together. Hadn’t Jaxon told me he couldn’t see my mother’s necklace when I pointed it out at the ball? Had he truly not seen it? The thought made me ache to talk to Jaxon, and I turned over again, feeling restless.

After what felt like hours, exhaustion finally claimed me, and I drifted into a restless sleep.

I woke abruptly, a rough hand clamped around one of my own. My eyes flew open to find a massive, bare chest beneath my head. Xavier's hand was firmly wrapped over mine, and he looked down at me with an eyebrow arched in bemused surprise.

“Get off me!” I shrieked, my voice breaking with panic as I scrambled to move away from him. My leg tangled with his as I pushed myself free, the sudden absence of his warmth leaving a jarring chill on my skin. The spots where our bodies had touched seemed to tingle uncomfortably, and I shuddered at the thought of how many places we had been in contact.

Xavier lounged in the same position from last night, his arm draped casually over his head, a smirk playing on his lips. How had I ended up so close to him? Did he pull me to him in the night, or had I somehow moved closer to him myself?

“I think I should be saying that to you, little stalker. I woke up to find you clinging to me as if your life depended on it.” His smirk widened, and I threw my pillow at him in a frustrated huff before scrambling off the bed. I angrily tried to smooth the wrinkles in my tunic, and I heard him rise from the bed.

I resisted the urge to glance his way, painfully aware of the fact that he had been naked when I woke up—snuggling him. My heart pounded erratically, the embarrassment of the morning crashing over me in waves. How had this happened? I had been at the edge of the bed; there was no way I could have crossed his massive bed and navigated through his magic barrier in my sleep… or could I have? I shook my head, trying to dispel the confusion.

Despite my best efforts to avoid looking at him, curiosity got the better of me. I turned and was met with the sight of Xavier, now dressed in his robe. The cocky smile on his face only fueled my hatred for him further as he rummaged through his room.

I opened my mouth, but Xavier spoke first before I could voice my irritation. “You can go wash up; the bathing chamber is just through there,” he said, and with a casual wave of his hand, a door materialized next to the fireplace. I stared dumbfounded at the casual magic, leaving me momentarily speechless. “I’ll have Julian bring you some clean clothes.” His gaze lingered on me, his eyes briefly scanning my disheveled state. “You’ll find everything you need in there.” Without another word, he strode toward the bedroom door and left.

He just left? I uttered an annoyed grunt and stomped to the door he had just exited. That invisible barrier was back, blocking my way, and I glared at the door.

I turned and stormed for the bathing chamber, swinging open the door and coming to an abrupt stop as I took in the new space.

Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across a polished obsidian floor. A grand marble tub, large enough to comfortably accommodate several people, sat at the heart of the chamber. Soft bubbles surfaced from an underlying current, creating a gentle, soothing ripple across the water’s surface. Shelves flanked the tub, laden with fragrant oils, scented soaps, and fluffy towels. The mingling scents of lavender, citrus, and cedar filled the air around me, and it was unlike anything I had ever seen. Even my parents' bathing room paled in comparison.

I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the steaming water. As I sank into the warmth, a soft moan escaped my lips, the hot temperature easing the knots of tension in my muscles.

Reaching for the tub's edge, I grabbed a bottle and brought it to my nose—citrus and cedar. I grabbed another bottle, but it smelled the same. I sighed at the thought of smelling like him but poured the liquid into my hand anyway and started to rub it into my scalp and skin.

The water in the tub never seemed to cool, its heat a continuous comfort as I sank deeper into the bath, the soothing warmth coaxing me toward relaxation. I must have drifted off, lost in the water's embrace, when a sudden knock at the door jolted me back to reality.

“Don’t come in!” I shouted, scrambling to grab a fluffy black towel from the edge of the tub. I quickly dried myself off and wrapped the towel around my body before cautiously opening the door.

Xavier stood there, leaning against the door frame with an amused smirk. He was still wearing his robe, but his hair was damp as if he, too, had gone and bathed. He held onto a bundle of clothing, and I narrowed my eyes at him as he pushed them forward into my arms.

“Here,” he said, his tone gruff. “This is all Julian could scrounge up on short notice. He’s sending someone to town to fetch more clothes and something for you to wear tonight,” Xavier said lightly, but I could tell he was upset about something.

“What’s tonight? My sacrificial ritual?” I asked, adjusting the bundle of clothing he gave me. I almost dropped my towel in the process. “Shit,” I muttered, quickly grabbing the towel to keep it from slipping.

Xavier stiffened. “We have my governing council arriving today from the other territories to go over a plan for the witches and to make them aware of what my brother has done,” he said stiffly. “There will be a dinner tonight.”

He seemed to be upset about the fact. “And you don’t like dinner?” I asked, clearly missing something.

“Not when the meeting is about my traitorous brother, and I have a frail human in my possession,” he grumbled, his tone terse.

“I am not a possession, and I am not frail,” I snapped, my voice sharp.

Xavier rolled his eyes, turning away from the door.

“Then why have me join?” I asked.

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. He seemed to weigh my words, but ultimately ignored my question. “I’ll take you to breakfast when you’re finished getting ready.”

Scoffing, I slammed the door to the bathing room, the sound echoing in the quiet space. I leaned against the door, closing my eyes. This place was dangerous. These people had magic, and as much as I hated it, I was precisely what Xavier said I was. Compared to all of them, I was a frail human.

The clothes he had given to me didn’t exactly fit. It was clear that the clothes were made for someone taller and much more muscular than me. The navy shirt hung off my shoulders, and I had to tie it at the back to keep it from falling off. The pants fitbutwere too loose, forcing me to roll up the bottoms to avoid tripping.

I looked in the mirror and sighed. The outfit wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.

As I exited the chamber and stepped back into Xavier’s room, I froze. Xavier stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, his hair now dry and tousled over his brow. He had changed into a similar outfit to the one I had seen when we first met: a black silken shirt tucked into black leather pants. He had left the top few buttons of his shirt undone, revealing a glimpse of his toned chest, and I had to remind myself to keep my mouth from falling open.

“You really like the color black,” I remarked, still stunned at how annoyingly handsome he was—not that I would ever let him know that. My stomach seemed to flip, and he frowned slightly as his gaze swept over my ill-fitting clothes, irritation flashing in his emerald eyes.

He stepped toward me, stopping just a foot away, and extended his hand. I hesitated before taking it. A jolt of electricity shot up my arm at the contact, and I noticed Xavier’s hand twitched slightly as if he, too, felt the spark.

His green eyes sharpened as darkness began to swirl around us. In the blink of an eye, we were in a different room, the shadowy mist evaporating as quickly as it had come. I sucked in a sharp breath, pulling my hand from his instinctively. He grinned down at my panicked expression, revealing straight, pearly white teeth. The smile almost took my breath away, leaving me momentarily frozen in place.

“More warning next time,” I spat, irritated at my body's reaction to him.

“Where is the fun in that?” He chuckled darkly, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he continued to look at me.

“Who the hell is that?” a silky female voice cut through the air.

“Looks like Xavier has a girlfriend,” another male voice answered.

“That is the human I was telling you about,” Julian's voice echoed.

I turned to face the source of the voices and found myself in what seemed to be a grand dining hall. The walls and floors were the same black obsidian marble as the ballroom, and a large hearth heated the room from one end, large enough to house a tiny family.

Large floor-to-ceiling windows filled the majority of the adjacent wall, the scene through them breathtaking as the sun rose higher into the fiery yellow sky. Towering mountains surrounded various reflective lakes, and far-off villages were scattered across a lush green landscape.

In the center of the room, a long wooden table stretched out, laden with various foods. Julian occupied the right side, his wolfish grin reappearing as his eyes flicked toward me with renewed interest. The man and the woman sat at the opposite side of the table, their faces betraying a mix of curiosity and mistrust.

The female was strikingly beautiful, her strawberry blonde hair meticulously arranged in a tight bun. Braided strands swirled and twisted, held in place by what looked like two sharp, ornate blades. Her angular features accentuated her beauty, and her soft brown eyes narrowed on me with a predatory gleam—like a hunter assessing its prey.

She wore a black leather vest adorned with an array of weapons.

Beside her sat her companion, a male who bore a strong resemblance to her. They shared the same almond-shaped brown eyes and strawberry blonde hair, though his was shaved close to his head. A pink, jagged scar traced down the side of his neck and disappeared into the edge of his matching leather vest. He was considerably larger than the woman, but they both had a deathly stillness that made me nervous.

They had to be the twins Julian and Xavier had mentioned.

“Everyone, this is Zara. She is our guest for the time being,” Xavier announced with a smirk that only deepened my glare in return.

“You mean prisoner,” I muttered under my breath, but he chose to ignore my comment.

“You’ve already met Julian,” Xavier continued, and Julian raised his glass in greeting.

“These are the twins, Theo and Dedra,” Xavier added, indicating the pair sitting across the table. “They are my generals,” he said, his voice taking on a note of authority.

“Nice to meet you all,” I said, forcing a strained smile. Generals? Gods, if I wasn’t already intimidated enough. They both looked like they could snap me in half with one touch.

“Please, join us,” Julian offered, his voice a blend of casual charm and underlying curiosity. He gestured to a chair beside him and pulled it out with a flourish. As I moved to sit, Xavier followed, guiding me gently into the chair. His fingers brushed my shoulder, sending an unexpected shiver down my spine.

Xavier seemed to hesitate for a moment before sitting down on my other side at the table.

I glanced around at everyone, my smile a touch uncertain. “So, you both are generals… I’m guessing that means you have a large army to command?” I asked, glancing around the room.

Dedra’s response was immediate and sharp. “Why? Trying to gather intel on us?”

I flinched at her hostility, and Xavier’s growl cut through the tension.

Dedra’s eyes narrowed at him, a silent challenge in their exchange. “Why is she here?” she demanded.

“Enough, Dedra,” Xavier snapped.

Dedra stood, but another more primal growl came from Xavier’s chest, and Dedra seemed to reconsider. She sat back down in her seat, casting an icy look in my direction.

I scrunched my brows in confusion. I think I was missing something.

Theo, who sat next to her, had his mouth quirked up in a half smile and was beaming at me. “Welcome to Nexia,” he said, giving me a wink. Dedra twisted in her seat and gave Theo a sharp punch in the arm.

“Ow,” Theo exclaimed, though he laughed it off. “Come on, sis, lighten up. It’ll be nice to have another girl around, especially one that isn’t so mean.” He nudged her playfully, eliciting a ghost of a smile despite her earlier reaction.

Xavier reached for a piece of bacon from the tray, and I shot him a sidelong glance, feeling uneasy and uncomfortable. He grabbed more food and placed the plate he filled in front of me, making my brows shoot up in surprise.

“You need to eat,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument as he prepared another plate for himself. The others at the table watched the exchange with barely concealed curiosity, quickly averting their eyes when I met their gazes. I hesitated, then dug into the overflowing plate Xavier had set before me.

The food was extraordinary. I was starving and didn’t even realize it. Reflecting on my last meal, I realized that besides whiskey, I hadn't eaten since the ball. I started to eat at a ravenous pace, and I momentarily forgot about the others around me.

Their wide eyes tracked my every bite, and Julian’s voice cut through the silence, laced with an amused nervousness. “Do they starve you in the human realm?” he asked, his eyes fixed on me as I bit into a buttery, flaky pastry.

I swallowed my food and responded sheepishly. “No, but with the attack and everything that happened, I guess I forgot to eat,” I admitted.

“What attack?” Julian asked, brows knitting in concern.

“A Daka attacked me earlier today—well, yesterday now, at my castle,” I said, tearing into another strip of bacon and meeting his concerned gaze.

“And you didn’t lead with this?” Julian’s voice rose, directing his frustration at Xavier.

“Jaxon took care of it,” Xavier grumbled, his tone dismissive as he focused on his plate of food.

“You mean Jaxon caused it. If Daka are breaching the human realm, we need to close that door. Now,” Theo snapped, his previous light demeanor fading.

“We don’t know if it can be closed again.” Xavier sighed, his expression clouded with a flicker of pain before it solidified into a stony mask. He continued to eat, ignoring the rising tension around him.

“Then we should go get him before more damage is done,” Dedra said, stabbing a piece of egg with her fork. Her eyes locked onto Xavier with a fierce glare.

He met her gaze with equal intensity. “I told you, no one is going.”

Dedra’s frustration was palpable, her body practically vibrating with anger as she remained seated.

“If you can’t control your temper, Dedra, you should leave. I have no patience for it today,” Xavier snapped, stabbing his fork blindly at his plate.

“Fine. I’ll go check on the guards.” Dedra stood abruptly, her tone clipped as she slammed her napkin onto the table. As she began to walk away, Xavier made no move to stop her.

She cast a final, menacing glance over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing as they met mine. “I’m watching you, Princess .” Her voice was a low growl before she turned sharply and exited the room, the door closing behind her with a decisive click.

“Don’t mind her,” Theo said, pushing back his chair and standing up. “She has trust issues.” He gave me a wink before following his sister out of the room.

Julian sighed, his gaze drifting to the door through which Dedra and Theo had just left. “It’s a good thing everyone is arriving today.” He set his silverware down and rose from his seat, facing us with a resigned expression. “I should go and start preparing for their arrival.”

He glanced at me with a warm, if slightly hesitant, smile. “Your new clothes will be in your room when you return later today. Sorry about your current outfit, Dedra… well, it doesn’t matter. Enjoy your day.”

“Thank you, Julian. You are kind,” I said, my voice sincere. I could have sworn I saw a faint blush creep across his cheeks before he turned and left, following after the twins.

“You hold a very informal court,” I said, trying to break the thick silence that had settled around us.

Xavier’s gaze shifted to me as he leaned back in his chair. “I don’t like to be treated any differently than anyone else in my kingdom. I only pull rank when it’s necessary.”

His knee brushed against mine as he spoke, and the unexpected contact made me shift uncomfortably in my seat. “How do your parents' rule?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. “My father is a military man. He values protocol, rules, structure…” I trailed off, feeling my explanation fall short, but Xavier seemed to grunt in understanding.

“And what about your mother?” he pressed.

“My mother…” I chuckled, at a loss for words, unsure how to even describe her. “She’s old-fashioned in many ways. Like my father, she likes her rules, but it's the control she craves most,” I said, staring down at my plate as I moved my food around. “She’s trying to arrange a marriage for me because she found out your brother has been in my room.” I snorted, the bitterness sharp in my voice. “She’d probably make me marry him out of spite. After our first encounter, she found your shirt in my room and gave me a warning… so now, there have to be consequences.” I laughed humorlessly, but the sound faltered when I met Xavier’s gaze.

He was deathly still beside me, his eyes once again blazed with hidden emotion. “You're betrothed to my brother?” Xavier's voice came out low and deadly.

“No, she only wanted to threaten me, I think,” I said nervously, regretting bringing it up. I looked down and continued moving my food around on my plate with my fork. Why was I all of a sudden so nervous?

“But something did happen between you and my brother,” he stated rather than asked, his tone tight with restrained fury. My body flushed with heat, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Not exactly… well, kind of,” I stammered, my face growing warmer by the second. I didn’t want to discuss this with him.

“And what does ‘kind of’ mean?” His voice was a deep rumble, each word weighted with unspoken threat.

“None of your business,” I snapped, finally meeting his gaze. “What does it matter?”

His beautiful green eyes narrowed, his anger palpable. “It matters,” he hissed, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Who did he think he was? My private life was none of his business. I squared my shoulders and faced him in my chair. “It shouldn’t,” I said through clenched teeth.

His eyes locked onto mine, and a storm of heat and anger reflected back at me. We stared at each other, the air between us crackling with energy. “I’m not having this conversation with you,” I said, standing abruptly from my chair. I tossed my utensils and napkin onto the table, the clatter echoing in the still room.

Unsure of where I was going, I started walking toward the door the others had left, no longer wanting to be here with him.

Before I could reach the door, Xavier moved with startling speed. He was suddenly in front of me, making me gasp in surprise. His hand gripped my chin with a force that bordered on bruising. His other hand came around me, and my heart raced as he drew me closer, pulling me against his chest. The heat of his body pressed flush against mine, overwhelming my senses.

“Make no mistake, Princess,” Xavier growled, his voice harsh. “I’ve been tolerant up to now, but my brother will pay for his crimes—all his crimes.”

A terrifying twist of rage contorted his features, his jaw clenched tight, and I struggled against his relentless strength.

“Get off me,” I demanded, trying to push him away.

“I wouldn’t get too attached to a corpse,” he snapped, making me wince. His face was inches from mine, his breath warm on my face. My chest brushed against his with my breath, and a warmth rippled through me at the contact. Xavier’s nostrils flared, his gaze flickering to my lips.

“You’re a brute,” I spat. His eyes flicked back up to mine, locking on with a gleam of amusement dancing in their depths. A wicked smile spread across his face.

“Kill me and be done with it,” I breathed, my voice steady, “otherwise, let me leave.” I held his penetrating stare, challenging him.

Xavier leaned forward, “I plan on doing many things, little stalker,” he whispered, his voice thick with promise. “Killing you isn’t one of them.” The words brushed my lips, his breath a heated tease that quickened my pulse.

With a sudden, forceful push, Xavier released me from his grip, sending me stumbling backward. Before I could regain my balance, Xavier waved his hand dismissively toward me.

Dark mist curled around me, suffocating and cold. I blinked against the disorienting pressure, and when my senses cleared, I found myself back in his room, alone.