Page 76 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

“Well, I guess I'd better get inside and get my son registered.” His son? “Sabastian is so looking forward to attending Wayward with all of you and his sister. I’m so happy that after all this time, he and Lilya are finally reunited.”

What!

Christov smiled and walked away, brushing past Nash as he did. It was like he was daring him to take a swing.

My mouth had fallen open, and I dropped Nash’s hand. Sabastian smirked and tugged on Ivy, who looked as shocked as I felt.

“Ren is your sister,” Ivy asked, just before they stepped into the school.

Nash swore and stomped around, but I no longer cared as my own confusion morphed into anger. But no one seemed to notice. I stepped away and glared at them with my hands on my hips. And still, no one saw me.

“Fuck, he’s a real dick. I want ta punch him square in his smug face,” Myles growled.

“Tell me about it,” Blake chimed in. “Him and Sabastian both.”

I cleared my throat, but they didn’t pay me any attention. The guys stood in a circle, insults flying, while I looked from one to the other as my anger continued to rise.

“Do you think he’s taunting us to try something? Does he genuinely believe he’s that untouchable,” Theo asked.

“Of course he is. That was the face of a man who has a worm on his hook, and we’re the fish. I wouldn’t be surprised he led Marcus on a wild goose chase,” Liam said.

“Or lured him into a trap. He’s a big enough twat to do it,” Myles added.

I cleared my throat for a second time, and there was still no response. I could’ve been a bear here to kill them, and they wouldn’t have noticed me.

“We should follow the new lead Vicky gave us and ignore him for now. It’s not like following him around in broad daylight will help us,” Liam said.

“I told you that Sabastian coming here was going to be a problem. This is why I didn’t want that asshole to transfer in. Fuck,” Nash growled.

“Hey,” I yelled, and that did it. They all turned to look at me. “Sabastian…is my…brother,” I asked, not hiding how angry I was. It was just one more thing they had kept from me. “And no one…thought to tell me?”

They froze and glanced at one another.

“Shite…I knew there was somethin’ else we needed to tell ya,” Myles said, running his hand through his hair, his expression sheepish.

“I see…how long?” Again silence. But everyone looked to Nash this time.

“Don’t fucking look at me. I’m already in hot water. Someone else can jump in the flames for this one,” he said, crossing his arms.

“How…long,” I snarled, and Liam stepped forward.

“Two things. But this first part needs to stay quiet. Sabastian is not blood-related. Edmundo confirmed that your mother only ever gave birth to one child, you. Christov had a mistress named Alina. Sabastian is her son. It’s complicated, but she lived with you.”

She did? “Live-in mistress?” My mind was spinning.

“Yes. Your mom and Christov had an arrangement. Anyway, the point is, he’s not your actual brother.

But we don’t know what Sabastian knows, and Christov still believes you’re his daughter.

They can’t find out otherwise until we’re ready.

Neal is only safe because they don’t know Eddie is your father.

It could push them to do something more desperate. ”

That part I already knew from my talk with Eddie, but having Sabastian here and Christov’s son just made everything so much more complicated.

“We need to find Neal first. If you still want that,” Nash asked.

I nodded and walked away. This was not how I saw today going. I was supposed to be focusing on my first exam, and excited for the warm cookies in the cafeteria. For just a few days, I wanted to act like my entire life wasn’t one giant reality television show.

But nooo…not even thirty seconds in and it started already. I had a brother who wasn’t my brother, and three fathers, but two of them weren’t, and one was. Was Sabastian the little boy in my memories? What the hell?

Liam touched my shoulder, and I slowly turned around to face him.

“We’ve been suspicious for a while about Sabastian.

We didn’t tell you because we still can’t figure him out.

Not even me. He acts like he doesn’t know anything about his father’s alliance with Lawrence, but he’s hiding something.

You’ve had a lot going on already, Little Rabbit.

We were only holding it back until we had concrete answers.

It was just more family drama, and you aren’t fully healed yet.

Sabastian enrolling here is new, and it complicates things further. ”

I took a deep breath. “So sick of secrets. Stop keeping things…from me. Stop protecting me from truth,” I said firmly, leaving no room for arguments. I was done with them coddling me.

“I know you are, and I’m sorry,” he said.

“Nah, we’re all sorry, Snowflake. It’s been hard to keep up with it all,” Myles said, and I smirked. Wasn’t that the truth.

Little snowflakes landed on my cheeks as we stood there. I held out my hand and watched them land. It made me think of when I first arrived and my first Christmas. Things had seemed chaotic and confusing then…God, that was a cake walk compared to now.

“What do you…want…to know,” I asked.

“Is he a threat, and what are his intentions,” Nash asked. “Is he here because this is a better school? Because of Ivy? No one transfers during exams, especially with one semester left of school. So why now?”

I nodded and hiked my bag up on my shoulder. “Fine…I’ll find…out.”

“What? No,” Nash said, and I held my hand up, stopping him and the rest of them who looked like they were about to object.

“This…my life…my family.” Rolling my shoulders, I gave them all a stern, I’m not changing my mind glare. “I will find…the answers,” I said, and marched for the front doors.

So much for that relaxing first day back.