Page 83 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

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There was a smile on my face because this was my first Christmas with my father, but all it took was one look at Nash, and I wanted to cry. I was trying my best to be his rock and keep from getting emotional in front of him, but that was easier said than done.

The cruelty of people in general had never ceased to amaze me, and what his mother did was so far beyond evil it was something else entirely.

Nash had his emotions locked down, but with every touch, I felt the pain in his heart. It was trying to consume him, and the worst part…I didn’t know how to help.

We’d just finished a delicious brunch, and everyone had been on their best behavior, including Vicky, who had decided to remain here instead of going to visit her mother in Spain. She hadn’t started a single fight or thrown an insult the entire day. I was ready to check to see if she had a fever.

“Come into the den. I would like to do gifts today since we are all together,” Eddie said.

The house would feel almost empty tonight.

Liam was going home to be with his parents and Sienna.

Blake, Theo, and Myles were off to Ella and Ethan’s to have Christmas with Lip as a family.

I’d been invited, but wanted to stay with my dad.

I also didn’t want to leave Nash alone. He was spiraling, and I needed to be here for him.

We grabbed our coffees and moved our party into the den—like the rest of the house, it had been heavily decorated.

Lights and garland decked the halls, and a little train chugged around the room on a track with winter scenes all along the route.

The fire crackled, and the warm flames added to the cozy feel.

But what I loved the most were the trees.

There were a few around the house adorned with gold and silver ornaments, and they smelled heavenly.

Everything Eddie had done to make our first Christmas magical made me smile.

I held my mug to my chest, like a little treasure, and sat down between Nash and Myles.

Eddie walked over to the tree and started pulling out gifts.

The guys looked shocked that he’d gotten them something, and I couldn’t help smiling as I watched them open gifts perfectly suited to their interests and personalities.

Eddie amazed me. He could’ve easily stepped in and forced me to be with Nash alone, but he was trying hard to understand and accept our relationship.

Lastly, Eddie handed small boxes to me and Vicky.

Vicky tore into hers and squealed when she saw the diamond earrings and necklace set. I opened mine while she jumped up and hugged Eddie. I’d expected to find something similar, but when I opened the velvet lid, I found a stunning lily necklace nestled in the fabric.

I picked it up and held it over my hand. Then, it hit me where I’d seen it before. My mother was wearing this in every memory and dream I had of her from before we left Russia. Tears ran down my cheeks, and I looked to Eddie.

“Is this…” He nodded.

“Yes,” he said, softly. “I gave it to your mother when we were teens as a promise of our love. It was her favorite flower, and she never took it off. Now, I want you to have it in her memory.”

Choked up, I walked over to hug him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Lilya,” he said, his embrace as warm and inviting as the room. Despite all the conflicting emotions, I was so thankful for this moment, this time with him.

Pulling away before I became nothing more than a sobbing mess, I went back to my seat, and Myles jumped up.

“Here, let me help ya,” he said, taking the necklace.

I turned around, and he added it to my growing collection. Each one was special, and I could never decide which one to wear, so I chose them all…all the time.

“While…I’m up…I’ll do yours.”

Each present had a handmade card on top. I had one for everyone, including Vicky.

“I didn’t get you anything,” Vicky said when I handed it to her.

“It’s okay,” I said, smiling before moving on to Eddie and presenting him with the last and largest of the bunch. Then, I held my breath and waited to see if they liked what I’d done.

Blake opened his first and smiled wide as he stared at my drawing. I’d decided to design tattoos for the guys and Vicky, and even bought the special transfer paper. That way, if they liked it, they could take it to a parlor and put it wherever they wanted.

Blake’s was a cracked guitar, morphing into a raven in flight, its wings were scattered with stars and stitched with musical notes. I’d also taken the time to add my nickname to each one. It didn’t stand out but blended in with the fine line work.

“This is incredible,” Blake said, and I took my first deep breath. “Thank you.”

I hadn’t realized just how nervous I was to give them these until this moment.

Next was Liam. His tattoo was a pair of buck antlers growing from tree branches, and encircling a rabbit curled up in sleep. The background was a stormy sky with streaks of lightning.

“Damn, this is stunning,” Liam said as he traced the details. He looked up and flashed me a lopsided grin. “Love it,” he added, and I sighed.

“I’ll go next,” Theo said, and more butterflies flitted around inside my stomach. “Ren…this is perfect.”

He stared down at the cracked chessboard with the pieces falling off like a waterfall. One bishop remained standing proudly. Half the board was covered with a blindfold made of legal text, unraveling across the squares like ribbon. It was complex and unique, just like him.

“Oh boy, I’m nervous to find out how you see me,” Myles said, staring at his package.

Walking over, I kissed his cheek, and he smiled.

“Okay…ya talked me into it,” he said, making me laugh.

He was like a kid as he tore the paper off, sending little bits flying in all directions. Nash fanned the pieces landing on him away with an annoyed expression. Myles froze when he saw what I’d drawn for him.

I’d chosen a delicate snowflake resting inside cupped hands, surrounded by a halo of cracked glass that came close but never touched the flake. I’d added his tattoos and rings so it was clear whose hands they were.

He slowly lifted his eyes to mine and opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“No. No more crying on Christmas, I’ll open mine,” Vicky said.

Normally, I’d be annoyed, but I had to agree. There had been way too many tears lately.

She opened hers and smoothed out the paper. I wasn’t sure if she liked it until she laughed and smiled. It was a stunning rose with a thorny vine stem drawn to wrap around an ankle. But it was the pretty little bee sitting on the petals and wearing a crown that said it all.

“Okay…I’ll admit this is lit. Thank you,” Vicky said.

“You’re welcome.”

We all looked over at Nash, but he just sat there staring at the red wrapping paper.

“I’ll go,” Eddie said.

I held my breath as he opened the painting. I’d asked Myles to pick up the frame when he went into town and had assembled it myself. Eddie was quiet for a long time.

Finally, he turned it around to show everyone.

It was a portrait of him and my mum. Eddie’s arm stretched up in the air, and Mum was an angel.

She had white wings and a flowy dress that wrapped down and around Eddie’s body.

Mum was smiling and holding onto his hand, like she was still watching over him—like how I pictured her watching over me.

What had taken the most time to capture was the love in their eyes.

“You’re as talented as your mother. This is incredible. I’m…at a loss for words. Thank you.”

We hugged again, and I was so happy that he loved it, but my heart hurt when I turned around. Nash still hadn’t moved.

“Let’s give Ren her gift from us,” Theo said, sensing that Nash needed us to forget about him for now.

“Sounds good, you guys go on. I want to spend some time with Vicky,” Eddie said.

Everyone got up and started to walk out except Nash. His eyes had that far-off look like he was watching something only he could see. I stopped in front of him and held out my hand. His head slowly lifted.

“I’m sorry,” he said, looking around and realizing that we were alone.

“It’s okay. Come on. You can open later.”

He was stiff and almost robotic when he stood up, like it was taking all he had to remember how to do the simplest tasks. He held my hand and our fingers laced together, but I was worried. Nash looked haunted.

We followed the guys, and I was so preoccupied with Nash and how I could help him that I wasn’t really paying attention to where we were going until we stepped into the garage. There were so many vehicles in here that they could’ve held an exotic car show for collectors.

“What are we doing?”

No one said a word as we walked through the rows to the other end.

Whenever I caught someone’s eye, they smiled, but that was all I got.

Myles’ blue Shelby was parked in here among all the other sports cars.

It still made me so happy that he loved it, and it made me blush thinking about our night at the look out.

Just past the Shelby was the largest cardboard box I’d ever seen with a giant blue bow on the top. The guys fanned out in a semi-circle, and I glanced around, unsure if I wanted to know what was underneath.

“So…we decided on a joint gift for you,” Theo said, smiling. “With everything that’s happened, we thought you would appreciate the idea of taking back some of the control you felt you lost when you came to Wayward.”

Each of their faces was filled with excitement. Even Nash looked more like his normal, arrogant self.

“On the count of three,” Theo instructed, and Blake took the other end. “One. Two…”

My stomach twisted with anticipation for what they were going to unveil.

“Three.” The twins lifted together and removed the box.

Parked there, just waiting for me, was a glistening and fancy motorcycle.

“I picked the color,” Myles said, smiling wide. It was identical to what I’d chosen for the Shelby.