Page 173 of Wicked Magik

The whole funeral home was put under a spell so that no one would really know what happened to her. She was just buried, no questions.

I’m glad I stayed in my mother’s place. I almost left. It was fate that I caught Leo doing those stupid spells in the woods that night, and Oryx finding me.

I was glad everything worked out.

“And everyone is good? Everyone has made up?” I looked between all three of my parents.

Father nodded. “Yes, I’ve learned not to be as hot headed as I was before. It was my punishment.” A leaf bended and twisted around his fingers.

Veylor raised a brow. “Really now?”

I nudged him and gave him a smile.

“Yes, and I will do everything in my power to communicate better. We have years to catch up and we will be sure to rebuild what we have lost.”

My stomach growled again, after all, it had been so long after dinner and tea. It was well into the night at this point.

“I say we have some of Benedict's chocolate cake. Just wait until you try it, Mom!” I clapped my hands together. “Benedict!” I yelled for him, in the direction he usually stood.

I tilted my head.

“You know, I haven’t seen him in a couple days. Gah, I’m a terrible friend.” I chuckled nervously. “Benedict?”

Oryx and Veylor stilled beneath me. Veylor cleared his throat. “Darling, Pyrrah will bring out the cake, Benedict is…”

Oryx whimpered and his tail wrapped around my leg. The cake was large as it came out, but obviously not made by Benedict. He liked to create little details on the cake, this one was more plain.

Pyrrah sat the cake on the table and began to cut the cake into slices.

“Pyrrah, where is Benedict?”

She dropped the cutting knife and stilled. “Pardon! I have such slippery fingers! How many pieces of cake?”

I wiggled in Oryx’s arms to let me go. “Pyrrah, where is Benedict?”

She looked to me and then to the two men behind me.

I ground my teeth together and a cool wind along with leaves skipped across the table. Father’s face turned pale.

“Father, you wouldn’t have something to do with this would you?”

Father pressed a napkin to his lips. “I personally have nothing to do with his disappearance.” He cleared his throat. “Might have provoked some emotions, perhaps?”

My nails tapped the table. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Oryx whimpered again, his claw tapped the side of his skull. “He… he… betrayed us. He sided with Sylvaine!” Oryx pointed across the table.

I scoffed. “What? What do you mean Benedict betrayed us, he would nev—”

“He did.” Veylor crossed his arms. “He sided with Sylvaine, got intel about who you were, every move you made in this house. When it would be the perfect time to take you, all from Benedict.”

My jaw dropped. “He did not, he wouldn’t have! Benedict is my friend!”

Veylor stood, his eyes filled with sadness. “He betrayed all of us, he wanted what Sylvaine offered and he took it with no regrets.” Veylor pulled me into his arms.

Oryx wailed, fell to his knees. “I bit off his head!”

I winced.