Here Lies a Saint (Here Lies #2) - C.L. Matthews Page 0,58

married before he even graduates, but I can’t seem to look away from Lucifer himself, finally seated at the head of the table.

How the hell is this life?

Are there no longer morals?

Is life filled with such trivial vitriol that it can't show the wrongness of this entire situation?

To my left, I feel Lux shift, almost mirroring my discomfort. It only furthers my feelings that he’s involved with Jordan in a way I’d always imagined but never thought it’d happen. Does he care? The saint of Arcadia, the boy who seems to have everything yet nothing at all... has his heart grown?

To my right, Mom and Moms sit next to each other, smiling nonchalantly, like there’s no stress in the world, uncaring that they’ve sent their daughter to the slaughter.

It’s not like they’re completely naive, right?

Jordan sits next to his father, and I’m sad I didn’t get to occupy Jordan’s mind with my presence, but he explained to me he’ll always be forced to sit at his father’s side.

After everyone’s seated, Elijah silences the little chatter with a raise of a glass of wine. "Make sure your plans fit around the normal Christmas schedule, especially the dinner with the kids and significant others."

That’s when I notice no one’s significant others besides Moms is in the room. It’s almost all men.

Melissa sits opposite of me, and her face is pale. She hasn't spoken a word to me since we were in the auditorium, and her two twin brothers are nowhere to be found.

I don't smile, and neither do any of the guys.

Why is this such a mess?

When will I get answers?

"Elijah, what about New Years?" asks Midas, Lux's dad. He's not in my best line of vision, sitting far enough back to where he's hidden behind Lux. Stretching over to see him isn't exactly easy, but I attempt to look at him, not wanting to be in the line of sight of Elijah anymore.

"What about New Years?" Elijah condescends. “Every year, we do the Solitaire Gala, where all founding families and some very important people come to the house and conversate. It's where bloodlines are thickened, weddings are had, and new engagements are settled. Is there a reason you're asking me a question you already know an answer to?"

The words are intended to jab, to belittle him, and it has me wondering why Midas takes it with ease.

"Lux's announcement. I was thinking it would be a proper time to let the families know," Midas explains with power and stiffness, a cordial voice only a politician could truly master.

Next to me, Lux flinches.

"Dad," Lux responds, his voice strong and unlike the fear in his thumping leg. "We discussed it wouldn't be until spring."

I force my view to see Midas' response and wish I hadn't. His normally unfazed botox-ridden-villainy face usually seems calm and unaffected. Right now, though, hatred and disappointment dance across his features. His appearance may be a mask, but it reminds me of the purge ones.

X marks the spot.

Silence greets us all, and I'm scared of what Midas might do to Lux after this dinner. I can't let him hurt Lux.

It's never been said, shown, or expressed, but no man looks at their child the way Midas does without a long history of hurting them with his fists.

"Nevertheless, we can discuss this in private, Midas," Elijah booms, acting as if he's a god and we're all simply his servants.

Maybe we are.

Maybe he's the key.

Maybe if I ruin him, the Emeralds will cease to exist.

What if that’s the key to end this all? Destroy the unworthy king on top of the mangled throne?

"Dinner," a blonde woman with plastic features and overly large breasts announces as she struts in.

Jordan’s face pales a bit, showing an emotion I can’t quite decipher.

The woman goes straight to Elijah, kissing him with fervor, not sparing anyone a glance as she mauls his face. As inappropriate and uncomfortable as it is, it gives me an opening to grip Lux's hand, lacing our fingers together, showing him any strength I can offer.

His shoulders visibly relax, his exhale loud to me but seemingly silent to everyone dumbstruck at the cringy way Elijah holds the woman.

I feel his breath against my ear before hearing his words. "Thank you, Colton."

My body warms at him using my name instead of his usual hate-filled pet name. While I cherish the moment, everyone starts discussing school programs, and I wait for the moment the Emeralds are discussed.

Not even thirty minutes later, while I’m seemingly forgotten