around me like a warm blanket. While Sage and David sit on the sofa beside us, for a blissful moment, I’m able to forget everything that’s going on. If I close my eyes and focus really hard, I can almost pretend I’m back in my childhood home where it’s Sunday and my mum’s baking shortbread cookies for after the roast dinner.
It’s the small things that make me think of my adoptive parents.
Adoptive parents…
They were more my parents than the king or queen of this world will ever be.
“I saw what happened and figured you’d come here,” a female voice remarks, and I assume it’s from our last-minute host. “There’s only two beds and the couches so I’m afraid you’ll all have to bunk…together…”
She trails off when she meets my gaze. Jane is every bit Jonah’s sister, from her long silver hair curled over one shoulder, to her blue eyes. However, as soon as our eyes lock, she drops the blankets and a violent heat rushes into her face.
“Get out,” she hisses through clenched teeth, pouncing onto the sofa. “Get the fuck out of my house!”
I let out a surprised scream as Jane hauls me off the sofa by my hair and drags me onto the floor. A white light blasts between us before I can even retaliate, knocking me flat onto my back. The air is kicked from my lungs and Gage, Pitch, Zander, and Sage help me to my feet. Across the room, Jonah pins Jane to his chest while Ambrose stands between us, the remnants of light magic disappearing into the palm of his hands.
“Let me go,” Jane snarls, thrashing in Jonah’s arms like a wild animal. “Let me go or I swear to Selena, I’ll—”
“Just calm the fuck down!” Jonah shouts over his sister, gripping her tighter. “What the hell are you thinking?”
The adrenaline surging through me has my entire body shaking. It’s not often I’m stunned into silence, but that’s exactly the case here as I try to catch my breath. Turns out Jane does remember me.
“How dare you lift a hand to our future queen!” Pitch stands in front of me, a dark menacing aura glowing off him.
“Pitch, it’s okay,” I whisper, reaching for his hand. “I’m fine.”
Dark magic gathers around him and the fear flashing in Jane’s eyes is as palpable as the fear gathering inside of me. I’ve never seen Pitch so angry before. It’s both sexy and terrifying at the same time.
“There will be no more bloodshed.” Ambrose holds out his hands again, providing the only barrier between Jane and Pitch. “Jane Vincent, you will explain yourself.”
“And you will all leave my fucking house,” comes her scathing reply. Craning her neck to glare at Jonah, she hisses, “Do you even know who that is?”
Jonah is panting as he looks at me. “Corvina Charles… She’s who I’ve been telling you about.”
“No!” Jane shakes her head and points at me. “She’s the one who killed our parents and brother. She set the fire!”
Jonah pales at the words, his eyes narrowing on my face. “Is this true?”
“I’m sorry,” I choke out, tears slipping from my lashes. “I didn’t know what would happen when I—”
“Oh, she didn’t know,” Jane scoffs, shrugging Jonah off and stepping towards me. Ambrose blocks her path so she chooses to sneer around him. “You destroyed our god damn lives and you think an apology will make up for it? You deserve everything that’s coming your way, you fucking murderer!”
Gods, I should have known this would happen.
Jonah storms out of the cottage, and I don’t hesitate when I run after him. Branches snag my clothes as I stumble through the forest, the cold air stinging my cheeks. He’s just a shadow darting between the trees, visible only when the moonlight touches him. He stops in the middle of a clearing and turns to me, his whole body bathed in the pale light. The sobs I’ve been holding back burst out when I see the tears falling from his eyes.
“J-Jonah,” I whisper his name brokenly. “I know I don’t deserve forgiveness… I had no idea… If I had known what would happen when I became shadowborn, I would never have… ”
He marches over to me, his hands clenched by his side, and I hold my breath, closing my eyes. When Jonah claims my mouth with his, it takes my breath away. Kissing me is the last thing I expected him to do. He slams me against the tree and wraps my legs around