Page 72 of Undertow
“How? How are youhandlingthat, Sagan?” he chuffed. “How broke are you? How could they let this happen and—”
“Darren, I’ve got this,” I whispered as I rubbed his arm. “Leave it and remember Mother as your baby sister, okay?” I swallowed when pain filled his eyes. “Maybe Maple’s right.” I flinched, not having meant to say that.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing.”
He grabbed my arm when I turned to leave. “Tell me.” Horror filled his eyes when I did and he let me go, shock all over his face.
Meaning he probably agreed. My parents were surrounded by snakes and drowning in too many problems, and the only way they thought to protect me from it all was if I didn’t have a connection strong enough to them to want to save their feelings.
Maybe?
I mean… I still was, so did that really work out?
Who knew? Who knew the minds of people I barely knew and were at the eye of such crazy fucking storms?
“You’re avoiding me,” a deep voice said from my right as I stepped out into the garden.
I gasped and spun to find Onyx there, rubbing my chest and taking a wobbly step back.
His eyes went wide as he reached his hand out to me. “I apologize, Princess. I didn’t mean to—I was visible through the door waiting here.”
I took another step out of his reach, hurt filling his pretty green eyes. For some reason they looked normal on Kole, but they were so pretty with Onyx’s other features. I wasn’t sure how that worked given they had the same family eyes, but it did.
“You’re upset with me,” he murmured. “That’s understandable. I just hoped you’d let me explain.”
“What?” I frowned. “I’m not upset with you. You genuinely startled me.” I studied him as confusion wafted off of him. “Why would I be upset with you?”
“What Kole told you,” he hedged.
I snorted. “He was lashing out and being…” I swallowed loudly when surprise andheatfilled Onyx’s eyes. “Oh. Oh, I’m sorry I never considered that…” I cleared my throat and tried again. “I’m sorry, I feel as if I’m misunderstanding something here. You’re his uncle.”
“That has nothing to do with my desire for you as a woman.”
I was pretty sure my mind short-circuited in that moment. Onyx Conley wasridiculouslyattractive and had haunted my fantasies for years as the nameless professor who had made me swoon that day. I’d already regretted not getting his name so I could at least see him on social media if not see him again.
And he wanted me?
Suddenly.
I took another step back. “Is this—do you have an issue with Kole?”
He narrowed his eyes before his jaw ticked. “You’ve been through too much and enemies all around you that should have been your allies, so I won’t take offense to that.” He moved closer and lowered his voice. “No, you’re not a toy we’re fighting over, Your Highness. I was more than willing to step aside until I saw how he treated you.”
“He…” I couldn’t even think to defend it.
“Clearly, this isn’t a conversation you’re ready for,” he said gently, searching my face. “I’m sorry. This isn’t how I wanted to confess that you have haunted me since I met you. I just couldn’t handle thinking you were avoiding me because Kole made me sound like a creeper stalking you instead of what really happened.”
“I wasn’t avoiding you,” I heard myself whisper. “I didn’t think it was true. I’ve also been busy.”
“Of course. I’m sorry I scared you and this conversation upset you.” He moved to the side so I could escape but kept the same distance to me. “I hope we can have that conversation when you’re ready.”
“All right,” I accepted, not sure what else to say. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Your Highness?” he whispered when I was a few feet away. He waited until I looked at him over my shoulder. “I asked Vex to allow me to be the candidate from our family.”
“What?” I gasped as I spun around. “Kole will—”
