Page 199 of Infernal Bonds

“Cyn?” Patricia’s incredulous laugh echoed around us. “Sin for a sinner.”

Cyn snorted. “Original. Got any other killer one-liners?”

I pressed my fingers against my closed eyes. Why couldn’t I imagine him being quiet? I didn’t want to provoke my aunt more than my existence already had.

Ignoring Cyn, my aunt cut me with an icy look. “Who else will you destroy with your selfishness?”

“I didn’t destroy anyone.”

Grandma’s death wasn’t my fault, but I knew deep down it wouldn’t have happened that night if I hadn’t used Quinfina’s book. I didn’t summon the monsters who killed my parents, but I had my suspicions about their connection to me. And yeah, I went to Alonia without letting the guys know, but did everyone expect me not to do anything in life on the off chance that something I did might result in someone’s death or illness?

I looked at my parents. They remained quiet, but the looks on their faces spoke volumes. They knew what I was thinking, and they didn’t agree.

“I couldn’t have saved you,” I told my parents. “I was only a child. What did you expect me to do? I didn’t do anything.”

Patricia laughed. “You think they wanted Lillian? They certainly didn’t want Greg. He’s human.”

I’d thought about it over and over since Quinfina revealed my family’s connection to the infernal plane. If it was my fate to be the princes’ Nyrith and I had attracted lesser infernals since childhood, it made sense that the ones who attacked my family were after me.

As much as I kept saying I didn’t destroy anyone, Patricia wouldn’t be saying it if I didn’t believe it on some level.

That was the worst part.

She wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already told myself. No matter how many excuses I’d made for what happened to Grandma and my parents, or for my need for freedom at any cost, I’d wondered the same thing.

“Why aren’t they talking?”

I looked over my shoulder at Cyn.

“Go on. Tell him,” Patricia sneered.

“I can’t hear it from them,” I whispered.

“What?”

“That it’s my fault.”

“See?” Patricia waved a hand in my direction. “You know it’s your fault, and now your little demon boyfriends are going to die just like your parents.”

“No!” I spun to face her. “Shut. Up!”

“My, my.”

I looked from Dad to Mom. “I didn’t know what I was,” I said, voice cracking.

Silence.

“I didn’t know why they’d come.”

Nothing.

I looked at Mom. “I didn’t know telling anyone what I saw would make it harder for you to have friends.”

She wouldn’t even look at me.

My gaze moved to Dad. “I didn’t know Sam would tell his parents and you’d lose your job over it.”

His face remained impassive.