Chapter 21

21

Seconds later, and I still had no idea what just happened.

Dez was the first to reach us. He placed a hand on my shoulder and gently moved me aside as he knelt. “Maddox?” he said to the pale, unmoving Warden. When there was no response, he placed a hand on Maddox’s chest. “Christ.”

I folded my arms over my chest. I knew that Maddox had to be alive. A fall wouldn’t kill a Warden, but in their human form, they were susceptible to injury, even the severe kind.

“How did this happen?” Dez looked over his shoulder at me.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. He was coming up the stairs and then he just fell backward.”

Zayne came down the stairs, dressed only in a pair of loose sweats. “What the Hell?”

“He fell,” I explained lamely.

“Jasmine!” shouted Dez as he rose.

Within seconds, Jasmine arrived, her eyes widening. She turned, handing Drake off to Danika. “Keep Izzy and Drake out of here,” she said, turning back to Maddox.

Danika nodded, glancing to where Zayne and I stood. She turned, quickly taking Drake back the way they’d come. A door shut softly.

As Jasmine knelt on Maddox’s other side and placed slim fingers on his neck, the rest of the crew arrived. Once they heard that Maddox had fallen backward down the stairs, Abbot turned to me.

Shrinking back, I realized I was so about to be crucified.

“He simply fell backward?” Abbot asked, disbelief ringing from his voice as he stepped around Maddox’s prone legs. “You expect me or any of us to believe that?”

At least he cut to the chase this time. “Yes! He just fell. I don’t know if he lost his balance or—Wait, there was a rush of cold air right before he fell.” And now that I said that out loud, I knew it hadn’t been the first time. “It was the same with the windows. There was a gust of—”

“Of wind?” Abbot finished doubtfully. “Did the air kick on with enough force to knock out windows or throw a two-hundred-and-thirty-pound Warden down the stairs? That’s if we used the air-conditioning this time of year, which we don’t.”

“Okay. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I’m not lying.”

Zayne moved to my side. “She has no reason to lie, Father. If she said he fell, he fell.”

“She has every reason to lie,” his father spat. I blanched. “Once was enough, but this?” He gestured at Maddox. “One of our own—a guest of our clan—has been injured, and another is missing.”

I stiffened at the implication, even though the latter was very much on point. Zayne stepped forward, blocking me. “What are you saying?”

“Guys,” Jasmine spoke up. “I need to move Maddox to get a better look at his injuries. Right now, it looks like he’s just knocked out. Maybe a broken arm or cracked skull, which will heal. But I need help moving him.”

Zayne and Abbot, who were currently in an epic stare-down, didn’t seem to hear her.

Dez nodded as he moved to stand before Maddox’s feet. “Nicolai? Can you get his arms?”

As Nicolai did their bidding, Abbot eyed his son. “There is no way that I, or you, can believe that he lost his balance and fell.”

Wardens typically were a wee bit more graceful than that, but there was no other explanation...other than that strange wind.

“Are you suggesting that Layla pushed him?” Zayne challenged as the muscles in his back rippled. “Because that’s stupid.”

Abbot stepped up to Zayne, going toe-to-toe, and my heart sank. “Watch how you speak to me, boy. I am your father.”

I had the wild urge to laugh as I pictured Darth Vader’s helmet descending on Abbot’s head. Thankfully, I didn’t, because that would seriously not help things.

Geoff came forward. “May I suggest something?” When Abbot nodded curtly, he continued. “Whatever happened would’ve been captured on video. The same with the windows.”

My gaze swung to him sharply. Why hadn’t I thought of that? “So you guys saw the video and what did it show?”

“The windows blowing out, seemingly by themselves,” Geoff replied.

Zayne lifted his chin. “Let’s go see the videos, then.”

I wasn’t sure how much it would help since they’d already seen one video of me not doing anything, but we headed down to the command center. Near the training rooms it was always several degrees cooler than anywhere else, but today, it seemed as if it was the same temperature as the above floors as we walked down the narrow, dimly lit hall.

I stuck close to Zayne, knowing better than to say much of anything right now. Anger radiated off Abbot in waves, clogging the hall. Even Bambi, who’d been relatively sedentary, grew restless, slithering along my stomach.

Tension was coming off Zayne as he stuck close to my side. He didn’t speak as we entered Geoff’s home away from home.

The command center was a circular room that quickly became crowded when we piled into it. Monitors lined half of the wall and the other sections were covered with old band posters, ranging from Bon Jovi, Pink Floyd and AC/DC to Aerosmith. Some of them looked authentic with their edges curling upward.

It was weird—the tiny glimpse of Geoff’s personality mingled with the creepy, NSA-level security.

Geoff strode to one of the computers and his fingers danced over the keys. The screen focused on the now empty stairway and landing, began to rapidly back up, then stopped just as I came into view...with my fingers touching my lips.

Nice.

Exhaling softly, I glanced up at Zayne and he looked down at me. One side of his lips curved as a knowing gleam filled his eyes. Sigh.

I turned back to the video just as Maddox appeared on the screen. There was no volume, but you could see him step out of my way. Cameras didn’t lie, and there was no mistaking the distrusting look he’d cast my way.

The room was silent as the monitor revealed exactly what I’d told them. From the positioning of the camera, it was clear the moment I’d felt the blast of air. My hair, which looked white on the screen, stirred as if I’d walked in front of a fan. The camera caught the widening of Maddox’s eyes and the slight gape of his mouth the second before he went down. What I didn’t realize when it happened was when Maddox fell, he didn’t bounce off the steps. He went ass over teacup in the air, not hitting anything until he reached the bottom.

Like he’d thrown himself backward.

Or had been pushed by a great force.

“I didn’t touch him as you can see,” I said, raising my gaze to where Abbot stood beside Geoff. “I didn’t do anything.”

A muscle feathered along his jaw as he watched Geoff stop the recording.

“There’s no denying it.” Zayne folded his arms across his broad chest. “She didn’t lie.”

“But she was looking at him,” Abbot replied, turning to us.

My brows shot up. “Unless I developed some supercool powers without realizing it, looking at him didn’t throw him down the stairs.”

His gaze flicked to me, and pressure clamped down on my chest. The way he stared at me, like I was a wolf among the poor little sheep he was charged with protecting, struck deep. There was no hiding his open distrust, and I didn’t understand where it came from. Yes, I had lied to him, but he’d lied to me about bigger, more important things—like who my mother and father were for starters.

It hadn’t always been like this. I hated the scalding tide of tears that drenched the back of my throat. It was weak to cry, but it hurt to acknowledge that Abbot no longer looked at me as a part of his family. That was so clear now.

Zayne had been speaking, but I hadn’t been paying attention. Whatever he’d said, most likely in my defense, had angered his father.

“We don’t know what she’s truly capable of. I doubt she even knows,” he replied.

Anger was like a shot of steel in Zayne’s spine. “What do you mean we don’t know? I know what she is and isn’t capable of. How can you be any different?”

The earnest and steadfast way he defended me, in spite of the obvious discontent it was brewing between him and his father, made it feel as if a hand had shot through my chest and closed around my heart.

Abbot swore under his breath, and when he spoke, it was as though I wasn’t in the room or he didn’t care that I was. “You need to look past your feelings, son. She is no longer the small, frightened child I brought home. The sooner you understand that, the better.”

I sucked in a breath as the burn moved into my stinging eyes. Except this was a different kind of blistering provoked by a maddening rush of emotions. My skin crawled, causing Bambi to twitch along my back, and the need to feed punched me in the gut.

Geoff pursed his lips and looked away as Zayne stared at his father, his mouth slightly open, as if he couldn’t believe what his father had just said.

Humiliation mingled with the soul-deep hurt. I took a breath and didn’t trust myself to speak. I had to take another. “Then what am I?”

Abbot looked at me but didn’t respond.

My voice wavered when I spoke again. “Why do you even let me stay here?”

There was a moment of silence and then Abbot looked away. A heavy sigh shuddered through him. “I really don’t know.”

I winced as Zayne stepped toward his father, his eyes flashing a bright, unnatural cobalt. “How can you even say that?”

Unable to stand here and not do something I’d regret, like burst into tears or kick Abbot in the stomach, I whipped around and headed out of the command center. My hands tingled as I curled them into fists. I was breathing too fast—two breaths in, one breath out. When had Abbot grown to dislike me so much? It struck me as I crossed the training room, causing me to stop suddenly. He hadn’t trusted me for a while, but that mistrust had been more pronounced from the moment Roth had returned and broken the news that a Lilin had been born.

“Layla.”

Gripping the locker door, I bit back a groan at the sound of Roth’s voice. Although I didn’t acknowledge his presence, he leaned against the locker beside mine. I so wasn’t in the mood to deal with him today. “What?”

“You look like shit.”

I shoved my load of books inside. “Thanks.”

“You also looked like you were about to fall asleep in bio.”

“How is that any different from anyone else in class?”

He chuckled darkly. “Good point.” He stopped as a sophomore approached his locker, which was the one Roth was currently resting his butt against. The boy stopped and Roth raised a brow. The boy turned on his heel and hurried off. Roth grinned as he tilted his chin toward me. “Didn’t get much sleep last night?”

After everything that had happened yesterday, sleep hadn’t come easily. I shook my head as I reached for my afternoon books.

“Did Stony keep you up late, whispering innocent and pure thoughts in your ear?”

I rolled my eyes at the derision dripping from his voice. “Uh. No.”

He shifted, angling his body toward mine. “Did he keep you up whispering all the naughty things he wants to do to you?”

Exhaling deeply, I finally turned to him. Roth’s hair was a mess of raven locks and the gray shirt he wore stretched taut across his chest. His jeans hung low on his hips, ripped across both knees. He was the picture of lazy arrogance.

“I’m guessing he didn’t do that either. He’s too good for those kinds of dirty things.” He tapped a finger on his chin thoughtfully, and I realized the nail was painted black. “He probably cuddled with you.”

Zayne had sort of cuddled with me before Maddox had taken a fall down the stairs, but he’d also been not so pure about it. “What is with you wanting to know what’s going on with me and Zayne? It’s none of your business.”

One shoulder rose. “I’m just curious.” When I didn’t respond, he sighed. “So what’s your deal today? Is it because of what happened to our friendly neighborhood witch? Or something else?”

I cringed a little at his blasé attitude. “That and last night...” What was I thinking even confiding in Roth? Was our white flag of friendship cut out for this?

“Last night what?”

Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair. The need to give voice to what was troubling me was too strong. It wasn’t as though I could talk to Stacey about these things, and I didn’t want to involve Zayne any more than he was already by the simple act of defending me.

“Abbot thinks I’m evil incarnate.”

His brows inched up his forehead, disappearing under his hair. “What?”

“CliffsNotes version? There have been some weird things happening at the house. The windows were blown out and then one of the Wardens fell down the stairs.” I tucked my hair back, beyond tired. “Compounded with the fact Tomas—who Bambi ate—is still missing, Abbot thinks I’m behind it all.”

Roth frowned. “And why does he think you’re involved in any of this?”

I waited until a small group of people hurrying toward the cafeteria passed us before continuing. “Because I was present when the windows broke and when Maddox fell down the steps. Not sure how he attributes Tomas to me.”

“Did you do those things?” he asked.

“What?” I threw my hands up. “No. I didn’t do anything. They even have it on camera.” A bit paranoid, I scowled. “Why would you ask that?”

“Why wouldn’t I ask to make sure? You said you didn’t. There’s proof you didn’t, so why would he still think you’re behind it?”

And here came the part that had kept me tossing and turning all night. “Abbot thinks that they don’t know what I’m capable of. That I have superpowers and did all of that with a single thought, I guess.”

“That would be a cool ability—a very demonic ability. An Upper Level one to be exact,” he said, grinning.

An Upper Level ability...oh my God, that’s what Zayne and Danika had said about me, but with all the crazy, I’d forgotten about it.

“Hey.” Roth’s voice softened. “Layla, I wasn’t being serious.”

I lifted my gaze, meeting his, and I saw the truth in his eyes. My heart sped up. He...he was lying now. I knew it deep in my bones. The words came out in a whisper. “Abbot thinks I’m evil.”

Roth drew back and straightened. The longer he was quiet, the bigger the knots of unease grew in my stomach, becoming balls of lead. “Skip with me.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Skip with me,” he said again.

That was so not what I was expecting him to say. “I’m going to lunch.”

“Or you can go have lunch with me.”

I shook my head. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Why not?” The devilish grin was back, giving his features a boyish charm. “Would Stony not approve?”

Uh, that was an understatement.

“Or are you worried Abbot wouldn’t?” He dipped his head to mine and his breath danced over my lips. “He thinks you’re evil? Screw it. Be bad.”

“I’m not sure how being bad is going to help anything.”

“It’s going to help. Trust me.” Reaching over, he slid the strap of my book bag down my shoulder and then tossed it in the locker. “Come and be bad with me.”

Taking a step back, I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen.”

“I’m not suggesting you come and have sex with me, Layla.” As I flushed to the roots of my hair, he puckered his lips. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea, but not what I’m saying.”

I cast a doubtful look in his direction.

Roth reclaimed the space, curving his hands around my upper arms. “I promise I’ll have you back before Stony comes to pick you up. I’ll work some of my awesome skill and no one will be the wiser. Boy Scout’s honor.”

“You were never a Boy Scout.”

His lips curved up. “Ah, good point, but come on. What’s it going to hurt? We’re friends, right? Two demon peas in a demon pod.”

The urge to laugh at him was powerful, but I resisted, because it only encouraged the jerk.

“Look, there’s something that I want to show you.” As I raised a brow, Roth pouted. “Not my manly bits, you little perv.”

“Your manly bits? ” A laugh burst from me. “You are so bizarre.”

“But you were thinking about my manly bits.”

Two spots of heat blossomed on my cheeks. Now I was. “No, I wasn’t.”

He grinned. “By the way, my manly bits are not bits. Just want to clear that up.”

“Oh my God...”

“Come on. There’s a place I think you need to see that will help put all of this in perspective. You’ll see that being bad isn’t bad at all. Come on, shortie,” he goaded, eyes twinkling like two pieces of topaz. “Skip with me.”

Skipping did sound good. And there was a healthy dose of curiosity when it came to whatever it was that he wanted to show me that could change my perspective, but leaving school with him was stupid, bound to turn ugly, and Zayne would be...well, he wouldn’t be happy.

But Roth was like this little devil on my shoulder, urging me to be bad and to enjoy every freaking moment of it. Except he wasn’t a little devil. He was the Crown Prince of Hell.

Common sense seemed to have belly flopped itself right out the window and face-planted in the cement below, because I found myself nodding and saying, “Okay.”