Kyle reached to hug his baby sister and winced at Bethany’s flinch. Crushed, he dropped his arms immediately and stepped out of her space—
Bethany jumped up and wrapped her arms around Kyle’s neck and gripped him tight.
It felt good to hold her like this. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe there was some hope for Bethany to return to them. Or so Kyle had thought until they pulled apart and Bethany glanced over at Lucy for approval.
Lucy nodded, looking very proud of her understudy.
Right.
Ross came over with Jack, saying, “So I hear you want to go on the next mission with Matt and Lucy.”
Bethany gave a firm nod, as if there were any chance she wouldn’t.
Lucy put an arm around Kyle’s baby sister and squeezed her against her side. “That’s right.”
Bethany’s eyes sparkled as she looked from Lucy to Matt. A lot of worship there. Not to mention there was something personal in the way the redhead beamed down at her.
Kyle didn’t know what it was about the freckled ginger with near-black eyes, but it took an enormous effort to meet Matt Anderson’s gaze without shivering. Kyle said, “Look, man, I need to talk to you alone. If that’s okay?”
Matt’s grin faded around the edges, and his voice bordered on cold as he said, “Yeah. Sure.”
The two Arkansans, here since Invasion Day at J.A. Fair, left Ross and Jack with Lucy and Bethany so they could chat in a corner.
Kyle wasted no time. “What exactly is your interest in my impressionable little sister? My fifteen-year-old little sister.”
The life drained from Matt’s eyes, leaving emptiness its wake. The smile faded until it disappeared into nothing. No expression at all. Flat, Matt said, “I can understand with what she’s been through why you would have some concerns, but I don’t appreciate you insinuating me and Lucy mean any harm to your fifteen-year-old little sister. If you’ll recall, we’re the only ones in the Shadow deliberately seeking justice against pedophiles and groomers. It wouldn’t do all too well in the realm of hypocrisy for us to become like them.”
Kyle let the man speak his piece, feeling a bit like a heel when it was all done. He opened his mouth to apologize—
“Now,” Matt interrupted, and his demeanor changed in this pause, something less predatory and more understanding. He held up a hand as he said, “I don’t like betraying Bethany’s confidence, but we can see she has a crush on us—”
Kyle warned, “Anderson—”
Matt held up both hands this time. “I know, but we weren’t much different when we were Bethany’s age. Lucy and I are careful. I’m no psychologist—”
Kyle’s brows shot up at even the notion.
“—But I think she’s simply attached because we were the first people to accept her… instincts.”
That was a gentle way to put it. Kyle considered the lethal professional in front of him. Could Matt be trusted with Bethany’s virtue and tender mental state? Kyle glanced over at the girl in question, who ignored Ross and Lucy’s conversation. Bethany simply stared at Kyle.
Pleading.
On a sigh, he said, “Ah, fuck me.” He turned back to Matt. “You take care of her.” There was no need for threats. Kyle would leave those to Korac, who Kyle hated to admit, took excellent care of Kyle’s sisters.
He patted Matt’s arm for good measure, and the redhead plastered another grin on his face as they walked back over to the girls. And Jack, who looked decidedly distracted, staring at the corridor where Xelan, Korac, Tameka, Tumu, and Andrew had disappeared through only seconds before.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
At Ross’ questioning glance, Kyle nodded before announcing, “You can go, Bethany.”
She squealed, bounced, and hugged her siblings. “Thank you!”
The sound of Bethany’s under-used voice nearly brought tears to Kyle’s eyes—
Someone, well only one person would, hugged him from behind, and Kyle let Silence take his weight. In a crimson body suit revealed by transparent black slacks, Silence was the hottest woman in the room. Hands down.
Later, Kyle would let her know it, too.
“Would you two like a film?”
The entire group laughed, aware of only one person who would ask such a question.
“Hey, Iuo,” Kyle said before turning around for a clasp and shoulder hug. “I hear Tameka kicked you out of the stronghold.”
Ross snickered.
Jack beamed.
Iuo waved to the group, saying, “Not everyone appreciates my sense of humor.”
Matt and Lucy broke away with their crew, leaving Bethany behind to spend this time with her family. And she looked happy about it for the first time in a while. Bethany sank onto a cushion and let Pax braid her wavy hair.
“Not to mention.” Iuo paused to give Pax a high five. “I have a movie to premiere.”
Jack winced enough for Kyle. Silence kneaded Kyle’s shoulders as the tension rode into his neck.
Rayne’s life story.
There were no memorials or funeral services for her, because, until recently, Xelan had believed she was alive. This film made up for that, but it still felt macabre as hell.
Ross said, “It’ll be a beautiful movie.”
Jack blinked at her, not offended, just surprised like Kyle. Rayne’s little brother asked, “You’re going to see it?”
“Iuo invited all of us to the premiere, remember?” Ross gave Iuo an encouraged look, and the Lamian King winked.
Would Kyle go to see it? He supposed if the rest of the Shadow went, it could be a healing affair.
With a little chafe of Ross’ shoulder, Jack assured, “I’ll be there, Iuo.”
Iuo bowed and said, “I may need to add an epilogue.”
Kyle’s brows shot up, and Silence looked expectantly at Iuo.
The Reipon King Elect said, “On Cinder, the vice lord that Chris and Bones are guarding, opened up Korac’s old training course to profit off the races. Yesterday, there were some unusual reports of the most fantastic spectacle since we defeated Imminent. A Nox lookalike entered the race winning the fare of a Rayne tribute.”
This soured Kyle instantly. Silence sensed it, kissed his shoulder, and scratched his back. Kyle glanced over at Jack, expecting to see a commiserative, disgusted expression, but the young Callahan looked as if he’d seen a ghost. Ross was peering up at him in concern as Iuo continued.
“Their performance was so convincing that nearly one million people in attendance reported official sightings.”
With something close to desperation in his voice, Jack asked, “What does Caedes think of the reports?”
“Oh, Caedes was there.” Without being asked, Iuo looked up and waved Caedes over.
As he approached with Pehton, the gruff Icarus asked, “You summoned me?”
His immediate roughness brought a smile to Kyle’s lips.
“We don’t want a film, Iuo.” Pehton was a delight and a credit to her race.
Ross spared Caedes an apologetic smile before saying, “Iuo was just telling us about the races yesterday. And you were there?”
Caedes smoothed a hand over his shaved head and gravelled out, “I’m not surprised you heard about it, Iuo. I informed Co-Emperor Xelan, and I passed the report to General Korac.”
Kyle stared at the cold sweat which broke out on Jack’s face while Ross tried to comfort him.
The young Callahan’s voice was on the edge of panic as he asked, “You saw her? Rayne—The Tribute?”
Caedes stared at Jack, and something thickened the air between them. Some transmission the bald Icarus was trying to get across to Rayne’s little brother.
Why were they treating this sighting any differently to all the other Rayne tributes—
“Where did Korac and Xelan go?” Pehton’s question broke the tension.
The entire group peered at Tameka, Andrew, and Tumu coming through the corridor into the theater. Pax finished Bethany’s hair and went to his mother’s side with a gentle squeeze. Kyle glanced around and found T.a.o. was missing, too.
Tameka went to the front of the theater and faced the questioning glances. She said, “They went to interrogate our prisoner. Sagan, can you please take Kyle and Andrew to help out? Thanks. Everyone else, we’ll start the movies without them, and they’ll join us in a few minutes.”
Kyle glanced at Andrew, who gave a shrug before Sagan Seamswalked to their side, a little concerned.
After some pats and nods, their little cadre broke up without hearing how Iuo’s story ended. The Porn Baron went to the front and started the film while the rest of the Shadow settled about the theater.
Silence turned around Kyle to her and stared at him with those steel-gray eyes of hers. He plucked the only loose strand of her hair, the blue streak, and tucked it behind her ear, saying, “Keep my seat warm for me.”
With her movie star grin, Silence beamed at him. “Come back to me.”
“Wild Petrified couldn’t keep me away.”
Sagan corrected, “Actually, they probably could. Ready?”
Silence was already heading up to the tier with Smith and Lucas. She sat among them, still apart from the Shadow in ways—Apart from all peoples in other ways.
The opening credits rolled, and, as the smell of popcorn filled the theater, Kyle would rather be up there with his mate than heading into this circus.
“Fuck me. Let’s go. This is nothing but fuckery.”
Kyle totally bitched the entire way there.