Just as we round the corner, the familiar spiraled staircase draws my attention. My breath is almost stolen as I stare into the blue eyes staring back at me in widened disbelief.
It's Gage.
His button-up shirt matches his cosmic blue eyes. In true rebel fashion, he bypassed the need for a suit and tie. His frayed denim jeans clash with the formal attire, but they look so much better than all the designer fabric in here.
He rests his hands in his pockets, his eyes beseeching my silence, and I hold my tongue.
"Ah, Gage. There you are. This is Air... I mean, this is Alyssa. I've told you about her before. For obvious reasons, I'd appreciate it if you referred to her as only Dray's friend."
His lips tighten as he nods, and I feel the heat of my body flooding me. Gage's eyes widen as he reads my scandalous aura, and I cringe as Drackus's hold tightens on me.
"Gage is Amari's son. My soon-to-be stepson."
Chapter 12
Unhealthy Addictions
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
In that instant, my fiery aura is doused with arctic water as my mouth dries into a desert. Drackus seems pleased with his icy extinguishing. Then Amari walks around to join us.
"Gage, honey, there you are. I think you forgot the suit I laid out for you."
He turns his gaze from me to Cruella... I mean... Amari.
"I'd rather be comfortable, Mother."
I swallow hard, remembering how very cold and callous he is at the very mention of his mother. She frowns, and then her eyes blaze with a bit of venom when she sees my arm has returned to Drackus's hold.
"Drackus, perhaps we should enter together, darling."
He looks from Gage to me, and with heavy reluctance, he allows her to drag him away. Dray lets out a small chuckle as he walks off, leaving me alone with the dark user full of exposed secrets.
"What are you doing here?" he whispers.
"Me?" I squeak, and then I walk up the stairs and grab his hand to jerk him toward the top.
I guide him into a room off to the side, and then I slam the door as I scream at him in a whisper.
"What the hell? You're about to be my stepbrother and you knew this? This is... this is sick! We almost... Oh no. No!"
I almost implode at the horrible situation in front of me.
"First of all, we haven't done anything... much. Secondly, we are not related in any way. Third of all, if - and I do mean if - they get married, we still won't be related by blood. They'll never get married though. Drackus is just telling her what she wants to hear because she's crazy. Now what are you doing here?"
This is too much. I've made out with my father's fiancée's son. He's... oh crap. His tongue.
"I came to thank him and to find out why he really helped me out of there. It's not like Drackus comes to help and then doesn't stick around to flaunt his power. He disappeared without so much as flashing around a dazzling, condescending smile. I kept waiting on him to show up and reveal his motives, but he hasn't. Call this a preemptive strike. Now, why the fuck didn't you tell me you were about to be my brother?"
He laughs, as if there's some amusement in all this.
"Again, I'm not going to be your brother. Stop with the dramatics. As for Drackus saving you, did you ever consider he did it because you're his daughter? Believe it or not, he happens to care about you. I know. I've heard him rave about you before."
I scowl, feeling all the more icky.
"Why is it he told you but not your mother?"
"Because she's crazy. How many times do I have to tell you that? Anyway, we should get down there. Your dad will flip the hell out if he learns we're missing."