Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 3)

Raven’s brows snap together. “You knew?”

“I told you.” My face contorts. “Discovering secrets was my purpose, remember?”

“How long,” Captain snaps.

My eyes snap his way.

When I don’t respond he pushes closer.

“How. Long. Have you known about her?” he forces past clenched teeth.

I swallow, admitting, “Long before you.”

You’d think I slapped him. I’d go as far as to say he was hoping for a different answer, that maybe there was one that wouldn’t build a wall between us, not that an us existed.

“What does so much mean?” he asks, now completely detached, no emotion to be found, not even anger.

“Exactly what you think,” I whisper. “It’s... how she tells me she...” I trail off, unable to say it.

It’s how she tells me she loves me.

She’s the only person that ever has.

“I’m sorry,” I tell them, my shoulders falling. “I don’t know what else to say.” I turn to Raven. “Don’t hate me, please. I’ll go, I won’t bother you guys.” My eyes cut to Captain and back to her. “But just... don’t hate me.”

“Go,” Raven says, her eyes slicing to Captain. Something passes between them before she looks back to me. “And make it quick, Victoria.”

With a slight nod and a heavy heart, I back away, unable to meet Captain’s eyes. “I expected this, so bags are already packed,” I admit. “I’ll only be minutes.”

I get a few feet before Captain says, “Well in that case, we’ll send someone to get them.”

My eyes cut over my shoulder, and I frown.

“You’ll be moved in, in less than an hour,” Raven tells me as she reaches for Maddoc’s hand.

I spin to face them once more. “You want me to stay?”

She looks from Cap to me. “I’m telling you to.”

Maddoc and Captain share a look, and then he and Raven walk away, leaving me and Captain alone.

“I’m sorry, Cap—”

“Don’t,” he cuts me off, stepping into my face, but I don’t cower.

He looks ready to say something, but I couldn’t guess as to what. His eyes give nothing away. The second the ice within them starts to thaw he jerks away, stepping from the trees before turning to look at me once more.

“Welcome home, beauty.” He spreads his arms out wide, the mansion taunting me in the distance behind him. “Might wanna sleep with one eye open.”

My forehead tightens as my pulse spikes.

Does this make me the enemy?

The tautness of his eyes screams the answer is no, he doesn’t want me to be.

Still, in the next moment, I consider running, disappearing, only the thought is gone as soon as it hits, because the cost of leaving this place is too high.

I’d lose everything I never had and always wanted.

I’d risk having the only people who’d ever made me feel like being myself was enough hating me forever. Allowing them to push me away when I’ve only just grown closer?

I don’t fucking think so.

They pulled me from my hiding places, and I’m glad.

I’m tired of dark corners, tired of the background.

Tired of losing before I’ve even won.

Raven is my sister, this is my new home.

I’m ready to fight for everything that comes with it.

If I’m lucky, a blond Brayshaw included.