Helen heard Lucas laughing to himself as he started his car. The
warm sound made her smile.
Lucas took his time driving home from Helen?s side of the island.
He needed time to think and get control over himself before he
faced his family. Not that it would do much good. Cassandra and
Jason could always figure out how he was feeling, and they were
being hypervigilant about him right now. They?d been worried
about him since that day in the hallway when he?d first seen her,
and now it would get worse. It was already worse. Jason would
probably try to get him to sit down for a nice, long talk, and Lucas
didn?t have the patience for that. He didn?t want anyone?s pity; he
just wanted to be left alone for once.
Lucas pulled into the garage and sat with the engine off for a few
minutes, trying to put his feelings back where they belonged. The
past few days he?d felt as if his emotions were spring-loaded, as
though if he let the lid off them they?d all come flying out like confetti
from a Christmas cracker. He knew for damn sure he couldn?t
handle seeing Cassandra, not right then, and he also knew she was
probably waiting for him. He got out of the car, walked outside,
and flew up to his bedroom window to avoid her.
But of course she knew he would do that, and she was already sitting
on the couch in his room. Lucas smiled ruefully to himself before
he even got his window open. He should have known better
than to try and outmaneuver his little sister.
?I don?t want to talk about it, Cassie,? he said in what he hoped
was a patient but firm voice.
?You don?t get to make that choice,? Cassandra responded sadly.
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?No. We?re Scions. We don?t get to make many of our own
choices, do we?? he said bitterly as he floated through the window