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Four uniquely stunning covers created by: TheMalevolentRose

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Acacia/Ciarán - Age 15

"No!"

Wait...that's Marcus' voice...

"Marcus, come away from her this second," mom's also drawing my confusion as I try to pry my eyelids open.

I hear Marcus yell back, "My, Cacia!"

"You're eight! Stop calling her that," mom is at it again and I know the only reason Marcus would say my name like that...

Finally, I open my eyelids, but it's not my doing. A light shines in my right eye and then my left, a grimace crossing my features as I shake my head from side to side. It's Nile's voice I hear next when he says, "She's got a minor concussion."

"We'll have her rest here a few days home," Dante concludes while I feel slightly dizzy trying to blink my eyelids open this time by myself.

When I finally take in my surroundings, I realize I'm lying in my room, the familiar ceiling the first thing I see. Tilting my head, I see Marcus sitting at the foot of my bed while he looks at me with wide eyes. Mom is standing near the foot of the bed; her arms crossed while Dante is standing behind Niles as Niles rises from sitting on the edge of my bed.

Furrowing my brows in confusion, I finally ask, "What am I doing here?"

"I..." Dante's voice is on edge as he shakes his head, "...I didn't feel safe leaving you at school, not with what happened," he pauses a moment before sighing, "I took you home and didn't think anything of it."

Everything starts to come flooding back before my eyes grow wide, "Ciarán-"

Mom's eyes are searching me as she states, "He's being taken care of." There are anger and disappointment in her tone, and I know it's not at all directed at me. She nods at Marcus and says, "Come on, let us give her some space and rest."

Marcus pouts, and when he goes to leap and hug me, Dante is quicker and wraps his arms around his waist, hoisting him up over his shoulder. While Dante chuckles, Marcus calls, "Heeeeeeeey!"

As Dante takes Marcus out of my room, mom turns to me as she leaves and says, "I'm sorry," though she shakes her head and leaves without another word. The door remains half open as she steps into the hallway and I hear her say, "One month is agreed upon."

"If this doesn't work, we'll have to think about a long-term solution," dad's voice makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

"I know," mom's voice is harsh as well, and I hear her footsteps leading away; however, the door to my room opens once again.

The moment I see dad standing in the doorway, I turn my face away from him, my eyes landing on the window. It's snowing outside...

"Little love," his voice is gentle, but I still feel the way things were left between us lingers in the air.

My voice is watery as I reply, "I'm still your little love? Really..."

Dad closes the door behind him and walks toward the edge of the bed. After taking a seat on the side of it, he states, "You'll always be my little love," he pauses a moment before he says, "I know what you did."

My muscles tense at his words and I say, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Dad chuckles and continues, "I don't find it a mere coincidence that Dante suddenly arrives at Meliorist Sanctum, to only moments later be somehow shown a very startling discovery within the school," he pauses a moment and states, "lucky for him? I think not...I know you had a hand in it."

After sitting up slightly, dad helping me gently, I cross my arms beneath my chest and say, "I..." it's hard beginning to tell him this, but I do, "...no one would believe a liar..."

Dad's muscles tense at my words, tears starting to form in my eyes as I release a shaky breath. He tells me, "I'm not saying a word to your mom or Dante...Acacia, what you managed to do..." he shakes his head, and my eyes flicker away from him briefly, "...you helped a lot of people and exposed something none of us thought your brother would do."

"Why?" I'm angry and snap right back, "Because he's your precious first born all-powerful being that's supposed to follow in mom's footsteps?!"

Dad remains calm while sighing, "Sadly...yes," his words shock me as I draw my eyes back to meet with his, "now, he's spending a month in Elysium to understand what happens to those who believe ever enacting something along the lines of the Code of Conduct is a good idea. If he can't understand and correct his ways, setting him on a better path...then we'll cross that bridge when we reach it."

Ciarán's in...Elysium?!

"I hope..." I remember the way Ciarán's wolf pulled him back, the second he was going to hurt me further...there's good in him. I know there is and a part of him didn't want to hurt me at all. Breathing out steadily, I finish, "...I hope Ciarán will be alright."

Dad stares at me before saying, "I want you to know I'm proud of what you did. It wasn't easy, and you put others before yourself, risking your own life...though, I'd much rather you not if at all possible."

I scrunch my nose, and he chuckles while I reply, "I wasn't left much a choice considering you all believe I'm a liar."

"Spending time in Elysium didn't change that?" Dad arches a brow, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying something I'll regret. He sighs and continues, "If your life is at risk or those of others, you need to tell someone..." his voice trails off as I see his muscles tense, "...I don't want to lose you."

Physically is the only way he can...

There's a commotion from outside my room, loud noises before I hear the door being thrown open. Dad shakes his head as if he already knows something, but my eyes widen when it's the last person I ever expected to see come running into my room.

"Acacia!" Rian's outburst causes my cheeks to turn red. I grasp the covers and quickly pull them over my head before sinking back into the bed.

"You don't just barge into a woman's room!" A male's voice calls after him followed by a woman giggling lightly.

"Come on out, little love," dad is chuckling, and I feel my face is hot with embarrassment.

I mumble, "Dad!"

"Is she okay?" Rian asks, and I hear him moving around the bed.

"Rian! Personal space..." the male chastises him once again.

"Dad, you didn't see what happened-"

"No, but I can imagine, so all the more reason to calm your ass down and get back here right now," his voice causes footsteps to fall away. I can't keep the redness from my cheeks when I feel dad moving the covers slowly.

After a few more moments of trying to disperse the embarrassment I feel, I finally pull the covers away. I glance just past dad to see Rian standing in front of what I now know are his parents. It's insane how the man looks like an older version of both Mercury and Rian...

...that must be Delaney's brother as she carries the same dominant traits.

The woman who stands beside him has long curly red hair, her clear blue eyes looking at me curiously while a sweet smile is on her lips. The man appears slightly embarrassed himself for even being here, but each time Rian tries to take a step forward, the man places a hand on his shoulder and keeps him back.

Dad nods while standing and says, "Acacia, I'd like to introduce you to Aohdan and Rochelle Starr," he pauses while his eyes land on their son and he chuckles, "and you're already friends with Rian."

How does dad even know them yet I've never met them?

Is that what Rian meant when his dad wanted to keep to themselves?

"Your daughter is so beautiful, Cormac," Rochelle beams and she gives Aohdan a sideways glance and says, "I see why Rian likes her."

Aohdan shakes his head, and before he can say anything, Rian states, "Acacia is my beloved..." his voice trails off and everyone in the room freezes. Rochelle's eyes quickly meet with Aohdan's while his land on my dad soon after. Rian scratches the back of his head while nervously saying, "Well...at least I think so."

"Cormac," Aohdan nods toward the bedroom door and says, "a word."

Dad rises from the edge of my bed, Aohdan walking around behind Rochelle after releasing Rian's shoulder. They step outside the door, but now that his dad wasn't restraining him, Rian comes to the edge of my bed and asks, "Are you okay? I'm so sorry...I couldn't help you..."

Furrowing my brows, I shake my head and reply, "It's not your fault..." my voice trails off as I catch Rochelle walking toward the window, "...I never thought my brother would do that..." Curiously, I furrow my brows again and ask him, "Why did you say that?"

"Say what?" He asks while sitting down next to me.

"I'm not your beloved, you know I'm human...right?" I don't want to be rude, but I know vampires can only have a beloved to another vampire or hybrid.

He awkwardly glances to Rochelle and says to me, "Well...dad told me mom was a dormant vampire..." he smiles at me and states, "maybe you are as well?"

I don't think so...

Shaking my head, I can hear dad and Aohdan coming back into the room. There is a look on Aohdan's face I can't quite understand, his eyes looking me over almost like he's searching for something.

Rian continues and says, "My bite would have hurt you...but you moaned an-"

My cheeks instantly flush with color again, and Aohdan cuts his son off, "Rian, we're taking you back to school now," he pauses and nods at me, "you wanted to make sure she is okay, and she is. She needs rest and will be back in a little while."

"But, da-"

"We'll talk on the drive back, alright?" Aohdan's eyes briefly flicker over me once more, and I can't help but avert my gaze. I don't know what he's thinking, and even I'm not sure what to believe with what Rian just said. It's confusing...

...because Mercury's bite can feel the same way.

Perhaps Rian is confused?

"Okay," he nods and doesn't argue any further. He smiles at me and says, "I can't wait to get back to our chess club meetings! Get better soon, okay?"

When he wraps his arms around my shoulders, the air leaves my lungs at his touch. I exhale lightly, the warmth sparking something inside my chest and wanting it to stay a moment longer. Unfortunately, Rian pulls away, and we smile at one another before he's ushered out of the room by Rochelle.

Aohdan looks me over before he says, "It was nice to meet you, Acacia."

After he leaves, dad glances at me and says, "Rian seems nice."

"He is," I reply shortly.

"Do you like him?"

Oh no...I see where this is going.

"Dad," I humph and state, "he's like Bryant...he's just a friend."

"Why would he believe you're his beloved?" Dad's eyes spark with something, and I can't understand what he's looking for. It's the same way Aohdan was looking at me...

What I am sure of though, he's analyzing me and trying to pry for a more in-depth meaning behind our friendship.

Shrugging my shoulders, I look away from him and mumble, "You tell me...I'm human."

"Where did he bite you?" Dad presses further.

I throw my arms up into the air, and I release an exasperated sigh, "Oh my god dad! Stop!"

Dad releases a chuckle before raising his hands in defense and replies, "I'll leave you be..." his voice trails off, taking a few steps toward me before offering me a hug. I release a sigh and hug him back, but what I don't expect is for him to pull back a bit afterward and check my neck.

"Dad!" I yell at him.

"I'm just checking," he laughs again before shaking his head and leaving me to my thoughts.

Why?

Would it have mattered if he bit my neck?

💫--To Be Continued--💫