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“I found out you were engaged about three years ago,” Stacy tells me.
“Thanks for the heads up.” I know that isn’t fair.
My father has held Stacy to secrecy since she was thirteen. No wonder she didn’t like being at my house when he was around.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.” Stacy’s eyes are filled with guilt. “Konstantin is going to be so mad that I told you.”
“Are you and my brother in a relationship?”
“No.” Stacy’s brows drew together. “God! No.” She holds her hands up. “Don’t get me wrong, your brother is fucking gorgeous. In the two years I’ve known him, he’s been nothing but kind to me.”
“Two years?” I splutter. “You’ve known Konstantin for two years?” I shake my head. “You need to start at the beginning.”
“Okay.” She nods. “You know about me at thirteen, Gunner, and how I found out that Genevra was nice. However, it wasn’t until after my seventeenth that I knew how nice she was. She was like a mother to me, and Gunner became my father figure.”
“God, Stace.” I’m trying to hold on to the tears burning at the back of my eyes.
There I was, living like a spoiled little princess protected by the king of darkness consuming everyone I loved and holding them hostage to protect my fucking fake world. Jesus!
“Don’t do that, Bells.” I look up to see Stacy watching me intently. “Don’t sit there beating yourself up, worrying that we’re thinking badly of you. You didn’t know, and every part of your life was carefully crafted to keep you from knowing.”
“Why?” I bellow in frustration. “Why has everyone I loved been tortured because of me?” Anger, guilt, remorse for loving my Dad, a monster just like, if not worse, than the Belovs. “Why am I so fucking important? What does everyone want from me?”
“You’re the key to ushering a brand new era for your family and putting an end to bad blood between them.” Pavel walks into the living room, eating a handful of grapes. “I’ve been eavesdropping,” he says, unabashed by the admission and sitting in a chair across from me.
“Is that a good thing? Is that a bad thing?” I look at Pavel. “How am I the key? How am I supposed to usher in a new era?” My voice is rising with the anger boiling inside me, and I’m starting to feel light-headed. “Am I at least going to get powers? Is that why I had to wait until I was twenty-one because this is when I become a witch, vampire, or werewolf?” My voice and temper rise a little more, and so do the giddy feeling. “Am I supposed to slay a fucking dragon? Put a curse on someone’s penis. WHAT THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO BE THE KEY FOR?”
“Isabella, calm down!” Pavel says, putting his plate of grapes on the table and standing up with his hands out as if he were approaching a wild cat. “You know you can’t get your blood pressure up; it’s not good for the baby.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I have no idea why my temper is rising and rising.
I jump up on the couch to try at least to be at eye level with the giant. Then I sway as the blood rushes to my head, and it feels as if my brain shrinks and expands in a pulse. Pavel’s hand snakes out to catch me as the world starts spinning, and that now familiar gray mist starts swirling around me to pull me into darkness. I try to fight it, but I can’t. My legs give in, and I feel strong arms catch me before the world starts to fade out.
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
I hear Stacy’s angry voice somewhere through the darkness, and I push through it, trying to find her.
“You never tell an angry woman to calm down. And you never tell an angry pregnant woman to do that because you’re going to get an ass whooping.”
“Stacy!” I call out, trying to reach her. “Stacy!” But I don’t think she hears me because she continues to shout at someone.
“Bella!” Stacy is shaking me. “Wake up, Bells.”
“I’m awake,” I tell her, not opening my eyes. “But I think I’m just going to lie here for a while with my eyes closed.”
“Okay!” Stacy says. “I’ll get you a blanket and let you get some rest.”
“No.” I stop her. “I want you to continue telling me your story of how you met my brother and found out about my engagement.”
“Are you sure you want to hear this now?”
“Yes.” I open my eyes and see her face staring at me through a fuzzy haze. I rub them clear. “I’m listening.” I turn my head. “Where’s Pavel?”
“Gone.” Stacy hisses. “That stupid dick knows better than to rile you.”
“He didn’t rile me.” I shake my head. “I’m just so fed up with…” I sigh. “Being a fucking mushroom and trapped in the darkness while my best friend is suffering in silence because of me.”
“I told you not to do that.” Stacy’s voice is soft. “None of this is your fault. You were living in a reality specifically designed to keep you in the dark.”
