Fate Breakers

Chapter 27

Alexis

Years Ago

Funerals are difficult. They're even harder when you really could care less about the person who died. Or, it was for me. I sat there, staring at our mother and father in their caskets, and I felt nothing.

Our aunt, our father's sister, scowled at me. "You could at least try and act sad."

"Takes more effort to frown." She stared at me, aghast. I couldn't even muster a shrug. "Your words, not mine."

"I wish your mother had gotten rid of you when she had the chance." That had me looking at her. I'll never forget the sheer look of hatred in her eyes. "Amarion was supposed to be their first and only. Having you meant they had to work more, and now look where that's got them!"

I hadn't realized she'd gotten so close until Amarion stepped in between us both. Back then, I thought his rose red Balor cloak made him look powerful. I used to be envious of him. "Watch your tone, Merova," Amarion snarled. "You can say what you want behind closed doors, but when you're in public, you'll watch how you speak about my baby sister."

Amarion knew exactly how much that hurt our aunt that day. The tears that welled up in Merova's eyes weren't for what she'd done to me. She never cared about me. She only started to cry because Amarion standing up for me reminded her of how our dad stood up for her. Even through the tears, that look of hate still shone in her eyes when she looked at me. She stormed off silently. Clearly, I wasn't worth all her grief.

"Don't pay attention to her, Lexi," Amarion told me. He squeezed my shoulder, running his fingers through my hair. "She's... grief either makes you burn up, or it makes you burn out."

"And which one is Merova?"

"Burning out. Heard it took her an hour just to sit up in bed, let alone get out of it."

"Grief makes me burn up."

"You're not grieving our parents, though."

"Oh, yeah. I still think it'll make me burn, anyway."

"It's easy to say what you'll do and how you'll act now. It's different when that grief hits you." Amarion extended his hand to me, his smile gentle. "Now, come on. Rhyfel won't wait much longer. You got your stuff all packed?"

I took his hand eagerly. I held onto him so tight, my saving grace. "Have been packed for a while." I never said it aloud, but I remember thinking how much more convenient this was, as opposed to me having to run away.

Amarion nodded. "Good, then let's head out, Cadet Alexis La'Roux."

Two Years Ago

"Sarah, will you stop fucking staring at me."

Sarah threw her head back, copper curls bouncing with her laughter. "What? C'mon, Lexi. Humor us a little."

I picked up the nearest object and threw it at her. She was lucky that object was a used towel. "I won't be humoring you when you're talking about how attractive you think my brother is."

Lantana joined in on the snickering, her brassy hair making waves as her head swayed. "I told you to just leave her outta it, Sar."

"Shut up, Tana," Sarah snorted. "No one asked you."

"Okay, well what about Greyson," Madeline asked, trying to redo her braid for the fourteenth time.

"Ewww." I crinkled my nose. "Greyson is like our younger brother."