Coveted [New/Revised Version]

WE DON'T LIE TO EACH OTHER

     Iris raised her balled fist to knock on the Jaydens' door but it already swung open.

She looked up and the once still butterflies in her stomach fluttered awake. Sky's neck was craned, his body half twisted to the side as he spoke to the woman behind him. Iris inhaled, her gaze resting on Natalya. Even barefaced and dressed in jeans and an oversized shirt Iris thought might've belonged to Sky, nothing seemed to mar the redhead's beauty. She tiptoed to peck his cheek.

"I'd ask you to be careful but that'd be breath wasted." She drawled. "Play it smart, yeah?"

The vampire's lopsided grin slipped into place. "Don't I always?"

Natalya rolled her eyes and started striding forward. Both women locked gazes for an infinite minute. Iris gulped and tried to brace herself but found her usual hunter's steel resolve wasn't intact. Something about this woman unsettled her deeply and she couldn't quite place why. The other woman nodded in her direction, brushing past her.

"Drusilla?" Sky's voice snapped her attention back to him. He looked genuinely surprised to see her. "Is something the matter?"

Iris gathered her hair and pulled it aside, around to her front. It took her a minute longer than usual to speak. "Do you have a minute?"

"Sure," he gestured for her to come in but she shook her head.

Iris fiddled with the ring between her fingers before meeting his eyes.

"This was your wife's and you entrusted it to me." She said, clearly referring to Drusilla Presley's talisman. "Something this powerful, you could've handed it to my grandma but you didn't. I don't think the reality of everything you're risking hit home until I woke up today and realized I've seen another day because of you."

"Okay," Sky transitorily paused, his eyes flickering between her and mid-air before he spoke again. "I appreciate the appreciation but are you feeling all right?"

Iris chuckled before nodding. "Yeah, I'm good. Great. You know, all things considered."

"Yeah, I get it. You mind if we walk and talk then? I've got a meeting in a couple."

Iris conceded before following him down the driveway to his Monte Carlo. He leant against the hood with his arms crossed. His silvery gaze swept over her, his brow rising in a silent question.

"I know we don't really know each other that well but for as long as I've know you, you've never lied to me." Iris began. "I'm an Empath. I would know."

"You think I'm lying to you now?" Sky asked. "Listen, if this is about the necklace, you've got to know it's for your—"

"I'm saying something here." Iris broke in. "We don't lie. Not to each other."

"Okay."

"It wouldn't feel right letting you do everything that you're doing for me without telling you what I know."

"Okay, so what do you know?"

Iris hesitated.

"What happened with you and Chantelle?" Sky exhaled loudly, rubbing his jaw for a second. She didn't miss the tell. "Please, don't give me some vague, mysterious crap answer. I need to know. You told me it was grounds to kill my whole family. I've tried looking into it but Chantelle—she's stronger than I am. She blocked it from me."

"It doesn't matter now." Sky sighed. "We've all merrily joined hands.

"Yeah, we're all on the same side for now." Iris replied. "You don't know my cousin like I do. Once you're in her crosshairs, you're there for life. I need to know what went down."

"It's silly." Sky shook his head. He sighed again. "She and her friends, Brace Face and the Geek, kidnapped me for a few days. It was a power play thing. I'm over it. I get it. Valentine attacked you and she needed to feel in charge. It's done."

"That's what I'm trying to tell you." Iris whispered. Her breath quickened with anxiety. "It's not done. She isn't finished."

"Come again?"

"There's a spell. It maps out everyone who's of blood relations to you."

"She performs a witchy genealogy spell. Big deal."

"Well, that's just part of it." Iris explained. She couldn't meet his gaze just then. "It's up to the caster what they do once they've done the spell. Chantelle plans to kill everyone in your family, except you. She wants you left alive to feel the guilt."

He stared at her hard, jaw set hard.

Iris stared back, unmoving and anticipating his next move or words.

"Forewarned is forearmed, right?" Sky finally said. "I've got to hand it to her. I didn't quite peg her for this vengeful."

"Our family's wired that way." Iris said weakly. "You come at one of us you're looking for a hell of a fight. I'm not proud of it but there's a malicious side to each of us. Hers just happens to be..."

"Murderous?" Sky supplied. "Yeah, I've got a couple of those in my tree too. I am glad you told me."

"I'm..." Iris paused. "I had to. It wasn't right."

The tinkling of Sky's phone cut off his next words. He looked at his screen and then glanced back at her. "I've got to take this. Business."

"Yeah, sure." Iris bobbed her head and stepped back to allow him to slip into his vehicle. Phone now glued to his ear, he started the engine. She caught his door before it closed. "Don't hurt her."

"Monroe, hold on a sec." Sky told whoever was on the line. He looked up and their gazes locked. "What, you mean go apeshit and rip her apart?" His lips twitched. "I've got a much better plan."

"What's that?"

"Your grandma and I go way back and I'm pretty sure she said to leave this alone. Pissy Penelope should be the right amount of retribution."

"My God, you're absolutely diabolical."

"Aren't I?" he smirked. "Now, I really do have to go darling. Can you manage finding your way back home without incident?"

Iris shut his door with an eye roll. "Good luck with your thing."

He chuckled once before turning his attention back to his phone call saying, "This had better be good, kid," before driving off.

Iris watched the Monte Carlo go.

"It could've been worse." Mae said from behind her. "At least, that's out in the open, right?"

"Right." Iris sighed heavily. "Let's get the hell out of here."