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Leaf bit off his warning as the crow smirked at him with mischief, then skirted the armchair to stand behind Forrest and Melody… who still looked stunned. River’s gaze narrowed as he surveyed the room. He tapped his chin and said, “I could be wrong, but I’m sensing a little hostility in the air.”
“Shut up,” Thorne snapped, his unwavering gaze on Nova.
Leaf’s mate tensed, her breathing shallowed, and fear prickled through their bond.
“Listen up.” Leaf’s tone sharpened. He tugged his mate closer so he could glare at everyone over her shoulder. “Nova is not her brother. Do not lower the tone by treating her as a criminal without due cause. You’re all better than that. Now, I’m sure you all have questions, and we will get to them over tonight’s house dinner.”
Nova’s gaze snapped to his, but he held command of the room and continued. “I want to see everyone at that table, or I’ll personally track you down and drag you back like children. We should be beyond this sort of reprehensible behavior by now.”
Silence answered him. Nova said a few quiet words in Spanish about not needing him to fight her battles, but thank you very much for inflating his ego to clear the room of doubt. He replied, “You’re welcome,” to which she continued to voice her opinion about whether next time they should talk about how to reveal secrets that were obviously a big deal despite him acting on the contrary.
She tried to hide the feisty flare in her eyes from the room as she lectured him, but with each word spoken, he felt her tension ease. He would happily submit to eons of lectures if it helped her feel comfortable.
Laurel blurted. “You realize she spoke in Spanish, right?”
He shrugged. “Of course.”
“But you don’t remember anything about being Jackson Crimson. How did you learn Spanish? I haven’t heard anyone speak it in Elphyne.”
He stilled, realizing his faux pas. “I don’t know.”
He hadn’t wanted to delve into detail about Nova’s gift today, but he supposed her freckles were obvious. Someone was bound to ask soon.
Nova pointed to her face. “These are new. We don’t know exactly what they’re for, but sometimes Leaf can pick up memories. Or understand some things like the Spanish. That’s weird, right?”
“Weird, but cool.” Laurel leaned forward to inspect Nova’s face from across the room. “They look pretty awesome, babe. I’m just saying if the Well had to give a girl a mark—cute glowing freckles are the way to go.”
“I wish mine glowed.” Clarke pouted, touching her freckle-laden face. Rush grumbled something in her ear, and she softened against him.
“I wish mine glowed,” River mocked in a high-pitched voice.
“Shut up!” Clarke threw a cushion at his head.
He snatched it out of the air and smirked. Rush just shook his head, as if this tit-for-tat between the two was a common occurrence.
“Hun, we didn’t mean to be rude,” Melody told Nova. Forrest’s glare remained hard, so she squeezed his thigh in warning. “Sugar, Leaf is right. Nova isn’t her brother. And I, for one, would like to hear her story tonight over dinner. Who’s cooking, by the way? Because I think y’all know I’m not a good chef.”
“I’m cooking.” Nova raised her voice. “It would be my pleasure.”
Leaf grunted. “She’s very good.”
“Better not poison us,” River grumbled as he strolled from the room.
“Don’t mind him,” Clarke said. “He’s just feeling the pressure now he knows the crows are next in line to find their mates.”
“Ah, yes,” Nova said. “Leaf mentioned you were psychic.”
“I had a little talent in our time, too. Unfortunately, your brother tortured Laurel so I would give him the nuclear codes.” She melted back into the sofa. “It’s hard not to blame myself for everything that followed.”
Nova gasped. Leaf’s gaze hardened at everyone in case they needed reminding about giving her a chance.
“I’m so sorry,” Nova said to Clarke. “I know he’s done horrible, unmentionable things. He…” She took a deep breath for courage. “He murdered our parents. He broke Jace and me up, and… I guess I’m not saying this as an excuse, but… I just… You have to know I will do everything possible to stop him.”
After hearing her pain, they had the grace to look ashamed of their initial reactions.
“I believe you,” Clarke said. “I wish I had seen more of you in my visions, but for some reason, you’re a little like Nero—I call him the Void because he’s managed to evade my attention. You’re like a bright star, blinding me. I don’t understand it.”
Nova’s thoughts turned inward, and Leaf said, “We’ll discuss this later. Tell any of the Twelve you can find about dinner.” To Clarke, he asked, “Where’s Cloud?”
