Xavier’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “My mother,” he answered, his voice clipped as if the response should be obvious. He hesitated, then added, more quietly, “She died shortly after this was painted.”
My pulse thrummed in my ears, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the painting. It wasn’t just the woman’s familiar face that caught my eye. No, it was the amulet, the golden-red one meticulously painted around her neck.
My stomach twisted.
“I’ve seen that woman before,” I whispered, my nightmare from the other night flashing in my mind. “When I was a child.”
Xavier shook his head at me. “That’s impossible,” he said, “She died nearly four centuries ago.”
The room seemed smaller suddenly, the air becoming denser.
“Then why is she wearing my mother’s necklace?”
Chapter 15
Zara
I stared at the painting, my thoughts racing. I had to tell Jaxon. My mother… I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. He had said his mother was a shapeshifter. What if? My stomach churned violently, and I rushed to the desk, gripping the edge for support as I stumbled toward the wastebasket. I began to vomit, the contents of my stomach spilling into the basket.
Was my mothertheirmother?!
“Zara,” Xavier said, his voice softening with concern as he knelt beside me. His hand hovered near my back, unsure whether to offer comfort or maintain distance. “Are you alright?”
My mind raced back to last night, to Jaxon, and a new wave of nausea washed over me, causing me to vomit again. I was aware of Xavier's hand lightly holding back my hair, and I swatted away his hands. “I th- think we ar- are related,” I manage to say, my voice shaky.
Xavier let out a sharp, barking laugh, and I turned to him, stunned, my eyes wide with disbelief. His smile wavered as he continued to laugh, but it turned joyless as he spoke. “We are not related, Zara.”
“How can you be sure?” I snapped, narrowing my gaze at him.
“For one, my parents are dead,” he hissed, a growl barely contained in his voice. “Another reason is that I can detect such things. I would be able to smell it from your scent. You aren't related to me or my brother.” He huffed, shadowing a towel and a glass of water and placing it on the desk near me. He stood and took a few steps away from me as he did.
Relief surged through me at his declaration, and I shakily stood, drinking deeply from the glass of water and wiping my face with the towel.
“You need to know something,” I said, my voice still trembling. “About Jaxon and why he opened the realm.”
Xavier’s expression darkened, and he growled.
“He believes your mother is alive and has the book you’re searching for. He believes your mother got trapped in my realm when your father sealed the door.” My voice wavered as I spoke, watching a wave of emotions ripple across his face.
His eyes hardened into an icy resolve. “My mother is dead.”
“Then why have I seen her before as a child? Why does my mother wear her necklace?” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. This man was infuriating. I understood Jaxon’s frustration now.
“You were a child. You don’t know what you saw, and none of what you said proves that she is alive.” Xavier's face smoothed into an emotionless mask, and I tilted my head at him in evaluation. Did he do that a lot? Hide his emotions?
“It proves something,” I stated, trying to control my frustration.
“Maybe.” Xavier’s response was curt, and he turned, striding past me with purposeful steps toward his bed.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my eyes tracking his movements.
“I need to sleep,” he replied, his tone flat.
“What?” My gaze fixed on him, confusion swirling within me like a storm.
“Sleep. The thing you rudely interrupted when you appeared in my bed,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
My cheeks heated with anger. “And what exactly am I supposed to do?” I demanded, holding out my arm with the silver chain wrapped tightly around it. “You’ve trapped me with this thing. It’s not like I can just leave.” My gaze darted toward the door, the impulse to bolt making my pulse race.
