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“McNamara is related to Lottie?”
“Yes,” Cain hissed at her. “And they are here. Right now. Can you hear me? Do you understand?”
Nova shook her head. “No, not really. I hear you but no, I don’t understand.”
Cain ran his hands through his hair. “This got entirely out of my control.” He shook his head, deflating in front of Nova’s eyes. He sat on the couch. “Come sit right here for a minute, we need to talk.”
Nova stared at him. “I’ll stand. Talk,” she demanded.
“Please, Nova. You have to understand, I was put into a situation that wasn’t easy to navigate. I should have talked to you about this from the beginning but you father-”
“My father what?” she asked, arms folded across her chest, eyebrows raised.
Cain scratched his head with both hands, musing up his hair. “You father came up with the idea for us to start a relationship with Lottie.”
Nova sucked in a breath as Cain continued. “I didn’t mean for it to get to this point. It made sense when he came up with the plan. It was just a campaign tactic, like if we could convert her of all people, the niece of the McNamara, then look what other good we could do.” Cain stood taking a few steps toward Nova.
“Don’t take another step. I don’t even know who you are right now,” she sneered. Nova couldn’t remember a time in all her existence when she had been as furious as she was in that moment.
“Who the hell do you think you are? You’re just likehim,” she spat, pointing toward the door. “Why are you even here now? Becausehetold you to be? Is that what this relationship is all about? Keeping myfatherhappy?” She was yelling but she didn’t care. Cain took another step toward her.
“Get the fuck out. Now.” Nova turned away from Cain as tears began to well in her eyes. She wasn’t sure how to react. Two of the most important people in her life betrayed her.
Nova heard Cain walk out of the room. Turning to make sure he was gone, she slid to the floor sobbing.
###
Lottie, Selena, Willa, and Hela sat at a table next to the McNamara’s. Servers walked through the tables pouring coffee and orange juice as well as bloody Mary’s. Lottie knew they were made with real blood but wasn’t sure everyone attending the breakfast knew that.
“Ladies and gentlemen, friends, family, and chosen family, we are honored to be here with you all. Several members of the Jovial are here with us as well. Let’s all enjoy this meal together. This evening we’d like to invite you all to a grand gala to be held inside the Cave Bar. I believe the Jones Brothers will be the entertainment.” Atlas smiled.
Hela cleared her throat and stood. “Actually, brother dear, it’s theJonasbrothers.” The crowd in Skipper’s gasped and clapped at the news. Lottie narrowed her eyes, staring at her uncles, wondering how the next few hours would go. She knew she needed to speak with them before they sought out Beau and his family. She would protect Nova with her own life.
Breakfast went on with no more interruptions. Lottie had a nice enough time talking with her mother and socializing with other members of the Jovial, but she needed to find Nova. She wanted to talk to her before she had to plead her case for her uncles. She excused herself, weaving through the tables, keeping her fingers crossed that she would make it out unnoticed. Once she reached the door, she turned for just a second. Wilder was staring at her. He nodded as she turned back around, pushing through the doors.
###
After staying on the floor for what felt like hours, Nova finally got up and got herself dressed and as ready for the day as she could.Fuck the retreat,she thought. Cain and Beau could have it. She toyed with the idea of reaching out to her mother, but would she just turn around and tell Beau everything? She’d never felt as alone as she did then. Pulling on a hoodie, she put on dark sunglasses, but left her bright blonde hair down.
Nova threw some clothes, a few personal items, and her laptop into her backpack then left the suite. She nodded at Gallien, the concierge on duty but didn’t make small talk as she waited for the elevator. She pushed the button for the roof. It was mid-day, beams of sun pushed through the clouds clinging to the sky. Looking around, Nova made sure she was alone. She turned location services off on her cell phone then turned the phone off. She slipped into the next sky lift, wanting to disappear for a while.
Nova rode the sky lift back and forth for over an hour. She watched the sun move in the sky, she watched the people below, the size of ants, walking the magical grounds, enjoying their magical vacations. How had her life gotten so complicated?Whyhad her life gotten so complicated? “Lottie,” she breathed. She knew she should reach out. Lottie must know what was going on by now, right? What if she didn’t want to see Nova again? What if she didn’t believe that Nova had nothing to do with the “campaign plan?”
When the sky lift stopped at the roof again, Nova started to get off but changed her mind. Where would she even go? What was she supposed to do now? She was truly alone.
###
Lottie stood leaning against the wall with the bellhops and drivers in front of Crimson Moon Hideaway. She was waiting for Marcus to show up so she could ask a favor of him.
“Lots!” Marcus came walking up just in time. Lottie hugged him, grinning from ear to ear. Marcus was one of the most powerful wizards she had ever encountered, why he chose to stay at the resort was beyond her.
“The Jovial are here and McNamara has, of course, requested you to drive them around.”
Marcus nodded. He was much more serious than his sister, Selena. He only wore black and drank only black coffee all night and day. She pulled him aside. “Have you seen Nova Bryant, Beau Bryant’s daughter?”
Marcus looked thoughtful then shook his head. “I can’t say I’ve seen any of that coven today. It does strike me as odd,” he added.
“Me too. I’ve been texting and calling Nova for the last hour. When I call it goes straight to voice mail and my texts have gone unanswered.”
