I shake my head. “That’s just the warmth from my abilities coming out. You guys told me it was normal.”
“Um, that’s not the kind of heat I’m talking about.” She raises one eyebrow at me suggestively.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter, Lex. There’s nothing going on between us. We are only working together to protect Kassy.” I can tell she doesn’t believe me.
Alexa stares me down, trying to make me spill my guts to her. I don’t give in.
“Fine, you don’t have to confide in me, but I know you like him, and I do think you should tell him. You might be surprised at how good you two could be as a couple.”
I watch the ground as we walk, really wishing there were a way for Gavin and me to be together, but I know there is probably another girl out there waiting for him that he would rather have. One he is meant to be with. Why can’t Alexa understand that?
She nudges my arm. “We are having dinner at my house tonight. Gram is cooking so it should be amazing.” She smiles at me.
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I give her a small smile back. “If it’s anything like the last time, sign me up. This should be exciting.” I say with a hint of sarcasm in my voice, really hoping this evening will be more demon-free than the last.
Chapter 7
Alexa, Gavin, Kassy and I pull up to the Cole’s picturesque house and each of us climb out of Alexa’s comfortable car. I can see the excitement on Kassy's face as we make our way inside.
"I cannot believe this was your home growing up. You guys don't even act spoiled! How is that possible?" Kassy asks, not looking at anyone in particular.
Alexa giggles. "We have a good family that would've kicked our butts if we acted like a couple of spoiled brats. We also learned to work hard."
"I can't wait to meet them all," Kassy says as we pass through the empty living room and into the dining room.
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The whole family is seated around their massive dining table, laughing and talking with each other. I smile at the appealing scene in front of me, suddenly missing my adoptive mother.
We don’t have much family, but we have always been happy and laughed together. I need to call Aunt Mags tonight and tell her that I miss her. I’m sure I seem like a terrible daughter lately since I have been lying about my school and all of the crazy stuff happening.
"There's the little cutie," Uncle Jack bellows while making his way over to us, his large frame looking every bit as intimidating as the last time I saw him. He sweeps me up into a big bear hug and whispers into my ear. "I'm so sorry that I hurt you last time you were here, I had no idea what I was doing." He places me back on the floor and looks at me with sad eyes.
I shake my head at him and punch him in his large arm playfully. "It's fine, but apparently I can look forward to some pretty big mood swings, so I'd watch out if I were you," I say, pretending to sound tough.
Jack laughs out loud for the whole room to enjoy, making everyone look our way. He sure can silence a room with his booming chuckle. I see smiling faces watching me and I smile back at them, enjoying the familial setting.
Cami comes into the dining room and smiles wide when she sees us all. "I'm so glad you guys could make it," She says and wraps me in a warm hug. She does the same for Gavin, having to stand on her toes to embrace him and then Alexa. She pauses in front of Kassy. "You must be Kassy. I'm Camilla, or Cami. I am the twin's mom. I hope my family doesn't scare you off, because they can be a little eccentric at times," she says in a low voice and then wraps her arms around Kassy as well.
Kassy returns the hug with wide eyes. When she pulls back, she looks Camilla up and down. "There's no way you are the mother of twenty-year-old twins!" she almost shouts. "You look like you're thirty."
Laughter comes from the people around us at Kassy's outburst. I agree with her statement though, I just never had the guts to mention anything. Leave it to my best friend to somehow always draw a crowd.
"I guess my niece and nephew haven't been teaching you about our kind as well as we'd hoped." Uncle Hagan's voice comes from across the room. His face is emotionless as what seems to be his usual, and he's seated at the far end of the table near his wife and their son Jed.
Gavin speaks up. "We've been more focused on Aella's physical development than anything else, considering the looming danger,” he says, still not looking at me.
"Yeah," says Alexa. "She has to develop her abilities, so she can protect herself and her friend. You know it’s a unique situation." She gestures toward Kassy.
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"It's perfectly fine if you learn as you go, both of you," Camilla says, talking to me and Kassy. She turns to Kassy. "You are a part of us whether it's in your blood or not and I hope you can learn along with El.”
Kassy smiles. "Thank you. It would be an honor to be a part of this culture. Your whole mission in life is admirable and I hope I can help in any way to contribute."
Kassy gets smiles and head nods from the group, making me feel proud of my beautiful friend for her kind words.
I find my voice and turn to the stoic Hagan. "What is it that
