Chapter 56 Chapter 56

Chapter 56 Chapter 56
Kaelani POV

After she leaves, we all stand there in silence for a moment. I keep staring at the spot where Nana disappeared, trying to sort through everything she just dumped on us. Zaire is my guide, our connection is officially awakened, his markings can lead people to me, somebody is searching for the tree, and apparently I’m supposed to learn how to hide it while also not trusting anybody.
Easy enough.
Kieran’s phone rings, breaking the silence.
“Hello,” he says.
He’s quiet for a few seconds before looking at me. “Caelum is outside.”
“I was wondering when he would get here" I say.
I walk to the door and place my hand against the wall. The familiar warmth moves into my palm before it begins to glow, and a second later the door slowly opens.
“Hey, Caelum.”
He smiles. “Hey, Lani.”
He steps inside, looking around briefly before the door closes behind him. His expression changes almost immediately.
“Felix asked me if you were a witch.”
I stop walking.
After Nana’s don’t trust anybody warning less than five minutes ago, that is probably the worst possible sentence he could’ve walked in here and said.
“Why?” I ask.
“I’m not sure. He said it was because of all the weird stuff that has been happening around you.”
I glance at Kaia, and judging by the way her brows pull together, she’s thinking the same thing I am.
“I told him I didn’t know, but it was just a little odd to ask me of all people,” Caelum says.
“Yeah, that is a little weird,” Kaia says.
“It is, but he could just be curious,” Liam says.
“If we’re being honest, since school started you have had a few blowups,” Canon says.
My eyes cut to him.
He immediately puts his hands up in surrender. “I’m not saying it isn’t weird that he asked Caelum, but logically, it’s also not because he has been there for a few of those blowups.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
“He has a point,” Nyra says.
“I know.”
I hate when people make sense when I want to be suspicious.
“You’re right,” I admit. “I’m going to start working on learning to control my magic, so no more blowups.”
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with the blowups,” Canon says. “Like Liam said, we have witches in our pack. I’ve seen new witches.”
“So you’ve seen witches randomly shake buildings?”
He pauses. “Okay, maybe not buildings.”
“Exactly.”
“But I have seen one accidentally set his pants on fire.”
I stare at him.
Sebastian snorts. “Please tell me you know who it was.”
“I absolutely know who it was.”
“Okay, you redeemed yourself,” I say, and everybody laughs.
The laughter helps loosen some of the tension, but Felix’s question stays in the back of my mind.
“Okay, so we can all agree that we keep Felix at arm’s length,” Kaia says.
“Yeah, and until I figure out what that was when our hands glowed yesterday, I don’t really know what his intentions are,” I say.
That part bothers me more than him asking Caelum if I’m a witch. When Felix touched me yesterday, something happened. I still don’t know if it came from me, him, or both of us.
“Which is why you should stay away from him,” Kieran says.
I cut my eyes toward him. “Don’t start your possessive bullshit.”
“This isn’t that,” he states. His expression stays serious instead of giving me the little smirk I expected. “I just mean until we know his intentions, you should stay away from him.”
“Yeah, but I can’t learn his intentions if I stay away from him.”
Three growls sound around me.
I slowly look from Kieran to Liam and then Zaire.
“I said don’t start. This is not that, you meatheads,” I snap.
“Did you just call them meatheads?” Canon asks.
I laugh. “Yes, because every time they act like that, they sound like meatheads.”
“I didn't even say anything,” Liam argues.
“You growled.”
“That's Orion.”
“And Orion lives where?”
He opens his mouth, then closes it.
“Exactly.”
Kaia starts laughing while Liam shakes his head.
My eyes drift toward Zaire’s arm, and the humor disappears when I see the symbols still stretched across his skin. With everything else happening, we almost forgot that anybody who sees him like this is going to have questions.
“How are we going to a pool party with your arms looking like that?”
Zaire looks down and shrugs. “Do you think the spell is only for after I shift?”
“I don’t know.” I look around at the shelves surrounding us. “How do we find the spell?”
“Step into the circle and think of what you want the spell to do.”
“That's it?”
“That's it.”
“I really need a manual for this place.”
“You have an entire magical library, Shorty.”
“Which is exactly why I need a manual.”
I step into the circle.
The markings carved into the floor immediately begin to glow beneath my feet. I close my eyes and picture Zaire’s arms. I don't want to remove the markings or break whatever connection was just established between us. I only want everyone else to stop being able to see them.
Conceal Zaire’s markings.
The circle glows brighter.
A book jerks from one of the shelves.
“Oh shit.”
I barely get my hands up before it lands in them.
“We're going to have to work on your reflexes,” Sebastian says.
“I will throw this book at you.”
“Reflexes look great.”
I look down as the book opens on its own. Pages turn rapidly beneath my fingers until they suddenly stop.
The Guide’s Veil.
My eyes move over the page.
I read through the spell and what it does, when it can be cast, and how to cast it.
According to the book, the spell doesn’t remove a guide’s markings. It only conceals them from anyone who isn’t connected to them, while leaving the bond itself untouched.
“Okay, it doesn’t say anything about when it can be done, so I think we can do it now.” I look up. “Come, Zaire.”
He pouts.
I stare at him. “What?”
“What happened to Zay?”
Of course.
I suck my teeth and roll my eyes. “Can you ever be serious?”
He shrugs. “Sometimes, but where’s the fun in that? Now let’s do this.”
“Get in the circle, Zay.”
His entire face lights up.
“See? That wasn't hard.”
“I'm taking it back.”
“Too late.”
He steps into the circle with me.
I place my hand around his wrist while holding the book in my other hand. The symbols beneath my palm give off the faintest warmth, almost like they recognize my touch.
I begin to recite the spell.
“Marks of earth, by blood concealed,
Ancient bond remain unsealed.
What was written, let none see,
Hidden now by root and tree.
From seeking eyes and magic’s trace,
Fold these signs beyond their gaze.
Bound in shadow, guarded in light,
Remain unseen until called to sight.”
The circle glows.
Light climbs around our feet before moving upward, wrapping around Zaire’s body.
His markings glow.
A second later, mine answer.
The symbols covering my arms shine through my skin, and the same strange pull from outside moves between us. Not painful. Not overwhelming. Just there.
Then everything slowly dims.
The light beneath our feet disappears.
I look at Zaire’s arms.
The markings are still there.
My brows furrow.
“Wait, what happened? It didn’t work.”
“Uh, yes it did,” Kaia says.
My head snaps toward her. “What?”
“Lani, they’re gone.”
I look back at Zaire so quickly my curls fall into my face.
Every single marking is still there.
“I’m not crazy. I can see them.”
“Well, we can’t,” Kaia says.
I look around at everyone else.
Sebastian shakes his head. Canon does the same. Kieran and Liam are both staring at Zaire's arms like they're trying to find something that isn't there.
“So I guess only you can see them. Zaire, can you see them?” Liam asks.
Zaire looks down. “Yeah.”
“Okay, so maybe they’re only visible to you two,” Kieran says.
I look back at the book.
The markings remain visible to those bound by the connection.
“Oh.” I look up slowly. “Yeah. Apparently that's exactly what it means.”
Zaire grins and holds his arm toward me. “So everybody else sees nothing?”
“Nothing,” Kaia confirms.
His eyes find mine. “But you can still see them.”
“Clear as day.”
Something about the satisfied little smile that appears on his face makes me narrow my eyes.
“Don't make this weird.”
“Didn't say anything, Shorty.”
He didn't have to.
“I guess.” I look around one more time. “And you are all sure you can’t see them?”
“Yes, Mama, we’re sure,” Liam says.
I finally let out the breath I've been holding.
“Okay, well, now that that’s settled, we need to get ready for this pool party, and some of us aren’t five steps away from home,” Zaire says.
Kaia snorts. “Jealous?”
“Most definitely.”
“Well, we keep swimming trunks stocked in the pool room,” Kieran says. “They’re all new pairs. Nobody returns what they take, so my dad includes it in the budget for the pack to keep swimwear for the pack.”
Zaire looks at him. “Your pack has a bathing suit budget?”
Kieran shrugs. “We have a pool.”
“Rich Alpha problems,” Kaia mutters.
“Oh look, now you all don’t have to go home.” Kaia loops her arm through mine. “But us girls will be walking our five steps back home.”
She starts dragging me toward the door before stopping and looking over her shoulder.
“And Zaire, since Nana said this is your home, that means you can lock up. Later, boys.”
Zaire looks around. “Wait, how the hell do I lock up?”
“You're the guide. Figure it out,” Kaia calls back.
I laugh as she grabs my hand and puts it against the wall.
The moment the door opens, she pulls me outside.
“You are crazy,” I say, laughing.
“You love me.”
I lay my head on her shoulder as we walk. “I do.”
“So what kind of bathing suit are we thinking? And outfit?”
“I was going to wear a solid one-piece and a pair of linen shorts.”
She stops walking.
I take a step before jerking because our arms are still looped.
I turn.
“Absolutely not, Kaelani.”
“What is wrong with a one-piece?”
“You will not wear a granny bathing suit with those three gods drooling over you.”
“You’re so dramatic.” I roll my eyes.
“No, I am your social navigator because you are helpless.” She waves me off. “Never mind. I will pick your bathing suit and outfit, and you will not argue.”
I stare at her.
“If I know you, I most definitely need to argue. If it was up to you, I would be covered in triangles covering my lady bits and strings.”
She turns on the steps.
“Your ass would look great in that though, but not appropriate.” Her lips curl. “Not yet, at least.”
“Not ever.”
“We'll revisit it.”
“No, we won't.”
She winks at me before continuing upstairs.
Goddess help me.
We step into my room, and she goes straight to my closet.
As she’s looking, my phone goes off.
I pull it out of my bag.
Of course it’s these goofs.
Zaire: so what kind of bathing suit are you wearing?
Kieran: do you own a long sleeve/shorts bathing suit
Liam: or maybe one of those full body suits
I stare at my phone.
Are they serious right now?
Me: are you trying to make me upset?
Kieran: How?
Me: the fact that you have to ask is the problem
Me: I will wear whatever I want and you three will have to just deal with your fucking egos
Me: I’m not responding to any messages after this
Three little typing bubbles immediately appear.
“Nope.”
I lock my phone and throw it onto my bed.
It goes off repeatedly before finally stopping.
Nyra laughs in my head.
“They're going to hate whatever Kaia picks now.”
“Good.”
Kaia walks out with a two-piece black-and-yellow color-block bathing suit and a pair of crochet yellow shorts.
I stare at it for a second. It's definitely showing more than the one-piece I planned on wearing, but it's nowhere near the pieces of string I expected her to come out carrying.
“The sandals already work, so no need to change those, but I loved the yellow on you today,” she says, handing me the bathing suit and shorts.
I take them from her. “This is surprisingly reasonable.”
She looks offended. “I have taste.”
“I didn't say you didn't. I said you don't believe in fabric.”
“I’m going to get changed. Hurry up, I just saw pictures from the party already.”
She hurries out of the room.
I shake my head and head for the bathroom.
I take a quick shower and then throw on the bathing suit and shorts.
When I step in front of the mirror, I pause.
The yellow stands out beautifully against my skin, and the shorts make me feel covered enough that I don't immediately want to change.
“We really do look good,” Nyra says.
I turn slightly in the mirror.
“Don't encourage Kaia.”
“I'm encouraging us.”
Kaia walks back in just as I put my last sandal on.
“Oh, that looks perfect on you. Those boys are going to lose their minds.”
“And you're way too excited about that.”
“Absolutely.”
“Let’s go. Your car is still at Kieran’s pack.”
She pulls me out of my room.
On the way down, we run into my father.
“Where are you girls off to?”
“Pool party,” Kaia answers.
“On a school night?” Dad asks.
I roll my eyes. “Come on, Dad. There aren’t even any classes going on right now.”
He looks at my outfit, then at Kaia, before his eyes return to me. For half a second, I expect him to tell me to go upstairs and change.
Instead, he sighs.
“Okay, but training when you get back.”
I groan.
Of course.
“Okay, Daddy.”
Kaia pulls me down the rest of the steps and out of the pack house.
“Your dad really knows how to ruin the end of a good night before it even starts,” she says once we're outside.
“Tell me about it.”
When we get back to Kieran’s pack, the guys are all waiting outside the pack house.
I barely get two steps away from Kaia before all three sets of eyes drop to my outfit.
They all growl.
At the exact same time.
I stop.
Kaia starts laughing beside me.
“Hell no,” Kieran says.
“Yeah, no. That’s not the right one,” Liam adds.
Zaire doesn't say anything at first. His eyes slowly travel over me before lifting back to my face.
I roll my eyes.
“I’m not doing this with any of you. I’m going.”
I start walking toward my car.
Zaire catches my hand before I get far.
I turn, but he uses my hand to pull me back toward him.
“Are you trying to make us jealous?” he asks low, hooking my chin.
The smart-ass response sitting on the tip of my tongue disappears when my eyes meet his.
My heart pounds in my chest as he stares down at me.
I swallow hard. “No.”
“So you were trying to have us following you around all night?”
“Zay.”
His lips twitch at the nickname.
I bite my lip and his eyes flick to my mouth and back to my eyes. “No. I just wanted to be cute.”
“Oh, you look way more than cute, Mama,” Liam says.
My eyes flick toward him, and the grin on his face does absolutely nothing to help the heat already crawling up my neck.
“Yeah, you look...” Kieran pauses, his eyes tracing over me before meeting mine again. “You look sexy.”
My cheeks burn.
Kaia makes some obnoxious sound behind me, and I refuse to look at her because I already know she's enjoying every second of this.
“Okay, we need to go.”
I pull away from Zaire and head toward my car.
They all groan.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing as I reach for the door handle.
“You like this,” Nyra says.
“I like annoying them.”
“Sure.”
I glance over my shoulder and catch all three of them still staring at me.
I smirk.
They’re so annoying.
And apparently, I'm going to spend the entire night dealing with them acting like this.
This party is going to be long as hell.