All Chapters of THE SILENT INHERITANCE: Chapter 71
- Chapter 80
85 chapters
Chapter 70
“What does a serpent mark mean?” I hiss, lowering my head beneath the windowsill. Aislin picks a glass petal from a flower and flicks it. “I didn’t know a mark like that existed.” “Nicholas has one on his back.” I pop my head up. He’s got his back turned toward the mirror, his shirt rolled up so he can check out his butt. “So this is what the faerie does when he’s by himself. Why am I not surprised?” Aislin’s face scrunches and she looks through the window. “Oh my God, he’s totally checking himself out.” She stifles a laugh. “And now he’s giving himself a speech on how sexy he is.” I start to laugh, but remember we’re on a mission. I grab her sleeve and guide us to the front door. “Knock? Or barge in on him?” My fist hovers in front of the door.&nb
Chapter 72
“What do you think he’s doing?” Aislin fiddles with her hooped earring. “Planning our murder probably,” Laylen jokes tensely. “I have an idea.” I slip off my shoes and squeeze behind Laylen. I hoist myself into the tree. The branches crackle as I ascend upward. Moving slowly, I reach a thick branch that elongates over the lake. I step on it vigilantly, feeling the sway. With my hands out to the side, I balance to the end. It curves under my weight and my breath falters. “Gemma, don’t.” Laylen advises from below. I glance at the castle to make sure Alex is still watching, then I raise my hands above my head. My heart leaps in my throat as I spring on my toes and dive into the lake. Screams ring the air and the icy water stings my skin like pins and needles. I thrash my arms, resurfacing, before losing momentum and sinking for the bottom. Murk
Chapter 73
“The Queen didn’t say I was Immortal.” Needing to touch him, I interlace our fingers, the contact bringing some comfort. “So I think there could be a way for me to die, like from old age or something. But I am immune to strangulation.” I pause, fear overwhelming me. “And Alex, she said you can die now. So you have to be careful. “I’m always careful,” he jokes like it’s no big deal. “Promise me.” My words press firm. “You won’t do anything reckless.” “Okay, I will,” he promises. “And when we get out of here, we’ll do everything we can to fix this. If you’re no longer a Protected One, Helena won’t want you.” I bite my lip, wanting to believe him. “Alex, I’m not sure if this problem is going to be an easy fix.” I motion my hand at our cell. &
Chapter 74
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Helena waves her finger at Annabella. “Never turn your back on your family, Annabella.” Annabella laughs, her thin fingers curling into fists. “Is that a threat, Helena? Must I remind you who mother left in charge?” Helena ambles up to Annabella, like a cat eyeing a mouse. “Mother always did like you best, didn’t she? Too bad she’s not around to see this—she’d be so proud of me. I’m more powerful than she ever thought I would be. I have a human connection now, in the Human World. Did you know that? And soon I’ll be able to be there myself.” Before Annabella can react, Helena grips her by the throat and raises her from the floor. Annabella’s feet dangle as she struggles to breathe. “Helena,” she gasps. “Please don’t do this.” “It’s not fun being the weake
Chapter 75
“Laylen is that you?” I ask with false hope. “Umm… Aislin, do sprites have long fingers? I remember them being short and nubby.” “They’re pretty small.” Gold illuminates from her skin, lighting up her face and the foyer. “Why?” I gape at the hand enclosing my ankle. The fingers are longer and bonier than a human’s. The pale skin is scaly and dry like desert sand. When my eyes meet theirs, I gulp. A Water Faerie? On land? Water Faeries aren’t supposed to surface on land. Yet, here was one is clutching my leg, a dried body sprawled on the stairway. Without hesitation, I slam the heel of my shoe into its nose. The bone crunches, but the faerie keeps coming at me. Its hands move up my leg like a tight rope. “Aislin!” I yell, clawing at the floor. Aislin stands in the middle of an angry mob of sprites, chant
Chapter 76
“But she’s so…” I trail off, kicking at the grass as we walk into the forest. “Short?” He mocks me with a curve of his eyebrow. “Do you really think that’s what she looks like?” He puts his lips next to my ear. “Fey have multiple identities.” I fix my gaze on him. “Do you have multiple identities? Or just multiple personalities?” “There’s that twisted sense of humor again.” He pauses, but only to taunt me. “I’m only half-fey, remember? I barely possess any of their power.” I roll my eyes. “Yet, supposedly your grandmother’s the Empress.” He slams to a halt, snagging the sleeve of my shirt. “Out of everyone in your little ‘click’,” he uses air quotes, “I’d think you’d
Chapter 77
but it does the job. She blinks her eyes open, dumbfounded. “Where am I?” She rubs her eyes. “Oh. OH! We’re still here.” I quickly motion at the door. “Yep, and we have to hurry before Luna discovers you’re here.” “What about Aleesa? And Laylen?” Disoriented, she staggers to her feet. Her pupils are dilated and glossy. “And why’s he here?” I glance over my shoulder at Nicholas, who’s leaning against the cage, watching us with a bored expression. “He’s helping us.” She frowns skeptically. “Did you hear what you just said?” I nod and tug her out of the cage and onto the branch. “Again, no time. We have to get out of here before Luna comes for you. Laylen’s not here and we’ll have to come back for Aleesa when we have a game plan and
Chapter 78
Celeste knew that nothing she could say would change his opinion of his performance. “Normally, Wesson would have been just as happy and relieved as everyone else,” he said. “He wasn’t?” she asked, surprised. “He isn’t a monster, or at least he wasn’t back then,” he qualified. “But jealousy was eating him up. Sure he was happy the little girl was all right . . .” “But?” “Noah deliberately left him out. He should have told Wesson what he suspected and let him run with the ball.” Artemis paused for a moment. “Yeah, that’s what he should have done, but I’m glad he didn’t. Tit for tat, as childish as that was. And in his defense, and mine because I backed him, we were young and stupid back then, and neither one of us gave a damn about career po
Chapter 79
“They’ve got an APB or a ABP—whatever it is—out on Lonnie now. They’re going to charge him with arson and hopefully lock him away for the rest of his life. He’s gotten away with so much in the past couple of years. He deserves to rot in prison.” She paused to take a sip of lemonade. “And everyone is still in shock about Steve. Don’t pin your hair up, Celeste. Leave it down.” “Okay,” Celeste agreed. She picked up the peach silk dress she’d draped over the chair and slipped it on. She had her back to Maria as she zipped the dress up and adjusted the bodice. Then she turned around, the full skirt floating about her ankles. “What do you think? Does this work or not? I could wear the blue Versace, but I thought this color would blend better with the dark pink dresses the other bridesmaids are wearing.” Mrs. Brockman walked into the bedroom to t
Chapter 81
The screams from the crowd, frantic to get out of the church, pierced the air. The aisles were crammed with hysterical men and women. Noah had his Sig Sauer in his right hand, and as he pushed forward, knocking people out of his way, he reached behind him under his jacket and pulled out the loaded Glock from his waistband. He leapt onto a pew and opened fire. Running along the tops of the benches, he fired the guns in succession, trying to keep the bastard pinned down. Stark ducked behind the railing. What was happening? The blond-headed priest had pulled out a gun and started shooting at him, and he’d been able to get off only a few shots. He’d seen Father Tom go down, then the other priest, and he was sure he’d hit both of them. Now he had to get Celeste. Stark inched the gun up and got her in his sights. She was down on her knees at the bottom of the altar steps. She was struggling to get up when he fired.