Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 140896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Nikolai is right. Brandon is the first friend I’ve made outside my family.
Jeremy is Nikolai’s best friend, not mine. His younger sister, Annika, used to be friends with Maya, not me—that is, until they fell out of each other’s graces.
Not only am I too difficult to get along with, but I also make it a habit to never let anyone close. I developed severe trust issues after that monster stole my voice. And yet Bran put in the effort and made me feel precious. Until lately, of course.
Maybe I can’t have both, after all.
Either the nice twin or the evil one.
“The more you defend him, the higher he gets on my hit list.” Nikolai’s harsh tone sends a dash of panic through my veins. “I’ll see to this myself.”
I grab onto his arm and then shake my head.
Bran is so drastically different from Lan, if they didn’t share identical looks, no one would believe they’re twins, let alone brothers.
I would never forgive myself if I put him on Nikolai’s merciless radar just because I’m selfish enough to want a friend.
“Listen,” I sign. “I’m old enough to choose who I spend time with and who I don’t. I appreciate your protectiveness and I adore you more than you’ll ever know, but you don’t get to tell me who I talk to and who I don’t. Bran did nothing to you or anyone in the Heathens. So this animosity is uncalled for and I won’t allow you to hurt someone innocent just because of his last name.”
Nikolai’s eyes narrow to threatening slits, but his face soon returns to its normal grumpy expression as he grabs my shoulders. “I don’t like the secrecy in whatever you’re doing lately.”
“Everything is okay.” I stroke his arm like Mom used to do whenever he got too into his head. “Trust me.”
He narrows his eyes again. Thankfully, I catch a glimpse of Maya, who must be boring Kill to death, considering his near-murderous expression.
I wave them over.
As soon as they’re within reach, I jump on Killian’s back and headlock him in a not-so-friendly greeting.
He elbows me and when I get back to the ground, he ruffles my hair. Not to brag, but I’m probably his favorite Sokolov, maybe even more so than Niko.
“I was talking, Mia.” Maya gives me a look and taps her shoe on the floor and hikes a hand on her hip. She’s done that since we were toddlers and it’s never changed.
“About insignificant fashion topics that could result in someone’s accidental suicide,” Killian says.
“That’s rude.” She glares at him.
“What’s more rude is your indulgence in these shallow topics that make you look like an airhead.”
“Hey,” I sign to him.
Maya’s never really cared about Killian’s—or anyone’s—opinion of her. She’s a diva and wears it like a badge while flipping everyone the middle finger.
And yet her face reddens. “I’m not an airhead.”
“Then develop more interests that aren’t confined to some boring Paris catwalk show.” He pauses. “Considering our blood relation, your clear tendencies of being a stereotypical brain-dead blonde reflects badly on my perfect image.”
All psychos are arrogant assholes who think the world revolves around their inflated egos.
However, I’ve never felt resentment toward Killian. Granted, he’s never hurt me or my siblings. Even now, he’s not really being malicious to Maya. He’s just trying to provoke her on purpose or something.
“Try harder, Kill.” She flips her hair. “Your arrogance used to rival mine, but I’m only looking at you through the rearview mirror now. It would reflect badly on my goddess image.”
“Stop drooling. Your bullshit is splashing on my fifty-grand shoes.”
“More like your bullshit is polluting the air around my special edition LV dress.”
I get between them and look at Niko so he’ll help break up the verbal fight.
My jaw nearly hits the floor when I see him sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs, eyes closed. I didn’t even notice when he left the scene.
Truth be told, Nikolai has never been good in these situations. Not that he can’t break up fights, but if it doesn’t involve his fists, then he loses all interest.
Thankfully, Gareth walks in, recognizes what’s going on right away, and joins me in breaking up the two most volatile cousins—in the ego department.
“You’re officially blacklisted from my next birthday party,” Maya tells Killian.
“Be right back. I’m going to cry into my pillow.”
Gareth and I manage to take each of them to the dining room. Then I go back to wake up Nikolai so he’ll join us.
He still looks at me weirdly, and for some reason, I can’t suppress my fear for Bran’s safety. Maybe I should warn him just in case?
The problem with Niko is that he appears aloof and only interested in violence, but, in reality, he can be secretive and impossible to read if he chooses to.
The five of us sit down for dinner, with Maya and Killian still bickering like children.