Kaif shifts so suddenly, I almost miss how it happens. Marabella shrieks, her lips press into a line, and I see a hand go over her eyes.
I realize Ezra has covered her eyes by the wedding band on his ring finger. Yeah, I don’t think he wants to let his daughter see Kyan totally naked.
“Point the camera elsewhere!” Ezra booms, and Lucas jumps.
Lucas scrambles with the phone and turns it around. First, Kyan cracks his neck and back, and then he shoots a glare at Lucas as if the old man is the very bane of his existence.
I don’t have any idea what Kyan thinks as he stalks over to Lucas, but he is quick to snatch the phone from his hands. “What did you do?” he bellows at Marabella.
His anger visibly burns brighter around him and his aura fills the room. I don’t feel it often, but now, it’s seriously crashing down on me.
“Nothing, I called Jonah, not you, asshole,” Mara snaps at him as sharply as Kyan just addressed her.
Honestly, I’m in awe. Both shocked and surprised. I have never heard her speak back to anyone, let alone with the tone she just used.
Kyan growls, and I hear the phone cut out. Shit, did she just hang up on him?
“What happened?” Kyan demands the answer. His angry glare now turns and focuses on me. Confusion flits through me as I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Wait, you don’t know?” I sound like I am trying to solve a mystery, not question my best friend. What on earth is happening now?
He narrows his eyes dangerously. “Would I be asking if I did?” Kyan growls. Lucas and I look at each other in confusion.
“See, this is exactly why we can’t share her. When it comes to Marabella, all bets are off. He will take complete control of me when it comes to her. He blocked me out. He never does that! We merge, but he doesn’t block me out. She is my weakness, can’t you see that?” Kyan sounds both angry and hurt at the same time as he points his finger at me.
I feel like my best friend is accusing me of something. Betrayal, perhaps? I mean, I get it in a way, but how can he blame me for anything now? I’ve been in fucking love with her for as long as I can remember myself, and he knows that. Did he really think I wouldn’t grab my chance after he said he wouldn’t take his?
“Kyan?” Lucas asks, rather confused.
“Shut up! This has nothing to do with you!” Kyan snarls as his eyes flash in anger.
“He listened to her, Kyan; he stopped because of her!” I snap back at him, and he pauses. His mouth opens. I know he is more than ready to unload another new rant at me, but he closes his mouth again, clearly stunned.
“That’s not possible,” Kyan murmurs and shakes his head. His brows furrow and he looks over at Lucas as if he is seeking confirmation of my words. Lucas nods to him.
“Just like your father said… Mara is Kaif’s redemption,” Lucas whispers, clearly unsure if he has the right to repeat the words Kyan most likely doesn’t want to hear ever again.
For a moment, silence falls over the room like a heavy veil that suffocates us all. The only thing I can hear is our hearts thudding in our chests. I part my lips, ready to speak up, but Kyan’s heavy sigh cuts me off.
He shakes his head again, visibly pushing down whatever he is feeling. “Not at the cost of her life. She won’t be if I have any say in it,” Kyan whispers the last part. He leaves the room in silence as the heavy veil of suffocating silence rests over Lucas and me.
Marabella
As I hang up the phone, I notice that my father is staring out the windshield. His mouth opens and repeatedly closes. I’m pretty sure he is struggling to find his words, and I am honestly just as shocked as he is.
It takes a few moments to let everything sink in. I think we both need some time to process the information. Neither of us speak for several moments, we simply sit in the car and stare out at the lights of the gas station.
“I didn’t imagine that; you saw an oversized dog on two legs too, right?” he asks, slowly turning his head to look over at me. I quickly nod as I clutch my phone to my chest.
“Good, I thought I was going mad. I was scared that your mother’s crazy is rubbing off on me,” he says, letting out a breath.
Then, he shakes his head as he taps the steering wheel and slowly sits back, relaxed.
I raise an eyebrow at him in disbelief. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say? Nothing more?” I sit back, still feeling too shocked to say more for a few seconds.
“Well, it could have been worse. Kyan could have shifted into a donkey or unicorn, something, at least he is kind of the right species,” he explains.
I chuckle at him, and my father scratches his chin, thoughtfully muttering something under his breath. Then, as quickly as calmness overtook him, it seems that panic sets in as he starts blinking rapidly and shaking his head.
“How, though? And he spoke, not well, but it could talk,” he murmurs dubiously.
“Mom can talk in wolf form,” I remind him. “It’s not that unheard of.”
“Exactly Marabella, wolf form, he was in… In… like in beast mode on steroids. He definitely ate his Wheaties. Did you see the size of him?” He’s reminding me of Dad now, always finding ways to joke around in serious situations. This one, however, I believe is some life or death situation.
I roll my eyes at him. I definitely saw the size of him… My cheeks burn and I push the thought away. “Should we tell Mom?” I ask instead.
“We should definitely tell Mom. Wait, are you two on talking terms? I know you had a fight, but you must tell her. She may be able to do her Moon Goddess voodoo crap and find something out,” he murmurs. Yep, both dads definitely just merged into one person. Lord, have mercy on me.
I sigh and shake my head. He appears to be in shock, he must be. I have never seen him ramble so much.