Chapter 32

Hayden slowly laid Nora down against the pillows and hovered over her sleeping face. Her long dark lashes were fanned across her cheeks and her full pink lips were slightly parted. The skin between her brows were knit together in a v shape, making Hayden want to kiss the spot and erase it.

And just as the thought occurred to Hayden, he swallowed the lump in his throat and slowly pulled away. He took a seat on the edge of the bed and reached out with his finger, gently running it across Nora's forehead to ease her tension. She responded instantly to him by slightly raising her face towards him. Hayden stilled and pulled back.

Her head and life was in a complicated mess. He didn't want her waking up and having to deal with his complicated feelings. Nora needed to absorb everything that had just happened in the last twenty four hours. Hayden wondered if she too was as restless as he was. They hadn't seen each other in months and the moment they did come face to face, a bomb was dropped on them. Their timing was never right it seemed.

Hayden reached back and pulled the sheets up from the foot of the bed. He covered Nora and rose to his feet before turning out the light. He was about to walk out of his room when he suddenly remembered Nora's fear of silence. Pulling his phone out of his room, Hayden searched up for the rain app she liked so much and laid his phone down on the nightstand beside the bed. The large room filled with the pitter patter of the rain drops and the crackling of low thunder.

Hayden let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair before taking a step back. He closed the door on his way out but then decided to leave it slightly ajar incase she woke up while he was downstairs. His brain was running in a million different directions. It always did when it came to Nora. He began to regret his decision to not change her outfit earlier. She couldn't possibly be comfortable sleeping in that fitted skirt. Maybe he should ask Birdie if she had any spare clothes. But then again, he really did not want to see Nora in his sister's clothes.

"Hayden," Maya's voice suddenly stopped him at the base of the stairs.

Hayden paused and looked up, "Hey."

"I heard," Maya frowned.

"Word travels fast in this family," Hayden muttered as he walked into the living room.

"We try to keep everyone in the loop," Maya said. "Who knows what information anyone might have."

Hayden sighed and sank down on the sofa. He stretched his long legs and leaned his head back, rubbing his eyes.

"So?" He said, looking up at his mother. "Do you know anything about Vestal Priestess?"

"No," Maya frowned. "That's more of Clare and Ares' territory."

Hayden's face fell.

"But we are still looking into it," Maya assured the boy. "Don't worry."

Hayden slowly nodded. He said quietly, staring at the vase of flowers on the coffee table. Maya walked over to where he sat and took a seat beside him. She reached out and ran her soft hand through his hair before giving him a confident smile.

"Nora is going to be fine," she said. "We won't let anything happen to her."

Hayden sighed once more. Every time he heated her name, it was as if his chest tightened a bit more.

"I can't imagine what she must be going through right now," he said. "I've known about my condition my whole life. Yet, I still don't know how to handle it properly. And Nora....to just have all this dumped on her like this?"

"But that's why you're here," Maya said.

"I'm the last person that should be around her," Hayden said, lowering his gaze to his hands. "She has enough to deal with right now."

"What...." Maya tilted her head. "I don't understand. I thought you and Nora...."

Hayden looked up and arched a brow.

"I thought you two liked each other," Maya frowned.

"We do," Hayden shrugged.

"Then what's the issue?"

"I'm the issue," Hayden said.

"Babe," Maya's frown deepened. "What's going on? Did you two have a fight? That's normal. Your baba and I fight all the time."

"No, mom," Hayden shook his head. "It's not like that. Nora and I are not together. I told her my feelings for her were just because of the autura. She thinks it wasn't real."

"What?" Maya's brows shot up. "What the hell? Why would you do something so stupid like that to the girl you like?"

"Because I wanted to keep her safe," Hayden said. "From me..."

Maya's face fell, "Aw, no. Baby.....Hayden -"

"She's always in danger when she's around me," Hayden shook his head. "It's better we don't act on these feelings. She's not like us. It would never work."

"Those are you baba's words," Maya's eyes narrowed.

"No," Hayden said. "They're my words. I don't want Nora to ever be hurt because of me."

Maya felt her heart fall a little as she watched her son. He wouldn't look at her but he didn't have to. She knew his green eyes were broken. And the way the muscles in his jaw kept tensing up let her know he was trying his best to hold it all together.

"We don't decide who we fall in love with, Hayden," she said after a while.

"I'm not in love with her," Hayden said, his voice grim and plain.

"Do you remember what you said to me at the hospital?"

Mom, I can't live without her.

Hayden's chest did funny things as he felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"No," he lied. "I don't remember."

"Yeah, okay," Maya rolled her eyes. "You don't say something like that and forget....ever. And you most certainly don't say something like that if you don't mean it."

"What do you want me to say?" Hayden grew irritated. "What do you want me to do? Her life is already too complicated. I don't want her to have to deal with me too. I don't want that for her! Maybe once all this is over, she will have a normal life. But if I'm in the picture, her life will never be normal."

"Maybe that's the point," Maya said. "Look, Hayden. I believe everything in life happens for a reason. You baba and I meeting over and over again through time wasn't a coincidence. You meeting Nora and her being a vestal isn't a coincidence either."

"What are you talking about?"

"Clare said vestals can house souls, spirits, and magic," Maya slowly began. "Maybe this was meant to be....Maybe she can hold something for you."

Hayden's eyes snapped up. His face paled and his eyes darkened, "Did Clare tell you what happens to Nora if she ever does that?"

"No," Maya shook her head. "But Hayden, if Nora can take on the fey magic or the jinn magic, then you two can b-"

"It's not a box of candy she's going to hold for me," Hayden jumped to his feet. "If anything were to ever take her over, she will be gone forever! How can you even think about this? There would be no Nora if I ever give her my magic. She'll be gone!"

"Hayden, relax. There is still so much we don't know ab-"

"Exactly!" Hayden said, his voice hard and laced with anger. "We don't know anything. And I am not going to let you or anyone test their theories with Nora."

"Don't make me the bad guy!" Maya said sternly. "I'm thinking of you. Your baba and I will do anything for you and Birdie."

"Anything?" Hayden laughed harshly. "Even ruin an innocent person's life? Do you even hear yourself right now? How can you even think this?"

"Hayden," Maya's voice was as hard as steel. "No one is doing anything to Nora."

"No," Hayden snickered. "But you're all thinking about it. I can't believe you all. All of you after this poor girl for your selfish reasons."

"Yes, we're selfish!" Maya snapped. "We're so selfish, Hayden. We want to save our son. We want him to have a future. We want him to live a long happy life because since before his birth his life has been hanging by a threat and it kills us to see him like that. We're so selfish, Hayden."

As Maya finished, the weight of her words hung in the room like a thick fog. The mother and son stared at each other across the space between them, their eyes filled with anger and hurt.

"No one is going to touch Nora," Hayden said after a short pause. He took a step towards the door, still holding his mother's gaze. "I won't let it happen."

Before Maya could reply, Hayden turned on his heels and headed upstairs. His chest buried from the bitterness he felt inside. How could his mother ever think about doing something like that to Nora? Forget Nora, how could any of them ever think about trading anyone's life away for their own cause?

As Hayden climbed the stairs, his head began to spin. It was as if he was seeing his family in a whole new life for the first time in his life. He had always known they would do anything for each other. But this....

Hayden walked into the room and his feet stopped immediately. His gaze fell on Birdie and then on the empty bed behind her. His eyes narrowed and his hands balled into fists.

"Where is she?" he asked through his teeth. "Birdie, I swear to god if yo-"

"Dude, relax," Birdie rose from where she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Where is she?" Hayden's voice rose as he took a step towards his sister.

"Hayden," Nora's voice came from the bathroom.

Hayden felt a flood of cold relief wash over him as he turned to find the tiny girl standing by the bathroom door. She had changed out of her skirt and blouse and wore a pair of Birdie's shorts with an oversize shirt. Her face was clean and the little pieces of hair around it were damp, sticking to the sides of her face. As soon as Nora's eyes landed on Hayden, she frowned and took a step forward.

"Why are you shouting?" she asked, looking from Hayden to Birdie.

"Come here!" Hayden command.

"Excuse me?" Nora arched her brow. "Who the fuck do you think you are talking to?"

"Woah, Hayden," Birdie tried to step in. "What the hell has gotten into you?"

"Nora, I said come here!" Hayden snapped.

"Do not speak to me like that?" Nora said furiously.

"What is happening here?" Heyder suddenly appeared at the door.

"Hayden is going crazy," Birdie pointed to her brother. "He just barged in here and started to yell at me and is now ordering Nora around."

"Hayden?" Heyder looked at his son. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Hayden said, opening a portal. "Nora, let's go."

"I'm not going anywhere with you like this," Nora folded her arms over her chest.

Hayden narrowed his eyes and took a step toward her. He was ready to throw her over his shoulder if he had to. But his dad stepped in his path and placed a hand against his chest.

"The girl said she's not going," Heyder said calmly.

"We're not staying here," Hayden said to Nora, ignoring his father. "Please, let's go."

Nora looked at Birdie and then at Maya, who had come upstairs after hearing all the commotion.

"Birdie," Maya looked at her daughter. "Show Nora to the guest room down the hall."

"No," Hayden tried to step in but his father wouldn't move out of his way. "Nora."

"Nora will be more comfortable in her own space," Maya said. "It's not appropriate for her to stay in your room like this."

Hayden's dark gaze flew to his mother. His eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Hey," Heyder gently smacked Hayden's arm. "Don't look at your mother like that. She's right."

"Birdie," Maya looked at the girl once more.

"Nora," Hayden turned his attention back to the pair of brown eyes watching him.

His gaze softened and the hardness on his face melted. As Nora watched, his green eyes began to grow desperate.

"Nora?" Birdie waited for the girl by the door.

Nora turned from the brother to the sister. Her heart was breathing so fast she could hardly hear the rain sound coming from Hayden's phone. All eyes in the room were on her and their weight made her feel small and exposed.

She couldn't explain why her heart was tugging her towards Hayden. She was furious with him for his behavior. He was way out of line yelling at her and Birdie like that.

But this was Hayden....she told herself. He had his reasons....always. He didn't just lose his mind like that.

As Birdie and Maya watched, Nora took her first step...towards Hayden.

Heyder raised his brows and looked at his wife over his shoulder. Maya stood still watching the girl as Heyder stepped away from their son.

"Nora," she said, watching the girl walk to Hayden. "You're more than welcome to stay here as long as you want. I can have your stuff brought over from your apartment."

"Thank you," Hayden said, looking at his mother and taking Nora's hand as she stepped closer to him. "But we're leaving."

Nora closed her eyes as Hayden pulled her closer and stepped through the portal. She felt a shiver run down her spine as his arms held her tightly and they appeared in a lavish hotel suit. His warm breath tickled her face as he held himself still, letting her decide who should be the first to move away.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Nora asked, tilting her head back and looking up.

"No, I think I'm fine," Hayden knew what she meant. But damn it, having her in his arms made all his anger and worries melt away. He was floating on a high. She must think he was crazy with his sudden mood changes.

"Why were you yelling at Birdie?" Nora asked.

"Because she's stupid."

"And you're a genius?"

"I am."

"Why were you yelling at me?"

"Because you're ...." Hayden couldn't call her stupid. She was anything but. "You're stubborn and you never listen to me."

"I never listen to you?" Nora laughed. "I just followed you over here despite your family telling me not to come with you!"

"Thank you for that," Hayden smiled. "I was ready to put you over my shoulder and blast Birdie away from you."

"Why?" Nora asked. "The only reason I'm here is because I want to know why you were acting so crazy."

"That's the only reason?" Hayden tilted his head with a lopsided smile on his lips.

"Yes," Nora's gaze fell to his mouth for a split second. "And because it felt strange thinking about being there without you."

"Why?" Hayden reached up and pushed aside a damp piece of hair.

"Because I don't know your family that well," Nora sighed. "I know them through you."

Hayden nodded.

"Now will you tell me why you were acting like a barbaric caveman?"

"Barbaric caveman?" Hayden laughed.

"Nora! Come here!" Nora imitated Hayden's deep voice. "Where is she?"

"I don't think cavemen knew how to talk," Hayden laughed.

"You know what I mean," Nora clicked her tongue. "Now, explain yourself. Who do you think you are speaking to me like that in front of your family?"

Hayden's smile slowly grew soft. His voice dropped and he leaned forward.

"I'm sorry," he said, almost whispering. "I was very rude and out of line."

"You were," Nora said.

"I don't know what came over me," Hayden confessed. "When I walked into the room and didn't see you there....I flipped."

"But it wasn't as if I was eaten by a tiger," Nora rolled her eyes. "Your sister was there."

"That's why I flipped out even more," Hayden shook his head.

"Why?" Nora frowned. "I love Birdie. She's such a good soul."

Hayden's inside felt hollow and bitter, "Everything is a bit complicated right now....I don't really trust anyone around you beside myself."

"Why?" Nora asked, reaching up and placing her hand behind his head. "Is it because of who.....or what I am?"

Hayden frowned. He wanted to close his eyes and savor the feel of Nora's hand on his neck, but her words were keeping him up.

"Nora, you don't have to worry," Hayden sighed. "Everything will be okay."

"Can I help you?"

Hayden's eyes clouded with confusion.

"Can I help you?" Nora asked again. "With the fey and the jinn magic."

Hayden's hands balled into fists behind her back, "No."

"But you heard what they said," Nora pushed. "I can hold magic."

"We're not doing that," Hayden shook his head. "Did you hear the other parts after?"

"Maybe there's a loophole," Nora shrugged. "Maybe I could still be me. I mean we had the autura before and that didn't change me."

"You started drinking black coffee," Hayden pointed out. "You were changing. And the autura wasn't even full magic. It was a connection. I'm not giving you any of my magic."

Nora frowned, "What about Kiara?"

"What is wrong with you?" Hayden snapped.

"I want to help!"

"This is literally suicide!" Hayden yelled. "You will be giving up your life. What part of that are you not understanding?"

"Maybe there is a way around it," Nora tried to reason. "Maybe we can find a spell or somet-"

"Nora," Hayden's jaw tensed. "Shut up."

"That's rude."

"I don't care. I'm not going to risk your life on maybe. Get the idea o-"

Nora's eyes snapped up as Hayden froze, "What?"

"They found your aunt," Hayden looked down at her.   

What do you think of Hayden and his family?