Those eyes
Liyah’s POV
I watched in disbelief as Drew and Anna exchanged horrid looks. They really had no idea? For a second I felt like I had just betrayed Nikolai. I honestly thought they knew.
“I thought you all knew about this,” I said, still shocked myself that Nikolai’s family didn’t know about his second identity. Why would he keep it a secret from them anyway? I wondered. I didn’t think it was something he needed to hide. It was such a good deed, they would be proud of him.
“Tell us exactly what happened that day, Liyah, and don’t leave anything out,” Drew said, facing me. He didn’t look angry, he just looked confused.
“If he keeps it secret from you, I’m not sure I should be the one to…”
“Tell us everything, Liyah,” Anna persuaded. “We’re his family, we deserve to know.”
After a few moments of deliberating on it, I nodded. Then I began to narrate exactly what had happened that day as well as I could remember. Margaret gasped in shock when I mentioned it was the day we had gone to the other side of town. And for a moment I felt bad when she began to blame herself for my abduction.
“It’s okay, Margaret,” I assured her. “At least nothing happened to me. I should have known better than to stay out there for so long. So it’s my fault actually, not yours.”
When she had sighed in defeat, I continued my story. Sometimes their faces turned to an expression of pride, then after a while it would change to one of disbelief, then annoyance.
“Wow,” Drew breathed when I finished. I had nothing else to say so I kept my mouth shut. When Nikolai suddenly faced the kitchen window then stood and began to walk into the house, my brows furrowed.
“Why is he suddenly coming here?” I asked, confused.
“I just mindlinked him,” Annalise replied. Oh. I swallowed wondering if he would be pissed at me for telling them. But I needed answers from him as well. Why he kept it all a secret.
When Nikolai stepped into the kitchen, my face warmed at the sight of him, and I had the urge to slap my forehead. A confrontation was about to happen and all I could do was turn to jelly when my eyes met those silver ones.
Focus, Liyah.
As soon as he rested next to me against the counter, Annalise shut the kitchen door. Oh no.
“What’s going on?” Nikolai asked, clearly confused.
Drew spoke first. “Nothing much, just that you have a lot of explaining to do. How could you keep such a secret for four whole years?”
“What are you-”
“The Silver Ghost?” Annalise cut in. “Really? Why would you keep that a secret, it’s huge. You’ve been risking your life for years and you didn’t even think you should tell us?”
Nikolai froze, his eyes immediately landing on me. “I thought they knew,” I defended, throwing my hands in the air. Why didn’t you tell them anyway? They’re your family, I’m sure they would be more than okay knowing that you were a superhero.”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
When he glared at me I resisted the urge to laugh. “But seriously, it’s unfair. You really should have told them.”
“Liyah gets it. So please explain, we’re all ears,” Margaret finally spoke up for the first time since he came into the kitchen. She was the calmest about the situation. Almost like it wasn’t even a big deal. She looked proud of him even. That was the thing about Margaret. She took everything so calmly, almost like she had expected it.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. I should have told you guys.”
“You’re just realizing that now? How smart of you.”
I tried my best not to snicker. Annalise was always so fierce she almost didn’t let Nikolai breathe when he did something wrong. They were the perfect match.
Nikolai sighed. “I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t want to put you guys in danger. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“Danger? Nikolai we’re all used to being in danger. And we would have helped out as well. You’re the Alpha, you shouldn’t be risking your life like that,” Drew said.
“I know.. but it really is dangerous. The last time I got stabbed, it was while I was trying to save those people. I would hate for that to have been either of you.”
“Oh that was from it? You should’ve told us then. Even if it was to let us know that you weren’t a complete monster. You were doing such a good deed. Drew and I were so scared that you didn’t have a heart anymore.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “To be honest, I started it just to frustrate Jonas’ business. It was a tiny way of getting back at him.”
I stiffened at the mention of my father at the same time the rest of them stared at Nikolai, shocked. “Jonas? Of course, who else could be so heartless.”
“But after the first few times, I saw how much these people suffered, how much pain they were going through, and I couldn’t just let them suffer anymore. That’s when I built the safehouse. I’m sorry…”
“Wow,” Margaret said, grinning. “I’m so proud of you. Why do they call you the Silver Ghost though?”
When he smirked, she laughed. “Right. Those eyes.”
“Don’t keep any more secrets from us,” Drew said, eyeing him. “And I’m coming with you next time.”
“Me too. I can’t believe how much action I’ve been missing,” Annalise added.
Nikolai nodded, laughing. “So we’re good now?”
Shaking their heads, they launched on him to tell them everything about it; the people he had saved, his strategies, where the safehouse was located. And he obliged, answering all the questions they threw at him and laughing when Drew disapproved of some of his strategies.
The smile that creeped up my face stayed as I watched them argue, laugh and bicker. And for the hundredth time since I’d gotten to know these people, I thanked the goddess for them.