Chapter 19 - I Am From Nowhere

— Kaden —

I managed to dodge my sisters throughout the day. I’m pretty sure Jasmine was paying anyone she could to get tea on Elaeya, so I had to limit the access to my home from the staff, just so I could err on the safe side.

A part of me wanted to think it would be easier after tonight, but I’ve never been strong on self-deluding.

Elaeya was wearing that same white dress she’d been wearing that first day in that little cottage. She had braided the upper part of her hair in intricate meshes, the rest falling loosely over her shoulders and down her back, the tips ending in big natural curls. She was beautiful.

I’d spend years thinking something might’ve been wrong with my mate, then thinking that I’d waited so long that I was ready to accept a lot, roll with it, whatever would be difficult we could maybe work through it. But when I saw her, like now, I just can’t wrap my head around what I ended up with. They say your mate is tailored for you, but this seems off to me. I don’t think I ever did anything to warrant this. Which makes me think there must be something royally wrong and I just haven’t found it yet. No one gets good karma like this, especially not me. But as I watched her come to join me at the door to walk to my parents’ house together, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking that she might have been worth the wait.

I saw the curtains ruffle as we got close to my parents’ place. Sheesh.

I felt Elaeya tense up a little beside me. I gave the door a couple of knocks and slipped in.

I dumped my boots by the wall and she put her flats right beside them. I could see Jasmine up the stairs staring through the bars of the handrails. I ignore her pointedly.

We could hear voices on the other side of the door.

The sounds nearly died down as I walked through to the dining room with Elaeya behind me.

“Is she here?” asked me Gwen nervously, then she spotted her. “Oh, wow.

“You are absolutely gorgeous,” said my mother to her as she came in for a hug. “What is your name, sweetie?

“Elaeya.

“How exotic, just like you,” she told her, looking her up and down. “Hybrid,” she noted taking a whiff. “I never smelled this before though. What kind of hybrid?

I saw Elaeya squirm the slightest.

“Let’s just eat. Shall we?” I told them, hoping to shut this trail of thought.

I noticed my father’s eyes were a little wide, looking at her. He had much better knowledge of the supernatural world than me, maybe he recognized something I didn’t.

Giving his reaction, I wasn’t sure this was good, or bad. We’d have to talk later I guess.

Most eyes were on her. I wasn’t sure what I could do to ease things up.

“Don’t worry,” said Darren to her in an undertone. “I know they can look a little intimidating, but they’re quite decent.

Elaeya tilted her head inquisitively at him.

“I’m the latest addition. Well, before you. I’m Darren, Eva’s mate—Kaden’s younger sister,” he explained and extended his hand to her.

She took it.

“Are we that intimidating?” asked Eva in a mutter, coming next to him.

“A little,” he conceded and winked at Elaeya.

“Glad to meet you,” said Eva to her, shaking her hand in turn.

I hadn’t realized Darren could actually be of help here, but I was glad he was at this dinner. He was the only one present who could really get what it was to be an outsider. I guess Mom could too, to an extent, but she’s been part of this family for so long, that she might not relate as well as she would have.

I gave looks whenever I felt stupid questions coming her way. Some of my sisters were very capable of being socially adept, but others. I’m not sure there was a desire to even try.

I guess spoiling kid has its downsides.

We got to dinner, moving through a series of light topics, mostly it was Jasmine, Amy and Gwen talking.

“Where are you from?” asked my father after a while.

“Not anywhere in particular,” replied Elaeya.

“Everyone is from somewhere,” pointed my mother.

“If we are to get technical, then I am from nowhere,” she answered.

“That’s impossible,” remarked Lisa.

“I do not have a birth certificate. Which means I am not only no citizen of any country, but it also means that I do not legally exist anywhere in the world.

“Why wouldn’t you have a birth certificate?” asked Lisa.

“Because it was never requested and filed.

“But why?

“I’m sure we can take care of that here,” interjected my father, cutting off that line of questioning.

We managed to keep the questions to a minimum. I could feel the tension coming from her. Her posture was straight and perfectly rigid, and proper, I suppose.

“Who talks like that?” asked Jasmine at Elaeya all of a sudden, as she was answering a question my mother was asking about the meal.

Everyone looked up at Jasmine. I swear this girl has issues.

“I mean, no one speaks like that,” she said waving her hand at Elaeya.

“How?” asked Lisa.

“It’s too grammatically correct. Do you ever use contractions?

“Sometimes,” said Elaeya a little aghast.

“Well, I don’t think I’ve heard you say any.

“You can’t be blaming her for your own vocabulary limitations,” I told her.

“See, you talk like that sometimes too. But she talks like that all the time. And no one pronounces things like this.

“It’s called good diction. You could try it sometime,” said Eva.

“Okay, children. This is enough,” interjected Mom.

Elaeya looked horrified. Darren looked like he was watching a particularly fun wrestling match.

“Jass, you’re a bitch sometimes,” said Nadine.

“WHAT?” screamed Jasmine.

Mom looked like she’d just been slapped in the face. Dad decided he was not getting involved and just went back to eating. And everything looked about to devolve into chaos.

“ENOUGH!” I put every authority in it, and a growl resonated all through the word. Dishes clanked, and the light fixture started to sway, giving an eerie feel to the scene. “I think this dinner is over,” I said, softer this time, but there was an edge there I knew none of them would challenge.

I put my utensil down.

Elaeya looked in horror like she’d just realized she was the cause of World War III.

“You don’t have to leave,” pleaded my mother.

“Jasmine,” was all my father said.

“I’m sorry,” she buckled. “I just meant she doesn’t have to talk like a Luna at home. She can talk normally to us.

Eleaya blinked at that. “Ehm, I simply talk this way,” she said quietly.

“Oh,” was all Jasmine had for answer.

“Actually, I’d like to have a chat with you before you leave,” told me my father. I nodded, but stopped halfway and looked at Elaeya still under shock at the turn of events.

The dinner had been more or less over anyways, but maybe I should get her back home.

“How about Darren and I give you a tour of the place?” suggested Eva.

“If you want to go home, we can do that another time,” I told her.

She looked at my father. There was something strange in her eyes, but she shook her head. “I am fine. Go talk with him. I can visit.

Eva clapped her hands, happily, and coaxed Elaeya away. I looked at her a little unsure, but Darren slipped by me. “Don’t worry, I’ll rail her in if necessary, but I don’t think it will be.

I looked at them leaving, then I move to my father’s study with him.

Looking at his face, I had the feeling I was not going to like that talk.

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