The Skylar Rains 2: Figment of Dreams Book Two
Penulis
E. Hereygers
Jumlah dibaca
16.1K
Bab
63
When alien visitors crash into Earth, life as Lux Elmrose knows it explodes. Growing up alongside Jax, a mysterious Rainer, she thought their bond could survive anything—until he vanishes without warning, leaving her heartbroken and confused. But the truth behind his disappearance is darker than she ever imagined. As dangerous secrets emerge from beyond the stars, Lux finds herself caught between two worlds, tangled in love, loyalty, and a cosmic mystery that could change everything she thought she knew about herself, Jax, and the fragile line between their planets.
Chapter 1
LUX
Summer season in Moira was no joke. It was so hot outside I became an instant sweaty mess. Skylark told me they had this thing called a Summer Solstice, and they all had the week off to celebrate.
I was glad to have the opportunity to have a break from campus and all its glorious residents. I was going on a trip to their famous holiday resort called Key Mainer.
I was reluctantly joining the Welkins, having been invited on their family trip by one of his dads before things between us had gone south, and they were still trying to like me—or at least his dads were. It was going to be interesting since Melixes and his mother didn’t like me much, and they were taking this “being on a rough patch with Kai” thing a lot more seriously.
We were taking the Helibus to the beach town, and as I was hesitantly approaching Kai with my luggage, I heard a squealing giggle behind me.
“Surprise!” Skylark yelled and ran toward me, arms raised. “We are joining you this week!” Behind her, the two annoying twin brothers, both with similar smirks on their mouths, were strutting my way.
“Skylark, what the fuck are you doing here?” I hissed at her.
“Well, I was telling my family about the trip to Key Mainer, and since we have nothing to do for the entire week and we have a house there… We thought we could join you guys.”
Clearly entirely oblivious to what was happening with me and the twins—or with Kai, for that matter. I dropped her arm and pinched my nose in frustration.
“Morning, Sweet Cheeks.” Ash slapped my ass and walked onward toward the Helibus. He literally gave zero fucks.
“He shouldn’t be doing that,” Oak stated almost robotically and walked a little faster to give his brother a piece of his mind.
“Mom and Dad are already at Key Mainer. They just called. They’re already at the beach house,” Kai said.
He gave me an awkward forehead kiss and dragged me toward the Helibus in a hurry. We were just in when the doors closed, and we had seconds to get to our seats before the entire thing took off.
They were not kidding when they said it was beautiful over there. Purple waves were crashing on a pink-sanded beach. The tallest palm trees I had ever seen were blowing in the breeze. Furthermore, it was reminding me exactly of Miami, with the lively boardwalk and restaurants covering the coast.
We were staying in the Welkin beach house, two buildings away from the Briareve beach house—which I was kind of hoping wasn’t going to be that close all week. But with my luck, of course, they would be two houses down.
The Welkin beach house looked like a Barbie villa, beach edition. It was again rather large, with two pink towers and an oval pool that overlooked the ocean. Unfortunately, the house came with the other Welkin. The evil Welkin and her crazy boyfriend.
That was something Kai could have mentioned—that I’d be sharing a house with Melixes and Sebastian this weekend.
I was enjoying the two suns, trying to get my tan on. I was wearing a little white bikini. Skylark lay next to me in a red bikini, tapping away on her Telvice. Kai and Melixes were at the market with their parents.
They had invited the Briareves over for a good old barbecue. Sebastian had joined us on the beach for God knows what reason. He was talking to the lifeguards a few meters away from us. His tattoos gleaming in the sunlight and his bright orange, way-too-short swim trunks were so vivid it was hurting my eyes.
“Let’s go swimming, Lulu.” Skylark threw the Telvice away as if it didn’t cost much money and sprung up from her seat.
“Nah… I’m good here. Thanks, Sky.”
“Come on, Lulu, please!” She had no idea about my water phobia, so she kept on insisting.
“Fine. I’ll dip my toes in.” I reluctantly joined her at the ocean side, my throat already closing up with that fear that always came when looking at water. The water felt cool to the touch. Skylark ran in screaming with joy and dove headfirst into a gigantic wave.
“Nope…” I sighed. “Not happening.” I wanted to turn back and never be this close to open water ever again.
I was enclosed by two gigantic arms circling my waist and dragging me up. I screamed. Literally so terrified I had trouble finding my voice. Without looking back—just by his lemon-scented smell—I knew it was Ash.
“No, Ash, please no! You don’t understand! Please!” I was begging, clawing at his arms. He was still thinking I was playing.
“NO!” I screamed, already crying. The water was to my waist now. Panic—screaming, all-consuming panic—was singing through my veins. I was going to die here.
He flung me in the air, and I landed face-first in a wave.
I hadn’t been under since I nearly drowned at that lake party. It was instantly cold. I screamed underwater. Scrambled upward. Choking and spluttering, I finally breached the surface. Since I was so paralyzed, I couldn’t even keep myself up. I went down again. I was seeing dots and my vision was going blurry. I was literally going to pass out from being so scared.
I registered two hands lifting me up, and I was hoisted against a hard body.
“Sweetheart, what’s happening?” Ash was holding me up, not bothering with the waves that were lapping at his arms. I was an absolute mess, trying to scramble away from him blindly. The waves lapping at me were like monsters trying to kill me.
I kicked him as hard as I could in the nuts and stumbled my way back to the shore, dry-heaving and coughing on my hands and knees. I was shaking so badly I didn’t think I was able to stand.
“D-damn you…,” I spluttered with a shaking voice. “D-damn y-you…,” I cried a little louder.
“Lux?” Ash came into my vision. His black swim trunks could hardly contain all of him, I now noticed, and his hands were still cupping his balls where I had hit him hard. White hair soaking wet.
He crouched down in front of me. “What was that? I was just playing…you were scratching at me like I was trying to kill you.” His voice sounded far away, like he was in a tunnel.
I waved him off, trying to gather my bearings, still on my hands and knees, dry-heaving and nearly throwing up.
“I don’t…feel…” I was blinking, trying for the fog and blackness to go away. I was passing out. I started to shallow-breathe. He grabbed my face and made me look at him.
“You were terrified,” he stated, shock on his face. I still couldn’t form any sentences. I was vaguely aware of Oak coming from my right and Sebastian yelling something in his English accent. My vision blurred more and I could only see straight in front of me, the edges blacking out. I could barely catch my breath.
I was lifted from the sand and brought to their beach villa. It was all white and squeaky clean. Probably Oak had the upper hand in this household. They put me on their very expensive couch, legs up, all the while I was protesting loudly, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying through the ringing in my ears.
Oak handed me some lemonade with extra sugar and I gulped it all down with shaking hands. Ash covered me with a big yellow towel. I saw Oak give Ash some serious looks. He was livid at his brother. Ash himself had the decency to look ashamed, at least.
I think I passed out for a little while after that. When I came to, they were all sitting on the couches just staring at me.
“I nearly drowned when I was young…or I…I…actually drowned… Maddox had to resuscitate me. I have been afraid of the water ever since,” I stated feebly. Suddenly embarrassed by all of it. I placed the glass down and stood up. They remained silent.
“Well, that was fun… I’m going now.” I stood up, wobbled a bit, but found my bearings quickly.
Ash followed me out and grabbed my hand. I saw he was bleeding all over his arms from the indents my nails had left.
“I’m sorry, okay… I never meant to hurt you.” His voice cracked. This tough guy, tree of a man was actually really sorry. I saw it in his face. He was killing himself over it. I had a feeling he was apologizing for more than just today. His thumb was making circles around my palm, making me feel all kinds of things.
“Don’t ever do that to me again, Ash.” I looked up at him intently. I was also not just referring to today. He nodded earnestly, the moment heavy, drawing me against his body again.
“I won’t. I promise.” He hugged me tightly for a few minutes and then kissed my forehead before he released me.
“See you tonight, sweetheart.” I nodded, and I went on my way, feeling like we finally solved some things.
