Made in Malice (Corrupt Credence Book 1)

NOVA

“Don’t fret, lamb. I’ll make a list to enumerate how many ways I want to use you.”

“You’re such a pig,” I tell Lucian with what I hope sounds like disgust. Frankly, his innuendos make me uncomfortable, but I don’t think it’s for the right reasons. I should want to punch him in the face, and I do, but there’s a part of me that’s curious about the things he says.

“You’re the one with your mind in the gutter. I was talking about getting revenge on your family for killing mine,” he replies, which embarrasses me even more.

I don’t have a comeback that wouldn’t make me look even more foolish, so for once, I keep my mouth closed.

“I’m more than happy to entertain those ideas. Want to crash in my room?” Nox offers, feigning sweetness.

“No, I have my own bed, thank you.”

“You’re really going to go back there and live with them?” Lucian crosses his arms over his chest and peers down at me.

“As opposed to…” I leave the question hanging.

“You can stay here with us. You don’t even have to sleep in my room, but the offer stands,” Nox proposes.

“That is such a bad idea all around. I probably wouldn’t live through the night, not to mention I think the Umbras would get suspicious when I didn’t come home.”

“You really think they care about you?” Lucian asks, sounding like he can’t decide if he wants to feel sorry for me or thinks I’m stupid.

I almost admit that, at one point, I’d hoped for that, but I’m not as dumb as he thinks I am or willing to confess the vulnerability to him, so instead I’m flippant. “Don’t worry, I’m well aware that I’m nothing but a tool to you people. I’m more concerned that they would find out you’re stalking me, and I wouldn’t be able to get the information I need. You did say we’re not supposed to team up or whatever, right?” I turn toward Nox for confirmation.

“There are rules against alliances.”

“Fuck the rules.” Lucian dismisses his brother’s response. I’m not surprised, though, since he said something similar the first time I met him.

“Can I see these rules? Why do they even have them?”

“To keep everyone in line,” Lucian gripes, only answering half my question.

“To make sure one or two families didn’t completely take over.” Nox’s reply seems more reasonable, but it doesn’t tell me enough.

“Take over what, the school?”

“The island, the school, abuse our power on the mainland, all of it. Each family has one vote to cast for all decisions, but in the event of a tie, the current leader’s vote is worth two, meaning they can break a stalemate.”

“What are you voting on? Cafeteria choices? The mascot?”

“Don’t be naïve, lamb,” Lucian censures.

“Apparently I am, because I don’t know what else it could be.”

“Think much bigger,” Nox says.

“How about you just tell me?” Keeping up with these two is exhausting, not to mention I was tired before I even went into work tonight, despite the time off. I need to take better care of myself. The past few weeks have taken a toll on me mentally and physically.

“Those who control the money control the world,” Lucian says plainly, then drops onto the sofa.

“Cryptic much?” I accuse.

“Not really,” Lucian replies. “You want to know how a law got passed or how someone got elected? Follow the money trail, and you’ll find places like Cadieux College and people like us.”

“No way,” I scoff, looking between them and waiting for them to laugh, but neither of them does. “You’re joking, right?”

“No. Do you understand why the Umbras need you so badly now? You are more than their grandchild, you are their legacy, shaping future leaders of the world in the image they see fit.” Lucian sounds irritated by the entire thing, or maybe it’s because he’s explaining it to me.

“I’m not interested,” I say, not even sure if I can believe him. The thought of running the school was bad enough, but this… I can’t even comprehend what it would mean.

“It will be a long time before you have to worry about it, Nova,” Nox soothes, but it doesn’t matter. It feels like the weight of their expectations is already sitting on my shoulders.

“There are ways around it,” Lucian says, agreeing with his brother, but I don’t even want to think about it anymore.

“I should get going,” I announce, backing toward the door.

“Nope, doctor’s orders, you need to be supervised for the night,” Lucian tells me while watching me with his chin tipped down. Even though he’s sitting, it still feels like he’s somehow looking down at me.

“He did not say that,” I argue.

“Sure he did. Need me to call him so you can hear it yourself?”

“No, besides, he would say whatever you told him to say.”

“Now she’s catching on.” Lucian’s mouth curls in a cruel yet beautiful smile. I find myself wondering how often he allows people to see the emotion on his face. At school, he doesn’t seem to speak unless he’s being a jerk, which isn’t all that different from any other time, but every once in a while, I wonder if maybe there isn’t something under all the indifference he lets everyone see.

I blame my wandering thoughts on the fact that he told me he lost his parents. Since that night, I’ve felt myself softening toward him, even when I know I shouldn’t. Then there’s Nox. He makes it really hard not to like him, even though I know I’m stupid for feeling that way.

“Come sit down. I’ll get you some Tylenol for your wrist,” Nox offers as if to prove my belief in his kindness.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, dismissing the offer.

“I promise I won’t drug you.”

“It’s not you I’m worried about,” I tease.

“I’m not going to hurt you, lamb. I’m far too fond of the chaos you create.” Lucian lowers his lids, and I swear he meant that as a compliment. I’m so taken aback, I sit in one of the chairs across the room from the brothers and keep my mouth closed.

“You can see the TV better from over here. Want to pick a movie?” Nox extends his hand, already holding a black remote.

It’s so dumb and reckless, but I want to stay. I want to sit on the couch and act like we’re friends. I didn’t realize how lonely I was when I was back home because I worked all the time and didn’t give myself a chance to think about things being any other way, but here, where I was expecting to find a family that wanted me and not what I could do for them, I feel even more isolated.

“Come on.” Nox motions me over as if he can sense that I’m wavering.

“I can’t stay long.” I preface my approach as if it’s some sort of warning.

He ignores my comment. “What do you want to watch?”

I look around the room, knowing there’s only one acceptable answer. “The Addams Family.” I feel Lucian staring at the side of my face, and I can’t hide how much I’m enjoying his look of disdain.

“Funny girl,” he mutters under his breath.

“Maybe I should call you Lurch since you’re so fond of nicknames. It fits perfectly since you’re tall and creepy.”

When he reaches forward like he might grab me, I start to laugh and lean away. “I’m just kidding. You’re not that tall.” Nox bursts out laughing at my jab, and we both snicker for way too long.

“Try it and see how it works out for you.” Lucian sulks.

“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad. You call me lamb like it’s my given name, and we both know why.”

“We do?” He tilts his head, waiting for my response.

“To the slaughter,” I say, and that cunning smile returns. My stomach does this weird roll when he blinks slowly and shakes his head.

“Wrong, but I like that too,” he agrees.

“Why do you call me that then?”

“I’ll be right back.” Lucian rises from the couch and saunters out of the room, ignoring my question.

“I’m right, aren’t I? He’s just messing with me,” I probe Nox.

“I don’t think so, but you’ll have to ask him to be sure.”

“He won’t tell me,” I reply.

“He will if you ask nicely enough,” Nox flirts, and I try to act unaffected.

“What are we watching? I vote for a scary movie.”

“You like scary movies?” He seems surprised.

“Used to. I haven’t watched one in a while. It’s not that fun when you live alone in a crappy apartment and fear for your life when you walk home from work.”

“You walked to work?”

The question alone is enough to showcase the differences between us. I wonder if that’s what it’s like for them when I’m surprised by something in their world. “Rode the bus most of the way and walked from my stop, which wasn’t very far,” I divulge.

“I’ve never even had a job,” he says softly. He’s not bragging. If anything, he sounds disappointed.

“You’re not missing much.”

He turns to focus on me, locking those light blue eyes on mine. “When did your parents die? How did it happen?”

I blow out a breath. I wasn’t expecting that question, but somehow, it seems more palatable coming from him because I know he’s experienced the same kind of loss. “About three years ago, we were in a car accident.”

Nox sits up abruptly. “You were with them?”

“Yeah.”

“But you’re okay?” His face scrunches up a little.

“For the most part.”

“What does that mean?”

“I got pretty banged up and was in the hospital for a long time. I missed a lot of school, and my kidneys were damaged.” It’s tougher to admit the last part. Most days, I forget my life could change at any time, and the likelihood of having issues when I’m older is almost a forgone conclusion from what my doctors said.

“That’s why you can’t take ibuprofen?”

“Yeah.”

“Is there anything else you have to watch out for?” Nox questions.

I shrug because there are a lot of things, like staying hydrated, watching my diet, and not drinking alcohol, but those things aren’t that big of a deal. I think he knows I’m uncomfortable, because he picks up the remote and settles back into the sofa before saying, “I’m glad you’re okay,” and leaving it at that.

I relax a little, happy that he’s not asking me for more right now, but even more relieved that Lucian isn’t around to demand it.

NOX

Nova scoots her legs to the side when Lucian eventually returns to the room and lowers himself onto the seat near her. I watch her chest rise and fall while she tries to peek over at him without him noticing.

I wish I knew what was going through her head as easily as I do my brother’s. He was standing near the door, listening to her confession about her parents, after having returned from the bathroom, but instead of coming back in and possibly interrupting what she was saying, he waited a while after she finished to return to the room.

After several seconds of Lucian not doing anything other than sitting somewhat near her, Nova finally begins to relax, and my obstinate brother pounces as if that was exactly what he was waiting for. “I expect you to tell me if you see the woman again.”

“What wom… Oh.” Her eyes dip down to her lap. “I don’t even know how to go about finding her. It’s not like I can tell my work I need a couple weeks off, then hang out in the parking lot every night, hoping she will show up. I’m probably going to get fired anyway.”

“You shouldn’t be working there to begin with,” Lucian decrees. I know it’s going to piss Nova off, and I’m sure he does too. It’s undoubtedly why he said it.

“Why not? Because it’s a bar?” She narrows her eyes on him.

“Partly, but the fact that the Umbras are making you work sickens me.”

“They aren’t making me,” she denies. “You might not understand the concept, but I earn my way.”

“Oh yeah? How did you earn that Macan you’ve been driving around then?” Lucian’s voice is dark with jealousy, but to someone who doesn’t know him as well as I do, he would just sound accusatory.

“How did you get the cars in the garage?”

“I bought them.”

“And where did you get the money to do that?” she pushes.

“From my bank account. Now answer my question.”

“From a trust fund you mean, and that money was given to you, just like the car was given to me. But you know what? I would take it every time. That doesn’t make me a whore or desperate. It makes me smart.”

“You’re making a lot of assumptions, lamb. I haven’t touched a penny of my trust fund since I was sixteen, haven’t needed to, but in this particular instance, I’m more worried about what he’s expecting in return.”

“Nothing, he hasn’t asked me for anything,” Nova replies.

“Yet. But no matter, you’ll be riding with us from now on.”

She explodes. “I will not!”

Lucian looks up and makes eye contact with me. It’s my cue to step in. “Just for now, Nova. We need to make sure everyone knows you’re a founder, not to be messed with, and we don’t know who this person who approached you is. She could be dangerous,” I reason.

“No, I can take care of myself.”

“I thought you wanted to know about your mom and why she left,” Lucian tempts her.

“I do.”

“We’re the only ones offering to help, Nova. We want to help. Let us.” I hope I can appeal to her need to know what happened to her mom.

“So I have to let you take over my life to accomplish that?” She’s shaking her head. I can already tell he pushed her too hard, too fast.

“Yes. I told you, you’re either with us or against us.” Lucian doesn’t let up at all.

“That’s not what you said,” she argues, but I’m not sure what she’s referring to.

“I’m saying it now.”

She stares at him for a long moment, and I think she’s about to get up and walk out, but she doesn’t. Instead, she repeats an earlier sentiment. “As long as I’m useful.”

“If that makes you feel better.” Lucian shrugs with indifference before placing his arm along the back of the couch, coming dangerously close to touching her shoulder.

Well, at least she’s not leaving.