Avenge (Malice Book 2)

by Amity Hope

  Today…we were graduating.

  And Elyse had not come to town.

  In my opinion she had failed miserably.

  It was her loss.

  I watched proudly as Tristan gave his valedictorian speech. He had not conquered his social awkwardness completely. But he was slowly overcoming it. Having a group of true friends helped.

  Standing at the podium now he looked so different than he had at the start of the year. He stood tall. Gone were the hunched shoulders and glasses (and thank goodness, gone were the sweater vests). He wore his growing confidence like a shield.

  However, I knew that under his graduation gown he wore a pair of khakis and a button down. I’d let that slide. It was a khaki and button down kind of day.

  When his speech ended he was met with a raucous round of applause and catcalls. The noise echoed off the high ceiling of our high school auditorium. The catcalls were primarily from Daphne and Riley. Though Caleb and Alex shouted as loud as anyone else in the building.

  One by one we went through the line, shook our principal’s hand, and took our diplomas off the stage with us.

  I easily spotted Mom, Magnolia and Cecily. They’d gotten here early and had front row seats. Mom beamed at me. Magnolia waved so energetically her ponytails bounced around. She was slowly putting the events of the past behind her. Now that she was seven, her magic was slowly seeping to the surface. She was concentrating on it, rather than the past.

  Cecily winked, her expression proud.

  I grinned at the three of them as I descended the steps.

  The ceremony paradoxically seemed to drag on and fly by. I was one of the first in my group of friends to go through the line. After I took my seat again I watched my friends file through. Daphne Whittaker was followed by Xavier, and that rounded out our class.

  As the principal announced that we had officially graduated, the room exploded in roaring cheers. Hats flew up in the air. Friends hugged friends. A few tears were shed.

  I pushed my way through the crowd, easily spotting Tristan because he towered over everyone.

  When I reached him, he picked me off my feet in a bear hug.

  “Your speech was fantastic!” I said.

  “I was kind of on autopilot,” he admitted as he placed me on the ground again.

  “You’d never know it,” Alex said as he smacked Tristan across the back.

  “Now who is ready to party?” Daphne demanded.

  “Oh, I think we’ll all be there,” Riley assured her.

  Daphne’s parents were throwing her and Xavier a huge beach bash. We’d all agreed to attend.

  “I think we should get out of here and head over there now,” Caleb inserted.

  “Sounds like a plan,” Finola agreed.

  “We’ll catch up to you there,” Tristan said.

  Our friends took off. Tristan and I worked our way through the crowd.

  “I am so proud of you!” Cecily said. She pulled Tristan into a dainty hug. He hugged her back carefully.

  “Thank you. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for you,” he told her.

  She lightly slapped his shoulder. “Of course you would. You’re a bright, kind, caring young man. You are so full of potential. You just need to realize it.”

  “She’s right,” Mom said to Tristan. “We’re all very proud of you.”

  He blushed deeply and didn’t seem to know what to say.

  “And I’m grateful for you because without you, I might be repeating calculus,” I teased.

  “I think we’re all thankful you’re not repeating calculus,” Mom said.

  Magnolia grinned at Tristan. “You look silly.”

  He raised his eyebrows and pretended to be offended. “What?”

  She giggled. “All the boys are wearing dresses.”

  “They’re gowns,” I corrected. “And I think he looks kind of handsome.”

  She wrinkled her nose at me. “You’re weird.”

  I wrinkled my nose right back at her. “I know.”

  She giggled. It was a carefree sound that I loved to hear.

  “I think we need to turn in our gowns,” Tristan told Mom and Cecily. “Then we’re heading over to Daphne’s.”

  “We can take those for you,” Mom offered.

  We didn’t protest. We carefully peeled off our gowns, said our goodbyes, and worked our way out of the still-crowded auditorium.

  We followed the flow of people out of the building, spilling out into the bright sunlight. Tristan had a firm grip on my hand to assure that I didn’t get lost in the crowd.

  “I think tonight’s party is going to be Xavier and Daphne’s biggest party yet,” I said.

  He chuckled. “Yeah? That’s saying a lot.”

  “It should be fun. I’m kind of excited,” I admitted. We had a change of clothes in my Comet. I knew Daphne’s dad was grilling an endless amount of steaks and burgers. My stomach rumbled just thinking about it.

  “I’m excited about the food,” Tristan joked back.

  “Tristan? Tristan Johnson?”

  We slowed, Tristan’s head snapped around, trying to find where the voice had come from. A tall man stepped out of the shadow of a large hawthorn tree at the edge of the parking lot. He was impeccably dressed. He wore a suit and tie. His blond hair was trimmed and neatly styled. His pale green tie matched his eyes. He strode toward us with purpose.

  Tristan and I came to a stop. He slid an arm around me protectively, as if some primal instinct had awakened.

  “Yes?” Tristan asked.

  “Forgive me for intruding,” he said softly. “I realize that this is a stupendously important day for you. Becoming valedictorian is quite the accomplishment. Magnificent speech, by the way.” He beamed at Tristan. “I’m sure you are preparing to celebrate with your friends. Yet, I only came to town for a short while. Is there any chance you’d spare some time for an old man? Perhaps half an hour or so? Your friend is welcome to join us.”

  Tristan glanced at me. The confusion on his face was evident. It probably mirrored my own.

  What an odd request. This stranger didn’t look particularly old. He was middle-aged at best. It looked like he took good care of himself. In fact, as my eyes roamed over him, then Tristan, I had to say he looked a lot like—

  “Please,” he implored, snapping my thought in half. “I have information that is pertinent to you. Information about The Council and both the House of Albescu and Negrescu.”

  “You want to talk politics?” Tristan skeptically wondered.

  The man closed the several feet of space that had been between us all. His imposing frame towered over me. It simply matched Tristan’s as the two looked at each other eye to eye.

  “What I want,” he said, his voice low, “is to avenge the kidnapping of my only child, my son.”

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  Sam and Tristan’s story will conclude in Defy, coming soon! Follow me on Facebook to receive news on the official release date.