Decadence (Tree of Life Series Book 1)

by Nichole Austin

  I wrench myself from his grip. “Will you please take me to see my mother?” I’m surprised he heard my softly murmured request. He nods his head, and we walk.

  There’s an uncomfortable silence between us as we make our way to the castle. Maybe one day we’ll be able to put aside our differences. I am so sick of the violence. The last thing I want is to be his enemy, and the way he looks in his leather is something I can’t hate.

  When we’re almost to the castle, I’m grabbed from behind. It scares me so much that I accidentally use my telekinesis to throw the person backward across the clearing. As I turn around, I see blond hair and an extremely pissed face, shrouded in accusation. That’s when I realize it’s Xavier. I send a message loud and clear to him. Oops… Actually, not really. You deserved that. Strike my earlier thought. I’m all about stopping violence, except with Xavier, who started a war with me. I’m going to see this battle through to the end. He deserves everything coming to him.

  I turn around and look at Lawrence. His green eyes are wide and dilated. With a humorous smile, I say, “What? We need to go. I don’t want to deal with that self-righteous prick.”

  Extending his arm, Lawrence lets out a hearty laugh. “After you, Princess.”

  Right when I’m about to take my next step forward, a thought comes through from Xavier. Rosalyn, don’t you dare take another step with him. If you do, you’ll regret it, and you’ll be held responsible for what I do to him.

  I’m usually good at controlling my temper, but it’s about to boil over. After what happened this morning and Lawrence trying to comfort me, now he’s going to threaten him? He deserves whatever I do to him. I fire right back. Excuse me! Are you threatening me? Lay a hand on him and see what I do to you. Let me tell you something, Xavier, you don’t own me. I’m going to let you in on a secret. I don’t have to listen to you. So . . . BITE ME!

  Before I take another step, I smile up at Lawrence and decide to lay it on thick. “Thank you for looking for me. I appreciate it,” I say flirtatiously while batting my eyelashes. Footsteps fall heavy behind me, and I realize it’s Xavier again. He really doesn’t learn, so I throw him backward as I step forward. We can continue doing this, sweetheart. I can go all night. When there’s movement behind me again, I’ve had enough. I’m stunned that I’m stronger than him, but I’m not going to be bothered by it. Once more, I throw him back, but I make sure he lands facedown in the snow, and he stays down. I didn’t realize the amount of concentration the telekinesis would take, and my forehead starts to sweat. A hand lands on my shoulder, and it breaks my concentration. “Huh?” I ask when I realize Lawrence has been talking to me. Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I walk the last few steps to the castle. I’m ready to get out of the cold.

  “Are you feeling unwell?” Lawrence questions with concern. He stops me before we can step inside the castle and brushes the hair off my forehead. “You look dead on your feet. I’m worried.”

  I smile tremulously at Lawrence and step inside. “I’m fine, just tired,” I tell him when he steps inside to join me. That’s an understatement because exhaustion is what I feel since I’ve drained a lot of energy using my new powers.

  As Lawrence guides me through the corridor, Xavier’s furious voice echoes in my mind. Bravo, Rosalyn. Your power is getting stronger. But just wait ‘til I get my hands on you, Addy. You’re going to regret what you just did.

  It looks like Xavier didn’t understand when I told him to stay away from me. That won’t be too hard to fix. Hmmm . . . Are you upset? I’ll make this clear to you one more time, Xavier. You can go to hell!

  Lawrence guides me through the corridors. As we near my mother’s sitting room, I grow more concerned about her reaction. I’ve never disappeared like I did today. Normally, I’m the one she can depend on to behave. Yesterday, she threatened she would throw me in the dungeon if I didn’t get my behavior under control, and my mind flashes back to this morning with Scarlett. Would she do to me what she did to Scarlett?

  Since I have no clue what to expect, I ask the only thing that will help in the situation. “Will you go in there with me?” I plead. I’m not only nervous about what’s going to happen to me in there, but what could happen to him out here if Xavier gets his hands on him. If he gets hurt, it’ll be my fault.

  He looks down at me and shakes his head. “I’m probably not wanted in there, Princess.” A heavy sigh escapes his mouth as we reach the gold ornate doors of my mother’s sitting room. It’s a small room with a couch on the far wall and two chairs with a desk. This is where my mom rests when she’s not in the throne room. There are no windows, so a crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling for light.

  Grabbing his hands, I squeeze them until he looks at me. “I want you in there,” I inform him, looking into his face. I’m just realizing how beautiful his green eyes are. Not giving him a chance to argue with me further, I let go of one of his hands and push the door open.

  My mother and Alizon fly off the red-padded chairs across from the desk when I enter the room with Lawrence. Before they reach me, they see my hand gripping Lawrence’s, and two sets of eyes narrow. He pulls at my hand so I’ll let it go, but I grip it harder until my knuckles turn white. There’s a sweet comfort in his touch, and I know we’re protecting each other.

  Alizon is the first one to say anything. “What’s he doing here?” She sneers as she glares at our hands. If she could separate us with the look on her face, we’d be on opposite sides of the room.

  With an ugly twist to her mouth, my mother orders, “Lawrence, you need to leave. This is a private family matter.” Lawrence frowns at me and breaks free of my hand, but I immediately grab his arm.

  “No, he isn’t leaving.” My muscles quiver as things around the room start to shake. Above us, the crystal chandelier almost falls from the ceiling. My mother and Alizon’s faces turn pale. “He isn’t going anywhere, Mother!” My voice echoes around the room as I shout.

  Lawrence draws me into him and hugs me. “Calm down,” he tenderly whispers to me as his hands frame my face.

  “If you want him to stay, he can stay,” my mother bargains. “Just calm down.” Lawrence blocks me from seeing her, and that’s a good thing because it’s taking everything for me to draw in slow, steady breaths. Lawrence slowly rubs his hands up and down my back in a calming motion.

  “Princess, I’m going to raise your chin so you can look at me.” He gives me a second to object, which I won’t because things are still shaking throughout the room. When he raises my chin, I’m ensnared by his eyes, and I lose my train of thought. “When you get really upset, your powers become uncontrollable. You have to do your best to contain your emotions,” he informs me while he gazes at me.

  A loud clap sounds behind us, ruining the moment. “When did you get your powers?” my mother demands. When I turn around, I see her calculating eyes rake over me. Lawrence doesn’t let go of me as I shudder. My freedom is gone now because my mom will use my powers as she sees fit.

  Refusing to show any weakness around her, I stand taller and proudly answer, “I realized I had telekinesis this morning.” My telepathy is something I’m keeping to myself. It’ll be to my advantage if my mother doesn’t know about all my powers. When I glance back at my mother’s face, I see it light up with a satisfied smirk.

  She comes toward me with her arms out, exclaiming, “Let go of him so I can give you a hug.”

  Immediately, I turn myself into Lawrence, burying my head into his chest, murmuring to him so my mother can’t hear, “I don’t know if my mother did anything to you because of yesterday, but I’m sorry if she did.” Turning back to my mother, I give her a cold look. She may scare me, but I have powers she wants to use. Putting up my arm, I say harshly, “Don’t touch me. After what you did to Scarlett, I can’t handle your arms around me.” Knowing that this is about to turn ugly, I prepare myself, but Xavier bursts into the room before that can happen.

  Alizon strides forward, and her lips pull into a
sneer. “Xavier, you seem to have a talent for bursting in on private family moments. Rosalyn’s chambers this morning and now. How long is this going to continue?” she snidely asks.

  Alizon couldn’t have said anything worse. She just threw both Xavier and me under the bus. Seeing blood, I send her a message. Alizon you just fucked me over, too. Thanks! Her eyes go wide when she hears my voice in her head. I forgot she didn’t know I could do that.

  My mom growls, and her eyes narrow in my direction, before she turns them toward Xavier. I guess I’m going to get my ass chewed along with Xavier, but it looks like he’s going first. “Go wait outside, Xavier.” Her teeth are clenched so hard they might break. “I’ll deal with you when I’m done dealing with my family,” she threatens.

  Xavier turns and notices my body turned into Lawrence. He breathes hard out of his nose, and his body tenses up like he’s going to attack. “What about Lawrence?” he barks at me. Not my mother, me. “He isn’t family.”

  Well, this seems to be a conversation between the two of us. With a wry smile, I look at him and answer for my mother. “There’s a huge difference between you and Lawrence,” I say, my eyebrow raising. “I actually want Lawrence here, and you need to fucking leave.” Using my powers, I push him out of the room and slam the doors in his face.

  Alizon barks out a laugh and claps her hands together. “Best entertainment of the night,” she jokes. “Looks like there’s trouble in paradise.” She takes a seat in one of the red-padded chairs, crossing her legs.

  I shoot her a glare.

  “Rosalyn, what does your sister mean by ‘trouble in paradise’?” my mother inquires as she walks closer to me. She’s probably going to question me to within an inch of my life.

  Lying is something I usually don’t do, but I know it’s extremely important to handle this situation carefully. Staring her straight in the eye, I respond, putting power behind my words, “She doesn’t mean anything by it.”

  Putting her hand to her face, she taps her fingers. Her eyes constrict with suspicion. “Then what was he doing in your room this morning, Rosalyn?”

  She’s not buying what I’m saying. Separating myself a little bit from Lawrence, I stand stronger because she can’t know that he kissed me. “We just talked this morning. He wanted to check to see how I was after what happened yesterday.” My voice is calm even though my stomach is tied in knots. I’m amazed my hands aren’t shaking and I’m not looking down as I respond.

  The suspicion is clear in her eyes, but thankfully, she drops it. Now, I have to trust that Xavier’s story matches mine so I’m not called back to speak with my mother. I know she’s dropped it when she grabs my arm and forces me closer to her. Dread washes over me, and I grip Lawrence’s hand harder so she can’t pull me closer to her. My mother grips my chin roughly. “Before we were so rudely interrupted, you said you didn’t want me touching you because of what happened to Scarlett,” she explains in a deadly voice. “Let me make myself clear, Rosalyn. I don’t have to explain myself to you, and you fail to see that. I’m your mother, but I’m the queen first. I’ll do as I see fit, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. If you have a problem with it, and you don’t want me to be your mother, that’s fine. I’ll just be your queen, but I would think very carefully about that decision.” She cackles, throwing her head back. Her eyes turn deadly when she says, “That attitude you like to throw around will quickly land you in the dungeons, just like Scarlett.” She kisses my forehead and yells, “You and Lawrence get the hell out of my sight!”

  Right after she says that, I hear Alaric’s voice in my head. You realize your life is a mess, right?

  I fire right back at him. And yours isn’t?

  I’m shaking with rage as I leave the room. I’m beginning to realize that one thing I hate is bullies, and it takes everything in me not to use my powers against her.

  Alaric’s voice once again enters my head. You might want to get your temper under control there, Princess. I’m trying so hard not to laugh out loud because Lawrence would think I’m crazy.

  He’s being such a hypocrite. I respond quickly. You do realize that I just saw what happened between you and Thomas, right? If anyone has a temper problem, it’s you. How about you stop judging me and take a look at your own life. Now, leave me alone.

  When we’re about halfway to the kitchen, Xavier’s voice bursts in my head. Don’t do this, Addy. Come back here and talk to me, but please walk away from him. I’m begging you. Please.

  Hearing the heartbreak and fear in his words, I almost buckle under the weight of his plea. Our friendship has been decimated, and we are now slaves to anger and betrayal. I have no clue how I feel, but I know he doesn’t make me feel good anymore.

  Chapter Eight

  Rosalyn

  It’s been a couple of weeks since the sitting room craziness. I’ve been avoiding my mother at all costs, as well as Xavier. The most surprising person has been Lawrence. He comes to my room every single day and personally trains me before going on guard duty. I’ve come to learn he isn’t the person I thought he was. We’re slowly developing a friendship, which is why I’m avoiding Xavier. The last thing I need is another confrontation with him.

  My sister keeps asking me what’s going on between Lawrence and me, which is a question I also keep avoiding. Everyone is completely up in my business, and I’m becoming annoyed by it. My private life is my own. I’m just happy I haven’t heard from Alaric since that day.

  Still here, Princess, he cuts through my mind, annoyance clear in his tone. Are you joking? I thought he was gone. Nope, I wish I was gone. There’s not a minute you aren’t in my head. Believe me, I wish I was gone too. You’re a constant buzz. I have to block you out or hear every single one of your thoughts.

  Horror like I have never felt enters my body. My heart rate increases, and my breathing picks up. What do you mean you can hear every single one of my thoughts? This is an intrusion of my privacy beyond anything I have ever experienced.

  Oh, calm down, Rosalyn, he shoots back sarcastically. You’re being melodramatic. I don’t want to know what you’re thinking. The only time I was there consistently was that first night. You have your privacy, Princess.

  It takes a second, but I’m able to calm myself down. For some reason, I believe he’s telling me the truth, but I wish I could figure out why we’re connected. I’m about to ask him when there’s a knock at my door. Looking at the sun through my window, I know it can be only one person. A megawatt smile spreads across my face, and I throw my door open. Lawrence stands outside my door in all his leather, forming to his body. My attraction to him has definitely grown since the night he found me outside the castle.

  Not thinking and just reacting, I throw my arms around his middle and hug him. It not only surprises me, but it takes him a minute to wrap his arms around me, too. When I pull back, I look at his face. His lips part as he studies me, like I’m an animal he needs to figure out. I tuck my long curly hair behind my ear and, for the first time, feel very shy, not having a clue what came over me.

  My gaze lowers toward the ground, but he stops me by putting his finger under my chin and drawing it up. “Rosalyn,” he coaxes me while rubbing his thumb on my cheek. I look into his jade eyes as he continues. “It’s okay that you hugged me. In fact,” he says with a teasing smile, “you can hug me whenever you want.” He suddenly crushes me to him. “You know, you’re not the person I thought you were. I assumed you were a spoiled princess who didn’t care about non-royalty. I can tell now you aren’t.” Tenderly, he runs his hands through my hair, and I look up at him. He leans into me with a wide smile. “You’re an amazing woman who cares about the people around her. You’re going to make an amazing queen one day.” This man actually believes in me, which causes a tear to slowly fall down my face. He captures it with his thumb. Rubbing his other thumb on my forehead, he softly kisses it before releasing me. Something inside me knows our relationship is changing, but I’m having a hard time fac
ing that.

  Training will help break up the serious atmosphere, but as I’m walking toward my door, Lawrence goes to my bureau and opens it. He grabs a cloak and as he wraps it around me, he softly explains, “I thought we could go for a walk instead. You’ve been training hard, and I know you like being outside.”

  Grasping my cloak, my cheeks become warm. “I’d like that.” It’s been nice to get to know Lawrence. He’s like the cold air I welcome every time I step outside, which I’ve sincerely needed in my life.

  Lawrence grabs my hand as we head down the corridor. This is a new development because we haven’t held hands since the night in my mother’s sitting room. Butterflies burst in my stomach, and I like how it feels. He squeezes my hand as we turn the corner. “Is this okay?” he asks, his voice like a caress against my cheek.

  Blushing, I nod my head. So many thoughts are racing through my head that I’m trying to make sense of.

  As soon as we step outside, he draws me toward the woods. We’ve never taken a walk there before, so I’m a little surprised. We walk at a leisurely pace, but suddenly, we’re walking faster, and I don’t understand why until Xavier steps in front of us. The drama I was trying to avoid has caught up with me. I know exactly how Xavier will feel about seeing this.

  Alaric’s voice bursts through my mind. Make Lawrence step away. If you don’t, there will be bloodshed. Trust me on this one, Princess. I know Xavier all too well.

  The urgency I hear in his voice makes me believe him. My hands grip Lawrence’s cape to pull him close to my mouth. “Please give me a minute. I don’t want a fight.” He opens his mouth to argue, but I stop him. “I’ll come get you after I talk to him, I promise.” He picks up on the desperation in my voice.

  Lawrence leans down and, in a hushed tone, states, “I don’t want to leave you alone with him. He could hurt you.” His teeth clench, and he’s not stepping away from me.