Devon squinted an eye. “Oh, so you’re a nag, too.”
I gave him a blank look. “Ungrateful prick.”
“I like you, Cara,” Natalia said, clasping my hands. Was she this physical with everyone? “Devon should listen to you more. Does he do it a lot? It’s his job, after all.”
“Not at all.”
Natalia spun around to smack her son. “Why must you be this disobedient?”
Devon made another complaint, and their conversation disintegrated into a friendly squabble. They might have been quarreling, but I sensed the love emanating from them.
I wished I’d had the chance to squabble like that with my mother, but she was apparently some dead god whom Agness hated very much. I didn’t have a parental figure to accompany me during my younger years. Only the strange, angry thoughts that showed up every now and then.
Chapter Five
“Welcome,” Natalia said, walking into the offensively pink room that she called hers. We’d entered the mansion under her invitation, and since I’d gotten into her good graces, she’d decided to show me around the place. “It’s not much, but I hope you don’t mind waiting here for my dear Maxwell to arrive.”
“Not much?” I asked, uncertain whether she was joking. “It’s… it’s definitely something.” Her room was overbearing. Perfume clung to every corner of it and made me nauseated. Silks and patterns of too many kinds were draped around her furniture, many of them glittery and almost tasteless. Walking into this room nearly gave me vertigo.
A toddler peeked out from behind the drapes that covered her bed. “Mama!” he shouted.
Natalia led me to a couch as she called over her shoulder, “I’ll be right there, darling! You can sit here.”
As my bottom sank into the couch, I couldn’t help but voice a soft moan. Devon looked at me weirdly. “What?” I asked. “Don’t you think that this is, like, the most comfortable couch ever? It’s like heaven for an ass. You don’t feel the same way?”
“It’s a couch. Just like any other.”
“Your buns must be made of steel, because they’re too damn insensitive.” They definitely looked like they were hard. Right, so I spent an awful long time staring at my vassals’ asses. Why not? They were nice to look at, and I enjoyed indulging. Just like I was fully appreciating how comfortable these cushions felt on my butt. I shook my hips back and forth and hummed happily.
Devon cleared his throat. “Can you please stop doing that?”
“Do what?”
“Move back and forth.”
“I’m making the most of life.”
“Can you do it some other way, then?”
“Like?”
“Something less suggestive.”
My eyes widened. Was my simple gesture actually turning Devon on? I knew it. He was attracted to me but didn’t want to admit it. I wasn’t going to bring that up in front of his mother, of course. That’d only make everything more awkward.
Natalia was caring for her toddler. She fed him some milk from a golden bottle, then scooped her up into her arms.
As she was busy with her son, I asked Devon, “Is that your brother?”
“One of many.” Devon sighed and raked his hand through his hair.
“How many do you have?”
“Ten,” Devon replied, shrugging. “If you include me, there’s eleven of us.”
My jaw fell open. “Ten? Do you even remember all their names?”
“Rilac, Krillin, Nataschia, Hellaria, Saria, Rhianne, Anylle, Lenara, Hevon, and that over there is the youngest, Tyrielle. He’s the brattiest out of all of us, too.”
The golden bottle shot across the room, proving Devon’s point right. A servant picked the bottle up and scampered back to Natalia to pass it to her.
“Big family,” I said. “Must be fun.”
“That’s one way to put it.” Devon leaned into the couch, and despite his refusal to admit that he liked the comfy cushions, I watched it noticeably calm him. “It’s mostly chaotic. And because Mother likes to baby us, she stresses often. We’ve grown up, but when we were kids…” Devon whistled. “You should have seen her when she got angry.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“Most people can’t. Except for maybe Theo. There’s fifteen children in his family. And he’s the oldest. I’m the seventh born. It’s a lucky number, Mom says. I’m not sure if that’s why I’m her favorite, or maybe it’s because I give her the least trouble.”
“Theo has fifteen siblings?” I gaped at Devon.
“They were poor and he’s the oldest.” Devon winced. “And that’s why he’s so damn grateful.”
“That’s why he has the patience of a saint. And why he likes to spoil me like Hansel, too.”
“Don’t take advantage of that too much.”
“Do I?”
Devon folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t see it. Not yet. But I’m concerned for the big guy. I think he’s too nice sometimes. He and Hansel both are. They don’t mind being used and so they are used. Here in the Cierro family, however, we’re taught to lead and make the right choices. Kind of why I don’t like dealing with bullshit so much.”
“You’re so apathetic that you don’t care enough. There needs to be a balance.”
“I realize it’s easier to avoid squabbles between siblings by ignoring them.”
“Wish I had that problem.”
“You shouldn’t wish for it. Not really.”
Natalia succeeded in calming her son down. She passed the little boy, Tyrielle, over to a maidservant and redirected her attention to us. She sat on the couch across us, which looked equally comfortable. Devon’s conversation with me ended at her intrusion.
“How old is he?” I asked, making an attempt at small talk. I wasn’t good at it, though I thought I’d started this conversation well. Most times, I ended up blurting out something that put me in the bad books of many people.
“Tyrielle?” Natalia asked, beaming at me. Her motherliness made me certain that any conversation about her kids would brighten her up. “Five years old. It’s that thing about being immortal. You have all the time in the world to have children. Here in Haven, children are harder to conceive than on Earth due to the influence of the chiasma, but if you have all the time in the world…” She pulled her shoulders up, then grinned. “It’s great.”
I wasn’t sure if I’d describe having this much responsibility as great, but I let the matter rest.
Natalia leaned toward a teapot and poured us some tea. “Want some?” she asked.
I couldn’t decline. She’d gone ahead and poured the tea without giving us an opportunity to say no.
“You should drink it,” she said. “Fireflower tea. It’s good for you. Helps keep you energetic and alert. Aids in blood circulation.”
I accepted the cup from her with a thanks and brought it to my lips. I took a tentative sip of it. The tea had a sweet aftertaste that soothed my taste buds. “It’s delicious.”
“It also aids in blood circulation,” Natalia repeated.
Devon sniffed. “Again with the blood circulation.”
“We want to keep your penis working. How am I supposed to get grandkids if you can’t get it up?”
I almost spat the tea out.
Was it right for a mother to be speaking about her son’s penis this openly? I wanted to shut my mind from the conversation that followed.
“Mom,” Devon said, “can you not?”
“You’re my son. I’m concerned about your vigor.”
Devon set his teacup down. “We don’t have to discuss this in front of Cara.”
“She’s the person you like, isn’t she?”
“Not at all.”
Natalia cocked her head. She gave Devon a knowing look, which caused me to question what exactly she knew. “She’s definitely a better fit for you than that Abigail.”
I shouldn’t be prying into Devon’s past, but, curious, I straightened my posture and paid more attention
to the conversation. I loved gossip and wasn’t ashamed of it, even though I ought to be.
“Let’s not bring her up,” Devon said, folding one leg over another. He shifted his eyes to the side, obviously uncomfortable.
Natalia wasn’t one to take no from her son, however. “Abigail never treated you well. You did all her errands for her. Her homework, too. And she was rude. Always ignored me when I tried to talk to her. You never should have liked her in the first place. Cara, here, however—she’s as sweet as a doll. I’d hold her close if I were you.”
The compliments she gave me only served to increase the awkwardness between us.
Natalia shook her head. “You don’t understand a mother’s instincts. If you like Cara, go for it.”
“Mom, please.” Devon grunted.
“It’s been two years since Abigail decided to get married to her vassals. It’s time you forgot about her.”
Devon flicked his fringe away from his face and stared at the patterns on the curtains. “The weather’s nice today, isn’t it? Bright and sunny.”
He couldn’t be more obvious about it. The weather? Seriously? I would have complimented the teapot. At least we could see the teapot. The sky was blocked by the gold-patterned curtains.
“Work for your future, Devon,” Natalia said, looking at me. Her words sounded too corny and too heavy at the same time. I didn’t need to be Devon’s future. All I wanted was for him to be less of an asshole. I liked to keep expectations low. “Remember that time when you were fifteen?” Natalia asked. “When Tisso bullied you in school because of Abigail? She caused that fight.”
“Devon was bullied?” I leaned backward to study him. He was muscle everywhere. Broad shoulders. He looked he could knock a man down by lightly grazing him when walking past. He definitely didn’t seem like the type to be bullied.
“All the time,” Natalia replied. “He grew up slow, so the males back in school would always tease him.”
“I’m surprised.” I frowned.
“Don’t let his outward appearance fool you. Devon’s still a big, lovable, romantic sweetheart on the inside.”
“Is he?” I asked, amused.
Devon inched father away from me. What was the deal with him? “Abigail talked to me after that,” he said.
“She didn’t stand up for you,” Natalia said. “Her boyfriend was angry about you getting too close to her, or at least that was what the principal told me. She could have stopped him, but she didn’t.”
“She comforted me.”
“She talked,” Natalia said. “That was all she did. Words are cheap.”
I watched a lump travel down Devon’s throat. “I loved her.”
“You were infatuated, my dear child. I’m not sure if you still are. It’s time you open your eyes. Someone great is next to you.”
I laughed sheepishly, not sure how to take the flattery. I swatted her compliment away by waving my hand in front of my face. “Oh, I’m not great at all.”
“You have the potential to be great, even though my husband doesn’t like you much.”
“Does he not?” I asked, my stomach sinking.
“His dislike is from the influence of Agness. I’m not sure what they’ve been discussing these days. Still, I’m sure you’ll be good for my son. You’re so much better than that Abigail—”
Devon pushed himself from the couch. Scowling, he stomped toward the exit.
“Where are you going?”
“Away from this conversation,” he said. “I don’t need you guys intruding into my love life.”
He pulled the door open, but another figure blocked his entrance. Before he had a chance to leave, he faced a man that was two heads taller than him. The man looked even larger than Theo, which was saying a lot, because Theo was a giant. The man was handsome, like many of the men around here, but I didn’t want to be anywhere around him because of his stoic face. He was tan, just like Devon, and once I took a closer look, I noticed two horns that stuck out from the top of his head in a spiral pattern. The horns gave him a bestial look, though he wasn’t quite a brightling. Peering down, he frowned at Devon. “Son,” he said. “Why are you here?”
Devon bowed his head. “To see you, Father.”
Chapter Six
We followed Maxwell Cierro into his study. When I settled in and sank into the seat, I wiggled my butt again. The seat here was comfy, too, though not as delightful as the one in Natalia’s room.
When Maxwell lowered himself to his seat and glanced at me, I immediately pulled myself together and stopped fidgeting. It didn’t seem like he was judging me, but his yellow gaze, similar but harsher than Devon’s, made me uncomfortable. I pulled my lips up awkwardly and tried to smile, but when his mouth remained in a tight, stern line, I gave up all attempts of trying to warm him. They merely caused me to look stupid and overly eager.
“You should be in the Sanctuary,” Maxwell said to Devon, wasting no time in getting to the matter at hand. “Should you be aiming to be the best vassal you can be?” He then turned his gaze to me. “And you too, Caramel. Shouldn’t you be striving to be one of the top half-bloods? I don’t want my son to be sent to a concentration camp.”
And I didn’t want to die, which was why we were here in the first place.
Maxwell knocked his knuckles onto the wood of his desk. The gesture caused him to look stressed out and tensed, which, in turn, tightened my nerves. I glanced over his shoulder. A plethora of portraits were displayed behind him. The frames surrounded pictures of children growing up. I guessed they were Devon’s siblings. Devon wasn’t lying when he said he had ten. There were so many faces that I had trouble telling them apart. Some of his siblings also had horns, like Maxwell did.
I tapped the top of my head. “Are the horns a vassal thing?”
Maxwell blinked, though his expression remained blank. I wondered if I’d overstepped my boundaries. “No,” he answered shortly.
“Um, why?”
A pause fell between us. I rubbed my forearm to ease the nervousness.
Maxwell pulled in a deep sigh. “The horns were a result of one of Agness’s attempts at honing her powers during her time as a half-blood. An outburst of power came from her then, and she gifted these to me. She learned how to remove them years later, but they have become so intertwined with my identity that I don’t want them removed anymore.”
“Don’t they get in the way, though?”
Maxwell shook his head. “Not at all.”
“I mean, when you sleep, you can’t put your head on a nice, fluffy pillow when there’s a horn propping it up.”
“You get used to it.”
I spotted a light crinkle on Maxwell’s brow. “How, though? Those things are giant. They’re—”
“Enough.” His tone lowered by a couple notches.
I leaned backward in an attempt to get away, though that only added two inches of space between Maxwell and me.
Maxwell pulled in a deep breath. “I’m not here to make idle talk, Miss Valencia.” I’d never heard anybody call me that before. “I’m a very busy man, and you leave me questioning why my son is playing hooky and not serving his duties. Are you letting me down, Devon?”
I pressed my lips together. Why the harshness in his tone? Devon was merely paying a visit to his father, and after months without seeing his son, I assumed a father would be delighted.
“No,” Devon answered, straightening his posture. “We’re here regarding a matter that is dire. Something that you should know about.”
“Will it affect your grades?”
“It’s not an issue concerning grades.”
“That’s all you should be concerned about. You’re a student. A student studies. Bothering yourself with other affairs is a waste of time.”
“I’m sorry, Father, but—”
“You should learn more from Rilac and your sisters. They dedicated all their energy into serving Haven when they were in the Sanctuary, and their efforts served them well.�
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“I understand.”
Maxwell folded his arms across his chest and pinned Devon even harder with his cutting gaze. “I’m not sure you do, because if you did, you wouldn’t be here right now. You’d be back in the Sanctuary.”
Devon lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Apologies are meaningless without action. You have to live up to the Cierro family name. The goddess council watches us closely. Excellence is desired and a requirement, and if you’re out here playing truant, how can you achieve it? You have to prevent yourself from being a pathetic excuse and learn how to—”
“Enough, you horny man,” I said, raising my hand. Horny man? Did I really blurt that out? Internally, I winced, but I let none of it show on my face. I maintained my false confidence and looked Maxwell straight in the eyes. “Devon’s already one of the most hardworking vassals on my team.” I hoped Maxwell didn’t notice me lying. My proclamation couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Is he, now?” Maxwell asked, barely reacting to my outburst. “How so?”
“Uh.” I faltered. “He’s good with his magicky hands and all.”
“That’s merely an effect of his heritage. All Cierro children are tied strongly to the chiasma, and being good at magic is their birthright. It’s not an indication of Devon’s hard work.”
“He listens to what I say,” I added. “That’s why we’re here today.”
“A true vassal doesn’t just follow his goddess blindly. To be led is the status quo and doesn’t require any thought on the follower’s part. Excellence lies in leadership. If Devon truly performed well, then he would have convinced you that coming here was a mistake, and that you should have stayed in the Sanctuary, putting your best into being a great goddess.”
“Well, yeah,” I said, fumbling when having to match Maxwell’s eloquence. I couldn’t win against this man, and my confidence wavered. I broke eye contact. “It’s… uh… He did try convincing me and all that, but… Cut your boy some slack, will you? No wonder he’s this messed up, having a fa—”
Goddess Academy: The Complete Reverse Harem Collection Page 18
