Page 79 of Assisting the Alpha
My hoarse voice is a testament to this and thankfully Nyoka waves the question off with a frown. “Of course. I’ll bring you some water as soon as I’m done taking these readings.”
“Thank you.” Why does it feel wrong to thank him?
How did I get from Ethan’s building to here? I went down the stairs… someone helped me…
Shifters. There were shifters, mixed species, like when I was jumped and warned off from claiming my inheritance…
Am I being healed right now? It’s what Nyoka seems to be saying he’s doing. But then why are none of the healers here?
I did burn myself out… but if I was with shifters at the time, did they call Nyoka to help me?
Or capture me?
Shit, am I a prisoner?
“Is this about my inheritance?” I blurt out. “Because if you want whatever the artefact is, we could have just talked about it. There was no need to attack me and warn me off.”
If it isn’t Nyoka he’ll have no idea what I’m talking about, or he’ll at least deny knowing anything about it, but from the way he goes utterly still I don’t think that’s the case. Did my cousin have me beat up that day when DI Gough chased the supes off? Is that why I wasn’t more injured?
I’m such an idiot for not telling Ethan about my inheritance. I really did intend to, it’s just that somehow I never quite found the right time. If I’d told him, he’d have a better chance of guessing where I am now. Because I really don’t think he’s waiting outside this room.
Nyoka slowly turns around. “You have no idea, do you?”
I try to swallow around my parched throat. There’s no moisture in my mouth at all. “No idea about what? The inheritance?”
Nyoka’s smirk is a look I’ve never seen on my cousin before. I have to say, it’s fucking creepy, like he’s dropped a mask I didn’t realise he was wearing.
“The inheritance isn’t an artefact, Ayo.”
My heart is racing and the hairs on my arms stand on end. I try to sit up but I feel pinned to the bed. Am I simply drained? Or is there a spell preventing me from moving my limbs? With so little magic, I can’t tell.
“What…”
“The inheritance is the manor, the estate, and billions of pounds.” Nyoka turns back to the screen as I gape at him, a chill running over my entire body. “It was all going according to plan until you moved out. I must admit, that was short-sighted of me. Hmm, yes. Magic replenishing nicely. A day should be enough, then we can get to work.”
I’ve never been as at a loss for words as I am right now. Billions? That can’t be right.
Can it?
And the manor. And the estate. But that means… “Wait, you kicked me out of a house I own?”
Nyoka doesn’t turn around. “Technically, as your guardian, Qadir had stewardship. Since there was a short period when I became your guardian, I took over. That was enough for Lola to draw up tenancy paperwork. It’s only yours once you claim it, and since you haven’t…”
“Are you fucking serious?” I yell, my chest tight with the pain of betrayal. “I trusted you! I loved you! And all this time, you’ve been charging me rent on a house I own, kicked me out of it, and now, what, you’re trying to steal it all permanently? You absolute fucking bastard!”
My yelling does lose some impact since my voice is so hoarse and I still can’t move, but I think I get my message across. My body is vibrating on the inside. My tiny spark of magic is growing, but without my focus, I’m not sure I can direct what little I have into breaking what I’m now convinced is a paralysis spell. I channel all my anger, all my rage, into trying anyway because Ireallywant to throw a fireball at my cousin.
Nyoka shakes his head as if he’s disappointed in me, barely sparing me a glance. “Loving me is a waste of time. Even Qadir only became your guardian out of a sense of guilt.”
“What?” My blood runs cold. That can’t be true. “No, Qadir was an amazing guardian. He didn’t fake how much he cared about me. Wait, what do you mean guilt? Guilt about what?”
Nyoka turns and fiddles with one of his rings. “Mother’s experiment.”
“Experiment? What experiment?”
Nyoka starts pacing the small room. “It was quite brilliant, really. Mother was always jealous that Aunt Wema got all the power and everything that came with it when she was so much younger. Just because her sister was a sorcerer, she couldn’t become coven leader, got a tiny share of the family inheritance,and worse, your mother got a husband who actually stuck around.”
“Aunt Mara was jealous of Mum?” Having never had a sibling, that’s not something I can relate to at all and I’ve never heard of any rivalry between our parents before.
