Kyrie's POV
The room felt like it was spinning, and every breath I took seemed to unravel another piece of the world I thought I knew. My mom—no, not my mom. A Djinn. A creature that had pretended to be her, that had lived in our house, woven itself into our lives, and kept me in the dark about everything. It made my head hurt, like I was trying to hold two realities at once.
I looked at Cal, then at Gina and Channing, my heart sinking. If that thing had been lying to me my whole life, what else was a lie?
I spoke quietly, my voice trembling. “If she’s not my mother, then… is any of it real? Was my dad in on this too? And Kade—my brother? Are they even…” I swallowed, unable to finish the thought.
Channing frowned, shifting uncomfortably, his gaze darting away. “I… I don’t know, Kyrie. But your dad, your brother… maybe they don’t know. Maybe they’re as much in the dark as you were.”
A beat of silence stretched, and I glanced at Cal. He stood beside me, but there was a guarded look in his eyes, a quiet turmoil that he was clearly trying to keep in check.
“They could be real family, Kyrie,” he said, his tone softer than I’d expected. “The Djinn might’ve only taken over your mom. Djinn… they work in shadows, feeding off secrets and trickery. Your dad and Kade might be just as clueless as you.”
I wanted to believe him, but the doubt gnawed at me. The fear that everything was a lie, that my entire life had been built on a foundation of deceit, left a hollow ache in my chest. And standing here now, I didn’t know who I could trust.
The silence was broken by Channing’s sharp exhale as he paced to the other side of the room, his arms folded tightly across his chest. “I mean, of course *he’d* be here right when things get weird,” he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for all of us to hear.
I frowned, taken aback. “Channing, what’s that supposed to mean?”
He scoffed, his jaw clenched as he glanced away, not meeting my eyes. “Oh, come on, Kyrie. It’s just… convenient, don’t you think? Cal swoops in, starts acting like he’s here to protect you, but who knows what his real intentions are?” He looked at Cal then, a flicker of something intense—something dark—in his eyes.
I felt my temper flare. “Channing, what are you talking about? Cal’s been here for me through all of this. And he’s just as shocked as the rest of us!”
Cal shifted, his expression neutral, though I could sense the tension rolling off him in waves. “I don’t need to explain myself to you, Channing. I’m here because of the bond I have with Kyrie. Whether you like it or not.”
Channing let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, the bond. How convenient.”
I could feel the weight of his resentment settling over the room, thick and uncomfortable. Channing’s eyes finally met mine, a flicker of hurt underneath the anger, something raw and unspoken. For a second, I almost reached out to him, wanting to bridge the distance, to understand what was going on in his head. But before I could, he shook his head, his mouth pressed into a thin line.
“You know what? I think I need some air.” He glanced at me, his expression hardening. “Good luck with all this, Kyrie. Guess you don’t need me around to complicate things.”
“Channing—” I reached out, but he was already halfway to the door, his face set as he opened it and slipped out, leaving me standing there, stunned.
I exchanged a confused look with Gina, who shook her head, her brows furrowing in frustration. “Ignore him, Ky. He’s being… well, ridiculous.” She sighed, squeezing my shoulder. “He’s just dealing with… feelings. They’re complicated for him.”
I nodded, trying to swallow the hurt that rose in my chest, though Gina’s words gave me a glimmer of understanding. Channing had been my best friend for as long as I could remember. But things had been different lately—more tense, more awkward. I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but there were times I’d caught him looking at me with an intensity that made my heart skip, though he’d always looked away before I could say anything.
The silence lingered, and I could feel Gina’s gaze on me. She glanced at Cal, then back at me, her face softening into a small, almost mischievous smile as she crossed her arms and faced him squarely.
“All right, Cal,” she said, her voice laced with a seriousness that made me blink in surprise. “We need to have a little chat.”
Cal raised an eyebrow, crossing his own arms, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh? And what exactly do we need to chat about, Princess?”
Gina’s eyes narrowed, her smile turning sharp. “About Kyrie. Specifically, about what your intentions are with my best friend.” She leaned forward, and her voice dropped, filled with a quiet threat. “Because if you hurt her—even think of hurting her—I’ll erase you and your entire bloodline from existence.”
Cal’s smirk wavered, and he shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting between Gina and me. He managed a half-hearted chuckle, though I could see the unease flicker in his eyes. “I… wouldn’t expect anything less from a friend of hers.” He paused, giving her an unsettling smile. “But I have no intention of hurting Kyrie. In fact, quite the opposite.”
Gina held his gaze, unflinching, until he finally looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly unsettled.
The silence stretched, and I watched the unspoken exchange between them, feeling both grateful and a little embarrassed at Gina’s protective streak. But, if I was honest, I felt a surge of warmth, knowing she was willing to stand up for me, even against Cal.
After a moment, Gina softened, turning back to me with a reassuring smile. “Whatever this mess is, we’re here for you, Ky. We’ll figure it out together, no matter what that Djinn said.”
I nodded, the weight of the night settling in, yet feeling a little lighter with her words. “Thanks, Gina,” I said softly, reaching out to squeeze her hand.
Gina shot Cal one last warning look, then backed off, settling into her spot on the floor with a nod, as if daring him to cross her again.
Cal cleared his throat, glancing back at me, his eyes warm but conflicted. “Kyrie… I know this is overwhelming. And I know I’m part of that.” He paused, hesitating. “But I want you to know that I’m here for you. Whatever you need, whatever you want to figure out, I’ll help.”
I searched his face, the sincerity in his eyes steadying me. “Thank you, Cal,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “This… this is all a lot. But having you here… it helps.”
He took a small step closer, and I could feel the pull between us, the bond that connected us in a way that felt unbreakable, no matter how new it was. There was so much I didn’t understand, but I knew one thing for certain: the connection we shared was real, and it wasn’t going anywhere.
I stole a glance at Gina, who was watching us with a satisfied look, her gaze softening. She gave me a wink, as if to say she was done with her interrogations, for now.
We stood there in silence for a moment longer, all of us absorbing the reality of what had happened, of the secrets that had come to light. The confusion, the fear, the unknowns—they hadn’t disappeared. But now, at least, I knew I wasn’t facing them alone.