Descendants Academy: Young Adult Urban Fantasy Belle Malory (highly recommended books .txt) 📖

I wasn’t that hungry, but I also wasn’t ready to go back to the cottage just yet. “Sure.”

But…it meant we would have to pop our bubbles.

I looked down, swallowing nervously, because this was higher up than I’d been last time. If I caught onto another bubble, I could break up the fall. Maybe.

Xander didn’t even hesitate. “See you on the ground,” he said, right before leaping out.

Good grief.

I watched him dive all the way to the trampoline, like he was born for crazy stunts like these. Trying to summon my own courage, I pressed my palms and knees through the bottom and slipped through. I fell about fifty feet or so, then caught the top of another bubble. I let out a little sigh of relief, then glimpsed the floor. If I jumped now, it wouldn’t be so bad. I leapt and closed my eyes, waiting to feel the impact of the trampoline.

A strong pair of arms caught me midfall. I looked up, noticing the way Xander’s eyes glinted. “You made it, damsel. Let’s get some food.”

After getting our shoes, we left and headed back toward Folly. “That was fun,” I said, smiling.

“See? And you almost chickened out.”

“My stomach was hurting!” I insisted. “If anyone ever asks, that’s the story I’m going with.”

Xander frowned, and my words suddenly hit me. No one would ever ask, and I could never tell anyone. What happened here was supposed to stay here.

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. “Not that anyone—”

“Hey, look. Gelato,” Xander said, pointing up ahead. I didn’t blame him for cutting me off and changing the subject. I was stumbling over the big-ass foot in my mouth.

The gelato cart on the corner offered a variety of options. Xander chose pistachio, and I ordered the chocolate covered cherry. Tables and chairs were set up along the sidewalk, across from a jazz band and dancers in sparkly clothing.

“Do you notice how the temperature here is perfect?” I said, sitting down. “Not too hot or cold.”

“Everything is a little too perfect.” He sat beside me, scooping a giant bite of gelato into his mouth. “The whole island is an escape from reality.”

How could I forget? Soon we would have to get back to our own.

“Sometimes, I feel like Arcadia is an escape from mine,” I admitted, thinking of home.

“What do you mean?”

“My dad. Riley. What I did. We can’t exactly move forward if we don’t all face each other.” Images of that night flashed through my mind. “It’s almost like…like we’re frozen in that moment. I’d rather just hash it out.”

He shook his head, as if that was the worst idea. “Trust me, you don’t want to see your sister right now. Tension would build, the need to destroy one another strengthened by close proximity. Better she stays in the human world, and you in this one.”

I touched my wrist at the spot where the bracelet used to be and sighed. “I guess so.”

“Were you guys close?” Xander asked.

“When we were young.”

As teenagers, it felt like Riley tried to outshine my every move, and she always succeeded. But I remember a lot of happy days as kids, just playing and laughing, without being weighed down with the burden of growing up.

“I’ve always looked up to her,” I said, thinking back on our relationship. “And I’ve always admired her, even during the times I hated her most. If that makes any sense.” I smiled, but it physically hurt inside. It hurt because Riley was someone I loved so unconditionally, and I was pretty sure she had never felt that way.

Xander watched me, reading between the lines. “Ione and I went through a lot of shit with my dad, but it only made us closer. I can’t imagine not having her.”

He was giving me a private glimpse of his childhood. “You should know, she explained about your dad.”

He nodded. “I figured she would.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I said, licking my spoon. “When you were under the ollodipher, I mean.”

He shrugged. “It’s not something I want anyone knowing.”

I absently watched a pair of street dancers. “You have nothing to be ashamed of—you’re not the monster in your family.” When I looked over at him, Xander was staring at me more intensely than before. “What?”

“Neither are you, Sheridan.”

“I know that.”

Or at least, I tried to believe it.

He set down his gelato cup and stood. “Come on,” he said, holding out his hand. “Let’s dance.”

Once again, I stared at him like he was crazy.

“What happens on Twilight Island stays on Twilight Island,” he reminded me, grabbing me by the wrist. With one swift tug, he had me upright.

I set my cup down on the table, looking around nervously. Only the performers were dancing. But Xander didn’t care. He led me out to the middle of the street and swung me around so fast it made my head spin.

Whoa.

Dude had some moves.

A guy playing a trumpet tipped his head, circling around us as we danced, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It all felt silly. Suddenly, I didn’t care who was around. I let loose and enjoyed the dance.

This was exactly what we needed. To fall from bubbles, fill up on ice cream, and dance as if no one was watching.

Part of me wished it could last forever.

30

The next morning, I woke to the smell of brewing coffee. Blinking through the fog of sleep, I stretched and went to leave the bedroom but stopped at the sound of Ione and Xander arguing. They were trying to be quiet about it, but I knew anger when I heard it, and Ione sounded angry. “Screw you and your secrets, Xander!”

“Keep it down, Ione.” he whispered back.

I let my fingers drift away from the doorknob. Listening would be an invasion of privacy. I should just stay in the bedroom—

“Just admit it. You’re toying with Sheridan.”

Hearing my name, I stiffened. Now I was curious. Quietly, I slipped through the door into