Elysian by Addison Moore Read Free Book Online

their newfound Countenance disorder. I glance over at them, all giggles and happy dances like they just scored the superpower lottery. Little do they know that we’re diabolically-opposed enemies. Although, once I take the helm as the overseer, I’ll change all that. I plan on having all of the factions live in harmony with one another. Once I even out the psychological playing field, I’m sure the Counts will come around and embrace Celestra.
    The windows illuminate, bright as noonday, followed by a roar of thunder so fierce it shakes the house right down to the foundation.
    Probably my mother’s way of telling me unity is just out of reach.
    I head to the breakfast bar ready to wolf down my eggs and freeze at the sight of two disheveled heads hovering over a notebook—Drake, and Emily Morgan. They both look wrecked and exhausted. I’m betting whatever happened in that bed last night had very little to do with sleeping.
    Ethan, Tad’s other irresponsible seed, belches as he strides into the room.
    That’s the Landon way of saying good morning, so I go with it.
    “So where’s your other half?” If Chloe is about to saunter out of his bedroom with her usual early morning nipple erection, I’d like to be notified before the braless transgression takes place.
    “Never showed.” He plucks out the O.J. and proceeds to drink straight from the carton. “You,” he barks at Drake while wiping his lips with the back of his hand. “I need your help down at the Gas Lab today. Bring your chick. I don’t give a shit which one. We’ve got a shipment coming in, and you need to unbox it.”
    “What are you going to do?” Drake looks miffed by this older, surprisingly less hygienic version of himself.
    “Stand around and watch. What do you think? I’m going to supervise.” He turns to me. “You can come, too. Chloe will be there, so save the drama for later.”
    “Don’t count on me. Gage is in the hospital.”
    “Suit yourself. It’s your place.”
    “The Gas Lab is not my place.” God knows I’ll be avoiding any association with the questionable establishment the ‘rents saw fit to gift the male Landon species with. It’s going to reek of dirty socks and Chloe—plus there will be an entire assortment of breast milk cheeses, enough said.
    “They used your inheritance to fund the operation.” He gives a greasy smile, and I turn to Mom to deny this bullshit. A: I have no inheritance, and B: Mom would sooner sell Beau to the gypsies than secretly fund a bankruptcy in the making with my non-existent funds.
    “Now, Skyla—don’t freak out or anything,” Mom commands from over her bare breast. “We didn’t qualify for a loan, and Tad didn’t think we should borrow from friends .” She shoots him a beady-eyed stare. I know damn well the monster she’s classifying as a friend happens to be Demetri, the Fem who gave my father a firm shove into the afterlife by way of fire. How she can consider him a friend after what he did is beyond me. I think Lizbeth Landon takes “forgive and forget” a little too damn seriously.
    Her eyes round out as if Ethan just spewed the entire gospel.  
    Shit.
    My father left me money, and my mother handed it over to a couple of morons to burn as fuel to heat their coffee with.
    “I’m not going to freak out.” I take an even breath. “I’m simply going to sue you until you return every red penny.” My lips cinch up with the scent of litigation still fresh in the air. I drop my plate in the sink and get the hell out of the room.
    Emma and Barron hate me, Ellis is still in pieces, and I’ve just threatened to sue my own mother for an undisclosed amount of money. 
    Something tells me this is just the preface to a very long, drawn out, complicated-as-hell senior year.
    Only one thing can get this day—this year —back on track.
    And that’s Gage and his beautiful, beautiful smile.
     
     

 
5
Dimples and Dreams
    The streets of Paragon have been swept clean from the