Chapter 99: Twisted Ears, Twisted Truths
Nolan’s ears burned a vivid red as he dragged the mop across the shop’s wooden floors, the rhythmic swish-swish doing nothing to soothe his irritation.
Every so often, he shot a glare at the two figures observing him from behind the shelves—his brother, disguised in his human form, and the insufferable blue bird, Kai, perched smugly on his shoulder. That damn bird was clearly enjoying his suffering.
Damn, it still hurts the same, Nolan grumbled inwardly, resisting the urge to rub his throbbing ears.
His brother had twisted them. Twisted! Like he was still some misbehaving child instead of a grown moon elf prince (even if he had technically run away from home).
And why?
Because he’d been caught.
It seems like his brother had seen everything yesterday—how he’d used his resonance gift to slip past the shop’s wards, how he’d charmed the manager into granting him the prestigious title of "Honorary Custodian," and—most damning of all—how he’d accidentally (okay, maybe not entirely accidentally) used his gift on the twins during lunch break, making them cheerfully scrub the dining area with him like a trio of overenthusiastic maids.
It had been fun and efficient.
His brother, however, had not found it amusing.
Nolan’s grip tightened on the mop handle, his knuckles whitening as he recalled his brother’s scolding. The memory alone made his ears throb again.
"Using your gift to manipulate others for your own selfish desires?" His brother’s voice had been dangerously calm, the way it always was before a storm. "Have you truly become this arrogant, Little Moon?"