I nodded, pushing aside my fears for the moment. I quickly dressed, fulling on a simple tunic and pants, then smoothing my hair with trembling fingers. With one last kiss, I hurried from our rooms, making my way to the apartment where my mother had been
stayding.
My heart pounded as I knocked on her dour.
The door swing open, and there she stood–my mother, whole and unharmed, Relief crashed through me in a wave that left me weak–kneed.
“Mom,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.
She pulled
me into her arms without hesitation, her embrace as fambiar and comforting as always. “My sweet girl.”
“I’m so sorry for everything, for being a complete bitch. I shouldn’t have judged you. Alaric was a monster, of course you wanted revenge on him. The words tumbled out in a rush of remorse.
“Shash,” she interrupted, drawing me into the apartment and closing the door. “You have nothing to apologize for; I, on the other hand, have some making up to do.”
1 clung to her, breathing in the scent that had meant safety and home for as long as I could remember. I have missed you,”
“I missed you too.” She pulled back to study my face, her eyes warm with affection.
“I heard about what happened to you,” she said, concern evident in her voice.
“He didn’t hurt me,” I assured her quickly,
“I heard that too. Her face showed relief. That veil–wearing witch actually kept her word.”
Ophelia. The pieces clicked together suddenly. “Would you mind explaining why Ophelia‘ went out of her way to help me, all because of you?”
My mother sighed, guiding me to sit beside her on the sofa. “It took the hard–headed woman so long to agree to it, and I am glad
she did.”
“Sa… you are friends with her? The idea seemed impossible given all I knew about both women.
“I had known her for some time; friends wouldn’t be the right words, but something like that”
Realization dawned. “She had been the person who helped you, the e you didn’t want to talk about.”
My mother smiled, a hint of her old spirit shining through. “Smart gl. Yes, she was. Ophelia hates the man’s guts, maybe even more
than I do.”
“Of course, he had hurt her too…” I began, thinking of the scars that marked Ophelia’s once beautiful face.
“No, the physical suffering he had put her through is not the only reason, she hates him for putting a distance between her and her son, though that is only one of the many reasons.”
d this new information, fitting it into the complex puzzle of relationships that seemed to define this pack.
oh Tabsorbed t
My mother studied me for a moment, her expression turning curious. “How is Kaius doing?” she asked, surprising me interest
with her
“Why are you interested?
She looked away, a hint of color touching her cheeks. “What he did carlier–sparing my life and then he came to your rescue ton–1 had never expected he could do such things; I always believed the man was like his father, but maybe I was….. wrong”
Hope bloomed in
in my chest, “So you are what? Okay with him now?”
“Well, for the time span before we leave this place, I am,” she said, the qualifier cooling my enthusiasm.
“Yes, you are right, I agreed automatically, though the words felt hollow.
Leave. Of course we would leave. That had been the plan all along–fill the contract, get our payment, and start a new life for from Ravenhollow and its complications. Six months had seemed so long when I’d signed that contract. Now, with more than half that time already passed, I found myself dreading its end.
Because leaving would mean losing Kaius. Losing Frost. Losing this place that, despite everything, had begun to feel like home.
by heart had become divided, split between two
But how could I tell my mother that I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave anymore? That my men and anchored in a place she had every reason to hate?
Chapter Comments
LIKE
