Leela put on an expression of contrived innocence. “I’m sure I have no idea what any of you are talking about.” She shot a look at Stas, then disappeared into a flurry of purple once more.
“What did you see?” Luc demanded. “Are you talking about the night of the wedding reception?”
Uh, oops. She hadn’t meant to step into a situation she knew little about.
“Um, yeah, she was there that night and took a few bullets that were meant for B. At least, I think that’s what I saw. But everything happened in a blur, so I could be wrong.” She wasn’t wrong. She knew what she’d seen that night. It had distracted her so entirely that it’d caused her own death in the process. Which had led to being buried alive, and yeah, that had sucked.
She cleared her throat. “So, how’s Lizzie?” Her best friend was very pregnant, despite having conceived in October. And it was only January, or was it February now? Stas had lost track of the time, what with dying and coming back to life and then saving her father from an insane, millennia-old immortal, and everything else that had happened in between those events.
Her head spun from the events that had occurred since Christmas. Learning her best friend wasn’t exactly human and likely about to give birth to a Seraphim was just the icing on the cake.
“Can I see her?” she asked when no one responded.
“That depends. How do you feel about hormonal women?” Alik considered her while he spoke. “Never mind. You’ll be fine.” He turned on the beach, walking away from the homes and toward a more remote area. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be patrolling.”
“I’ll take you to see Lizzie,” Luc offered, his voice soft. “If you tell me exactly what you saw that night.”
Yeah, he wasn’t going to drop that anytime soon. Primarily because he was all-knowing and the Hydraian King. He needed to understand what had happened to better process the situation. “Can I detail it along the way?”
“Yes,” he agreed, gesturing toward the path behind them rather than to the trail Alik had created with his sneakers. “Then you can tell me the plan my brother disapproves of. Perhaps I can be of assistance.”
Stas hadn’t mentioned that Issac disapproved of her idea, but she wasn’t surprised that Luc had inferred as much from her “your brother is being stubborn” comment. It also didn’t shock her that Luc might want to help. He tended to be the voice of reason. Which was why she obliged him with the details he craved as they walked, leaving nothing out, including her seeing Aidan fall.
It hurt to discuss that night. Yet it also provided her with a therapy of sorts. Jonathan had taken so much from them. He was dead now, yet his legacy hung over their heads in an ominous cloud, one she very much wanted to dismantle. And with every word, she could feel that presence weakening.
It was fascinatingly cathartic.
She only hoped Luc felt the same because if anyone needed to release some of his anger over the events, it was him.
Unfortunately, something told her it wouldn’t be that easy for him. He’d lost so much that night. Rather than grieve, he bore the brunt of those events and carried all of it on his shoulders. Because he had to be strong for his people, which didn’t allow him to break.
How lonely he must feel, she realized, her heart aching for him. Alas, she knew better than to breathe a word of it. He couldn’t afford for anyone to see through his show of strength. So, instead, she confided in his wisdom, providing him with the power he needed to thrive.
We’re on our way there, Aya, Issac informed her just as she reached Jayson’s house. See you in a few seconds, love.
Astasiya’s best friend was very pregnant. Sethios had met the woman once before under less-than-comfortable circumstances. He’d helped her escape his father’s captivity by compelling her to run.
While his actions probably appeared gallant to her, they weren’t meant for her. Sethios had merely wanted to infuriate his father.
The bastard had persuaded Sethios to sew his mouth shut as a punishment for his lack of obedience—something he hadn’t understood at that time but realized now was a residual for his dalliance with Caro. To get the old man back, Sethios had encouraged the curvy redhead to flee.
Then his father had paid him back by forcing his hair to grow.