Take down the rest of Celestra? Shit.Hell no, I want to say, but he’s probably right. I need to set a precedence, one that saysdo not mock me or my crown or there will be consequences, and there will be.
“What’s this?” Dudley comes up, and the sight of him makes me yearn for days gone by when I was his charge in that math class right along with Skyla. How we thought those were miserable days, and now I see them for what they were—pure gold, an earthly ecstasy that will forever remain unmatched. That about describes every moment I’ve ever shared with Skyla. The encapsulation of our earthly cannon together as a couple.
“Well, you’ve done it.” Dudley smacks his lips with disdain. “You’ve managed to take all of the disappointment I’ve had in you and multiply it by numbers yet discovered by man.”
A dark laugh bounces in my chest. “And you didn’t think I’d amount to anything.”
“You’ve amounted to something, all right. An overgrown pile of excrement.” He sheds a momentary grin. “Now, how do you propose to detangle yourself from this nightmare?” Those boiling cauldron eyes pin me down with something outside of hatred—dare I say, an inkling of affection?
Is Marshall trying to help me on some level? A drowning rat he’s throwing out a lifeline to?
“I don’t have a single clue, Dudley.” My lips twitch, but there’s no smile brimming in me. It’s devastation. Dudley has never been cruel, or at least particularly cruel to me. More like an annoying uncle. The thought of sending him to hell in a handbasket devastates me. I can’t be around him. I can’t let his presence burrow into my psyche like a thorn I’ll never be rid of. My singular mission is to spend eternity with Skyla and the kids.
I take a step away and he catches me by the crook of my elbow.
“What has your spirit in so much disarray?” He eyeballs me with suspicion. “Why have you allowed yourself to become the puppet in somebody else’s game?”
He’s toying with me. He knows exactly why. He wants to build doubt. It’s his life or mine. I get it. I’d do that exact same thing. Hell, I am.
I slap him on the shoulder. “It’s been nice talking to you.”
I take off for the crowd and Lizbeth tackles me with a secure hug.
“I’m so proud of you, Gage.” She pulls back with watery eyes. “Things may not have worked out for you and Skyla, but you will always have a place in my heart as my son.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” I say as Nathan and Barron run up. Sage looks worse for wear as she follows them. Her clothes are disheveled, her hair sprayed out in every manner.
“They’re monsters, Father.” She does her best to slick her hair back. “They deserve to be caged and have the door bolted behind them. Send them back. I don’t want them drooling over my throne or yours.” She gives Lizbeth a curt look. “These boys are ninnies and so are you.” She stomps off and I let out an exacerbated breath.
Lizbeth waves it off as if it were no big deal just as Demetri calls her away to introduce her to the gentry.
Logan comes up and picks up Nathan for a moment, rocketing him through the air until he gets an enthusiastic squeal from him. I can’t help but scowl. Deep down, I still care for Logan, but something about having him back with Skyla makes me like him just a little bit less.
“Congratulations.” He forces a weak smile to come and go as Barron begs him for a ride and he does the same party trick. “So, what’s next? A Celestra slaughter to celebrate?”
“Most of Celestra is mine at this point.” True as God. I’ve had so many converts in the last few months I don’t even know what Skyla has left to fight for.
“Yeah, well. Just giving you the heads-up. We’re going to free the captives on Raven’s Eye.”
“Do it quick. Word on the street is they’re dying off faster than flies.”
“Not funny. How are you doing on hiding the markers? That is how you get the Nephilim to follow your wicked lead for life, right?”
“That’s my brother’s task—and beware. He is damn good at any task given to him.” I glance over to find Coop still immersed in conversation with Laken and a swell of relief fills me. That’s the one task I can’t allow him to excel at. Wes must relinquish Laken. It’s for the cause, but he won’t get it. There are some things that Wesley Edinger shouldn’t be apprised of.
“How are you doing hiding the markers?” I don’t mind punting the question right back at him. Logan squirms a moment, his eyes darting back in the crowd toward Skyla.
“It’s going.” That long slash on his face inverts for a moment. “Thank you for returning Skyla safely to me. Candace mentioned only you could have done that. Thank you for that mercy.”
“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for her. She needs to fight.”
“You’ve left her almost nothing to fight for. Why the celestial bullying act?” He leans in, suddenly all pretenses have been mopped off the table. “What’s got your new panties in a wad? You could have had Skyla. Nothing you do makes sense anymore. It’s like we never knew you.”
“Maybe you didn’t.” My heart breaks a little bit more. Any further crumbling and there will be nothing left of it. Skyla won’t have people, and I won’t have a heart. That about sums up this shit life we’re living.
“Despite what the powers-that-be tell you”—he leans in, his voice low—“you weren’t born for this. I promise you that. The old you? The happier, far more content version? That was the real deal. I’m going to get you back, Gage. I don’t know how or when, but I will.”
Skyla comes upon us, and along with her Chloe crops up, too, in that sparkling tent she’s donned.
