She shakes her head with tears in her eyes. “I will never forgive myself for being so selfish as to disrupt you on this precious night.”
“Laken, you’re my friend. You can never disrupt me. What is it?” My breathing picks up as I see the fear pulsating in her eyes.
“Charlie’s test results came back.” Her lips quiver with each word. “Wesley’s not the father. He lied. Wesley must have had Ezrina lie, too.”
It feels as if the room sways hard. I can hardly believe that my dear sweet friend finally knows the horrible truth.
“Oh, Laken.” I try my hardest to catch my breath. I’m both frightened and exhilarated at the very same time. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this. But for so long I’ve wanted you to know that truth. I’ve wanted you back fully, restored to who you were before the feds took you away. You might love Wesley and he might very well be the soulmate you bonded with as a child, but he’s not the same person—just like Gage isn’t anymore either. Cooper is the one that you chose all those years ago at Ephemeral. He’s the one that you placed over your heart like a seal. Charlie is his, and he deserves to know.” My shoulders hike up a notch. “Although, I think in his heart, he already does—and we both know Wesley does, too.”
She closes her eyes as tears rain from her. “I was the only one in the dark, wasn’t I?” She swallows hard. “Skyla, what am I going to do?”
“Nothing tonight.” My God, I’m about to rock Wesley’s world in a whole other way, and he won’t be aware of it until morning. He couldn’t handle being blindsided by Celestra and Laken in a single day. He’d lash out. He’d be far more dangerous than he’s ever been before. “Promise me you’ll wait a few days. I want to be there with you. I want Coop to be there, too.”
She shakes her head. “No, Skyla. You rest with your baby. Bond with this sweet little boy. I’m going to take care of this. But before I come out with it, I need to formulate a plan. There’s little Wesley now to think about. I need to search my heart as to whether this is a forgivable offense. I need to think about the reasons I was told I left him to begin with and see if I still feel the same.” She sighs hard. “Wesley lied because he was desperate to keep me. He didn’t trust our love enough to survive. That’s what hurts the most.” She lands a kiss on my cheek. “Rest up, Skyla. I’m so very happy for you and Logan.” And with that, she darts right back out the door.
Charlie Grace Edinger is Cooper Flanders’ daughter. It’s finally official, and Wesley Edinger is about to eat his sins and rue the day he ever thought it was best to try to steal her.
Logan comes back into the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
He takes off his shoes and crawls into bed with Jaxson and me.
“It’s done. I made the calls. Everything is in motion.”
“It’s happening.”
He nods. “What was that about?” He hitches his head to the door. “Can I ask?”
“She knows. Charlie is Cooper’s daughter.”
Logan’s eyes widen a notch because he, too, understands the ramification as far as Wesley is concerned.
“I almost feel sorry for the guy,” he says.
“Don’t.”
We gaze down at our sweet bundle of joy, the exact representation of our love.
“I am so far gone in love with him.” Logan brushes his finger along the baby’s tiny ear. “May the world fall at your feet, my son.”
“Yes,” I whisper. “All hail the king.”
26
Gage
November shows up on the heels of a chaotic night, sullen and gray like the calm before the storm.
Something is afoot. Something dangerous is blowing in this direction, a wave ready to capsize this precariously small boat I’ve launched myself in. Something powerful, with muscles and sharp teeth, a rabid dog, so very hungry just waiting to devour.
I’ve always had an intuition about things. I could predict the future. I had a very acute sense of knowing. All those years I had the capabilities of a Levatio I believed that was the reason. But now I know I have always been more than that—and not in a good way. I realize my gift of knowing is simply a part of who I am. A monster.
My phone buzzes softly over the small table here in the butterfly room, and I pick it up and flip it over. It’s a text from Logan.
It’s a boy! Jaxson Logan Oliver.
There’s a picture underneath, and I enlarge it to find a precious sleeping angel, blond hair, perfect tiny features, full cheeks, tiny ruby red lips. He’s bundled tight in a white blanket and lying over a plain white sheet.
Tears come to my eyes, and I don’t blink them away. Instead, I text back and offer Logan and Skyla my congratulations, tell them they chose the right name, and that his brothers will love him fiercely.
