“I’m not so sure,” Rafe said hoarsely. “I know Wayra rebranded himself as the Crusader after the massacre. He’s done well to remove his name from most records. I’d looked for information on him after that class, but I couldn’t find anything.”
“So mom was involved with this guy who’s a cult leader now. Big deal,” Skye whispered.
“Skye, come here, please,” Zephyr said, sounding even more exhausted.
Skye slipped away from Aiden, putting her hand in Zephyr’s. He jerked her toward us, making her tumble onto the bed between us. Zephyr pulled her close, then nodded at me. Somehow, I knew what he wanted me to say.
“You’ve seen the Crusader,” I repeated slowly.
“Yeah?” Skye whispered.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks, now, and all my excitement at her earlier attention was gone. It was breaking my fucking heart that I had to be the one to tell her.
Aiden moved to the edge of the cot, looking like he wanted to jump on next to Zephyr and Skye, while Rafe stood near the door. Shadows snaked around the concrete floor as if they were trying to search out a threat, clearly reacting to Rafe and Skye’s distress.
“The two of you have some…similarities.” I continued, my mouth dry.
Skye whimpered, turning into Zephyr’s chest and finally sobbing.
Zephyr stared at the ceiling.
“You knew?!” Skye cried, gripping Zephyr’s shirt in her hands.
Zephyr shook his head. “No. I didn’t know. Not until you saw him in the islands. And then when I caught Rafe and Wyatt trying to speak to Levi privately…I don’t know. Something clicked for me.”
Skye continued to weep onto Zephyr, who only stared at the ceiling while Aiden looked on, and Rafe paced back and forth.
“Darling,” Rafe said, finally. Skye turned to look at him. “I–I need you.”
Skye pulled herself up, and Zephyr pushed her lower back to steady her as she climbed off the cot and then fell into Rafe’s arms. Shadows wrapped around the two of them, obscuring them from view while Rafe spoke to her quietly.
Zephyr blew out a heavy breath as he leaned back on the cot, then tilted his head so it rested against Aiden’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Zeph. This shit sucks.” Aiden said softly.
“Yeah, it does.” Zephyr said quietly. “More questions than answers, unfortunately.”
“I think it’s time to have a talk with Levi,” I said gently. “A real talk.”
“Good luck,” Zephyr scoffed. “He hasn’t spoken a word since the day y’all questioned him.”
Chapter 45
Aiden
The penthouse wasdead silent when we got back.
Skye looked like she’d seen a ghost, her eyes faraway and her gaze looking through me any time I tried to get her attention. Rafe was exhausted, but Wyatt looked like he was ready to keel over.
“I’m…uh,” Skye blinked several times.
“Going to bed?” I finished for her.
She gave me a quick grin, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She walked down the hallway in a daze, and I anxiously debated whether or not I should follow.
“I’ll go,” Rafe said, looking back and forth between me and Wyatt. “You two should…yeah.”
I snorted.
