Words I never thought I’d say.
“If you’re sure,” Liam said.
“I am.” I glanced at the balcony. “Besides, I think Ahrun and I need to have a little chat.”
Conflict appeared on Liam’s face before he nodded. “Be careful.”
“Why? You think he’ll hurt me?”
The question was more playful than serious.
“Maybe not physically, but he can be difficult when he’s upset.”
“I understand,” I said.
Liam’s gaze searched mine. Finding only calm assurance, he nodded once. “I’ll leave it to you then.”
Nathan didn’t move from his position on the wall as Liam entered the room he’d just exited. “Give him your unique brand of hell, A.”
I moved toward the patio doors. “I always planned to.”
The cool night air embraced me as I stepped outside. I spotted Ahrun standing beside the balcony, looking out, his back to me.
“You’ve ruined him,” he said as I joined him.
“That’s harsh, don’t you think? Especially since we both know it’s not true.”
From up here, the Vegas skyline was breathtaking. Its iconic sights a glittering extravaganza that was unmarred by teeming throngs of tourists.
“What’s this really about?” I asked.
“You give me a lot of credit, dear one.” Ahrun’s features relaxed, the anger that had greeted my arrival smoothing away like it had never existed.
“I may be a little wary of you, Ahrun, but there’s one thing I’ve never questioned—how you feel about your sons.”
He might not always show it in the best way, but it was clear how deep his feelings for them ran. If he’d only stop treating them and the people around them like chess pieces in a game.
“Easier said than done,” Ahrun sighed.
“If you don’t figure it out, you’re going to drive them away.”
I didn’t want to see that. Mostly because I had a feeling the fall out wouldn’t be pleasant. Vampires weren’t accustomed to disappointment and heartache as a general rule. Ancients even less so. I doubted Ahrun would take it well if Liam and Thomas withdrew from him.
“You have quite the opinion of me,” Ahrun drawled.
“I call it like I see it.”
It felt strange to be giving someone like Ahrun relationship advice. I guess age didn’t always make you better at these things. If anything, it seemed to be more of a hindrance than a benefit. The outdated lenses through which you viewed the world leading you to make the same mistakes over and over again.
“Our relationship isn’t what it was.”
There was a lonely ache in Ahrun’s voice as he admitted that.
“Of course not.” I examined his features carefully, trying to decide whether this was a ruse to manipulate me into feeling sympathy for him. “It’s never going to be. Liam and Thomas have grown in the time since you took your long nap. Any relationship you foster will be different now.”
We could never go back. It was a truth humans and spooks shared. Time always flowed forward.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Although their relationship might not be the same, it didn’t mean the new one they created couldn’t be just as beautiful and deep.
