The words hit like a slap, but I kept my expression neutral. “I’m telling you, the world is full of things you don’t understand,” I said quietly. “And I’m one of the people who keep it from falling apart.”
He didn’t respond, just stared at me, his knuckles white as he gripped his damaged arm. I had no idea what he wasthinking, but one thing was clear—his world had just been turned upside down, and there was no going back.
I glanced down and saw the blood dripping steadily from Liam’s arm, forming small, dark pools on the floor. My stomach twisted, but I kept my voice calm. “Liam, you’re bleeding. I’ve already texted Salima to come over. She and Eve are on their way.”
He didn’t say anything. He just stared at me with that same haunted look he’d been wearing since this whole mess started. I couldn’t tell if he even noticed the blood or if the shock of everything else had completely numbed him.
“And,” I added, my voice dropping lower as I forced myself to say the words, “I asked Eve to bring one of her special potions.”
The air in the room shifted immediately, heavy with tension. Salima’s healing potion would help his arm, but the memory potion—that was the choice weighing on me, the one I knew would get pushback as soon as the words left my mouth. Both Cal and Carnell snapped their gazes to me, their reactions instant and severe.
Cal’s stony expression tightened, his jaw clenching with a slight twitch. Carnell, on the other hand, didn’t bother hiding his disapproval. His sharp, knowing gaze bore into me, practically shouting what he thought of my decision without him having to say a word.
I avoided their looks, focusing instead on Liam, who hadn’t moved from his seat. He looked tired, overwhelmed, and so much younger than his years. He was bleeding, physically and emotionally, and I couldn’t let this world crush him. Not again.
“This is my call,” I said firmly, though I didn’t turn to face Carnell or Cal.
Carnell made a soft sound—half sigh, half growl—but said nothing. Cal shifted slightly as he exchanged a glancewith Carnell. Their disagreement was written all over their faces, but I didn’t care. This was my son, my choice.
I crouched next to Liam, keeping my voice soft. “They’ll be here soon,” I said, gently pulling a clean towel from the counter and wrapping it around his arm to slow the bleeding. “We’ll get you patched up. I promise.”
He didn’t meet my gaze, but nodded slightly. It was enough for now.
I straightened, my resolve hardening. Let Carnell and Cal judge me all they wanted. I wasn’t about to let the shadows of mine consume Liam’s life.
Salima and Eve arrived quickly, stepping into the apartment with a sense of purpose. Salima’s sharp gaze immediately found Liam, and without a word, she moved toward him, her long coat brushing the floor as she knelt beside his chair.
“Let me take care of this for you, honey,” she said softly, her voice warm and maternal in a way that always caught me off guard.
Liam hesitated for a moment, glancing at me, but I just nodded. He turned back to Salima and finally gave a small nod of his own, letting her touch his injured arm.
Salima placed her hand gently over the wound, her eyes closing as a soft glow began to emanate from her fingertips. It wasn’t flashy—just a dim shimmer of light—but it was enough to make Liam’s eyes widen in awe. The torn skin knit itself back together in seconds, leaving nothing but smooth, unblemished flesh.
“That’s… incredible,” Liam said, his voice low and filled with wonder. He flexed his arm experimentally, then grinned. “I could’ve used that after I fought that biker last month.”
My stomach dropped. Fought a biker?
Shock rippled through me, but I stayed quiet as mythoughts raced. Why the hell hadn’t Max told me Liam had been hurt? How bad had it been? And why hadn’t Liam told me himself?
But as I looked at him now, sitting there with that easy grin, my frustration hit a wall of realization. My son wasn’t a boy anymore. He was a man—a capable, grown man who made his own choices. I wasn’t ready to treat him as one, even though he clearly expected me to.
Salima patted his arm, her smile soft. “Glad I could help. But maybe avoid fighting bikers next time, hmm?”
Liam chuckled, and even Eve cracked a small smile as she leaned against the counter, watching the exchange.
Eve pulled a small glass vial from her coat pocket, holding it up to the light. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, catching Liam’s attention immediately. “This will strengthen you a bit,” she said, her voice smooth and calm.
It was true—just not in the way Liam would assume.
Liam eyed the vial with curiosity, then reached for it, his fingers brushing against hers as she handed it over. “Strengthen me how?” he asked, turning it over in his hands.
Eve smiled, her expression unreadable. “It’ll help you recover from all… this,” she said vaguely, gesturing to the room and the tension still hanging in the air. “Trust me.”
Liam hesitated only for a moment before unscrewing the cap and tilting the vial to his lips. He drank the potion in one quick motion, grimacing slightly at the taste. “Ugh,” he muttered, setting the empty vial on the table. “Could use some sugar or something.”
Eve smirked, leaning back against the counter. “It’s not meant to be gourmet.”
Liam wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and turned to me, his curiosity bubbling over. “Okay,” he said, his voice steady. “So, what now? I mean, I get that the world’s full of… things. Witches, shifters, demons. But how does it all work? How do mundanes not know about any of this?”
