I grip the edge of the table. “I’m aware I’m skating a thin fucking line here,” I admit. “With Lev being her father. With not telling him what happened to her. It’s a mess.”
Declan’s stare doesn’t waver.
“But it’s my responsibility,” I say, and my voice turns deadly calm. “And so is Lilys safety.”
Declan knocks back the rest of his drink and immediately pours us both another, like alcohol might make this easier to digest.
Then he says, quiet but pointed, “You know Lily is Hallie’s best friend?”
“Are you serious?” I mutter. “After what I just told you, you think I don’t know?”
Declan barks out a laugh. “Yeah. Okay,” he says, shaking his head. “I mean… You want me to withhold this information from Conan?”
I grin. I find it amusing how easily accepting he is. How fucked up this life is.
“Because that loud mouth will tell his wife,” Declan continues, “who, will tell Lily.”
“I’d appreciate you not letting this information leave this room,” I say.
Declan watches me for a long moment. Then he nods once. “Fine,” he says. “Do what you need to do.”
Then his tone shifts, and he leans in closer.
“But maybe consider just telling Lily and Lev the truth. Especially if we’re extracting him and he’s moving to Decadence. I could do without a family feud with everything else we’ve got going on.”
“If I need to,” I say slowly, “I will.”
And it would have to be life or fucking death for me to come clean about this. Because I’m too far in now for the truth not to destroy something.
I’ve only told Declan this much because I need those feeds installed. Because I need eyes on her, even when I’m not there.
Apparently, to keep Lily safe…
I’ll cross whatever lines I need to. Except the one where I reveal myself to her. Where I allow her to know me. Where I let her look at me and understand the truth.
Because the moment she knows I exist…
I won’t survive it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lily
Song - Shapeshift, Dayseeker
“I’m coming!” I shout out of the window.
Jesus Christ. Declan didn’t warn me they’d be here at the crack of fucking dawn. I haven’t even had caffeine yet.
I jog down the stairs and stop short at the door, glancing down at my pink shorts and white crop top. Barely decent.
Covering my chest with one arm, I crack the door open.
Holy fucking shit.
I have to crane my neck back to meet his blue eyes.
“Uh. Hi.” I blurt out.
