He nodded. “Think it over.” With that, he walked away.
She watched him go before she returned to contemplating the water. “Stay here?” Honestly, where else could she go? In her minds’ eyes, she saw Sabina.
Sighing, she shook her head.
Malcolm would kill her if she showed up without a word of warning. Unfortunately the Unseelie would remain a constant shadow, until she had overcome them once and for all sending them back.
Was it wrong for her to want to take some time off?
A small break wouldn’t be bad.
But then what if it lasted more than a few years? It would be nothing in comparison to the time she’d spent on the Nerium.
“Developing Half-Breeds so that they could survive in the real world?”
She had made a promised Fabian that she’d help him anyway.
Contemplating this she turned around only to stop short at the angry eyes of Alek. “Ah, you’re back already.”
He didn’t answer, instead he glared at her. “You’re not thinking of taking his offer, are you?”
She was startled at his sudden question.
“How long were you here listening,” she asked.
“From the moment he made his offer,” he approached her wearing a grey suit looking handsome as usual. Lanias found his anger made it hard focus on that. “You can’t take it; we have a deal.”
“A deal that said you’d protect me while I looked for a person,” she said keeping her voice calm. “I’ve found them.”
“I told you; it isn’t that simple Lanias,” he bit her name out. “There is no need for you to take his offer,” he reached out to take her hand. “You’re returning with me.”
She pulled her hand back. “Wait, Alek. Listen to me, he’s offering me a chance to learn how to use my gift. It’s a chance to learn more about opening gates and?—”
“How can he help you, when you’re a Witch? Surely there are others who can do it.” He demanded; he shook his head. “I watched you die. And there was nothing I could do to stop it. Nothing.” He nearly yelled. “And you wish for us to be apart again? No. Lanias, come.”
“I’m not—” she whispered, tightening her hands into fists at her side. She averted her gaze from his.
He paused looking down at her, something nagging at the back of his mind. But he desperately ran from it. For the first time in his life Alek ran away from facing the truth. He walkedforward and wrapped her in his arms. “Forget about it. Forget about everything. Just, please. Come with me.”
“I’m half-Surrem.”
The words slipped from her lips like poison.
“No, you’re not,” he yelled, holding both her shoulders. His expression twisted in pain. “Please, just stop,” he implored.
Those midnight eyes investigated his as the words continued to spill from her lips. He wanted to cover her mouth and make them stop but she was a realist.
“My mother was Anais, a priestess who fell in love with a Surrem. The Surrem she fell for was?—”
“No.”
“Eris.”
“Stop!”
He pushed away from her giving her his back.
“My father is the man you want dead.” She forced out.
