He forced a slight nod in response.
A gut-wrenching sob left her as she slid her arms around his neck and pulled him in close. He let go of my hand, and warmth took over as it healed.
Fuck, that hurt.
She held him, sobbing into his neck, and Laurence stepped forward to place one hand on his wife’s back and the other on his son’s. It was one of the most heartfelt moments I’d ever seen, and Thaddeus was more than deserving of it.
Baron stood back as he watched them. Thaddeus was as still as a statue, but his parents didn’t seem to mind one bit, and they definitely didn’t seem to be angry with him like he’d thought they’d be.
I rolled my bottom lip in my mouth and stepped over toward Baron before bending down to his level. “Hi. I’m Lilith.” I stuck my hand out.
He stared me up and down before placing a hesitant hand in mine and shaking it. “Baron. You’re the lady who made it possible for us to see Thad.”
Thad?
My lips curved upward at the nickname. “I am.”
“How do you know my brother?”
“I’m…” My cheeks warmed. “I’m in love with your brother.”
“Ew, like you’re married? But isn’t Thad likewayolder than you?”
I chuckled. “I’m actually a lot older than him.”
His little nose crinkled, and he yanked his hand back. “No way!”
Prudence and Laurence pulled back to give Thaddeus space, and Baron straightened up. “Brother?” His child-like voice was filled to the brim with love, and I poured reassurance into my gaze as I stared at Thaddeus.
It was clear to me that none of them blamed him the way he blamed himself. I was sure the reaper assigned to collect their souls explained the full situation of what happened to them as they went to Heaven. Reapers had a tough job, but they did it well. They always explained why the human had died and did their best to make a soul come to terms with death so they could pass over.
He swallowed hard, and he shifted his gaze to Baron. “I’m so sorry.” Thaddeus’s entire demeanor broke. Tears poured from his eyes and down his cheeks. His chin quivered as he buried his face in his hands with a gurgled cry.
Baron didn’t hesitate. He rushed over and wrapped himself around Thaddeus’s waist. “Don’t be sorry, Thad. We know.”
Thaddeus sank to his knees and pulled Baron into an embrace. “I’ll never forgive myself for what I did.”
“Don’t.” Laurence placed a firm grasp on Thaddeus’s shoulder. “If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I provoked a bloody monster, and he came after you.”
“ButIwas the one.” Thaddeus sucked in a sharp breath. “I was the one that killed you all.”
“Not by your choice,” Prudence told him and poked a finger to his head. “You weren’t up here.”
Another sob wracked through him as Baron pulled away to look up at him. “We never blamed you. We were sorry for you. You were hurt too.”
A heart-breaking cry rippled through Thaddeus, but I could see the pain and self-hatred chipping away. He could hate me all he wanted for springing this on him, but he needed this whether he thought he was ready or not. It was time for him to get closure, and start living without the crippling guilt weighing him down.
“How could you not blame me?” He sniffed. “I’m a monster just likehewas. I’m a vampire.”
“We know,” Laurence said, squeezing his shoulder. “We don’t care about what you are. We only care about you.”
“About me?”
“You’ve been holding onto this for so long,” Prudence said in a soft voice. “It’s not fair.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” I wiped a stray tear off my cheek. I didn’t realize I’d been crying.
She turned toward me with a smile. “You’re Lilith, right?”
