Whatever they do to her…not whatever was done.
More tears fell freely with the realization, and I turned to look at Isis through my swaying vision. “Not if they find a way to block her powers too.”
“They can’t do that. She’s anAncient, remember? Countess Dariah was only a child when her father used her blood to turn Anastasia so she could help him raise her and protect her. Your mother is far more resilient than all of us. She’ll be fine.”
My gaze went to Queen Luna, who offered me a reassuring smile, but a thorn of fear had already pierced my heart…
Blue flames flared to life in my mind’s eye, pulling me back into the disturbing memories. Horror instantly gripped my being while I watched my fire burn through everyone who tried to help me—including the men I loved.
Yes, I’d already witnessed that through my Vampir Mother’s mind, but the sobs still lodged in my throat because now they weren’t just images from someone else’s mind anymore. They were my memories, vivid, and real, and they were burdened with the agony I felt that night.
It all coursed through me, destroying me.
Just like Natasha in the memory, I lifted my hand to my mouth, trying to contain the sobs ripping through me. I failed. Natasha’s hurt, Starlight’s, and mine burst free once and for all, making my chest shake with each sob. I watched the memories unfold until we collapsed on our knees on the beach—the helicopters taking our parents away.
“Mom!”
Ourscream echoed in the night as we lost the parents we had only just found.
Pulling me into her arms like she’d done so many times, Isis held me tightly, and I stopped fighting it because I could barelybreathe. I hugged her back, feeling Queen Luna embrace us too. She gently kissed my head, her hand caressing my back while my cries echoed through the room, finally released.
All I felt was weakening loss and agony ripping through me, just like they had promised, but I wasn’t certain I was strong enough to fight my way to the other side of this anymore.
The sound of the door opening reached me, and Isis and the queen’s hold loosened. Strong arms took hold of me instead, and I fell into them, feeling them lift me into their safe embrace.
Hannes’s delicious scent drifted into my nose when he cradled me against his broad chest. I clung to him, hiding my face in his neck while my tears rolled down his skin.
Turning around, he carried me out of the room while André and Dante silently followed.
25
Everything was dark when my eyes opened again, the skin puffy and sensitive from the tears shed.
Luna and Isis had been right, repressed emotions would kick your sorry ass if you didn’t deal with them.
At some point in the night, I had stopped crying long enough to talk to the guys about everything that happened. Then the three of them talked me into taking a nap, which turned into me passing out. I was truly exhausted after reliving that night.
Pitiful, but it was already done, so, whatever.
I discovered quickly that I was sprawled all over Hannes’s body, literally laying on top of him as if he were my mattress. He still held me close. I also realized I was no longer wearing my regular clothes. Instead, a dainty, silk Cami top and shorts set covered my body, letting the intense shifter heat of Hannes’s chest andotherparts of him seep into my skin.
His hold was both protective and yet so gentle.
It only took me turning my face away from his neck to find that Dante and André were asleep at either side of us, their arms resting over my waist and back while they, too, held me gently.
Someone was snoring but that only made me smile.
Starlight’s stirring in my chest brought my attention inward.
“That was really hard… Are we stronger yet?”she asked softly, but I didn’t know how to answer.
I didn’t even know who I was right now. I just felt likeme.
Trying to move as gently as possible, I lifted myself off Hannes, removing André’s and Dante’s arms from my body so I could leave the bed without them waking. Letting my wings gently lift me into the air, so I wouldn’t have to crawl over them, I took myself to the bathroom, my feet landing softly on the cool tile.
The door closed with a soft click, and I silently cursed, expecting the guys to come check on me. When nothing happened, I breathed in relief, but only for a moment.
Was I back to being Natasha? If all she’d needed was to face what happened and let herself process the pain, did it mean she didn’t needmeanymore?
