I freeze, my eyes widening as I frantically shake my head, but it’s obvious he sees right through me.
“No!” I yelp for good measure, and although he nods, it’s not in acknowledgement of my words. He’s letting what I’mnotsaying tell the truth I can’t bring myself to acknowledge.
“Has your brother ever hurt you?” he asks, and I shake my head, causing a tear to fall down my cheek. I’m not fast enough to swipe it away and my father’s gaze lingers on the trail it leaves behind. “Go to your mother, let her fix it. Tell her I’m dealing with Jude.”
“No, Dad. No!” I screech, peering over his shoulder, spying my brother’s shadow in the open doorway. “I’m fine,I’m okay.” Sobs wrack my chest despite my protests, and my father’s eyebrows pinch.
My gaze darts between my father and the shadow, and he spots the movement, understanding quickly washing over his face. He stands, rising to his full height as he plants a hand on my good shoulder. I expect him to leave, but instead, he tugs at my arm, revealing the truth, and I scream.
Bite marks line every inch of my flesh, blood dancing across my skin, but it’s not the pain that scares me; it’s the horror in my father’s eyes.
A shiver runs down my spine, shaking me from my thoughts and returning me to the present with my hand still lifted awkwardly in the air. Desperate to put as much between me and my mind as I can, I pound my fist against the door.
It takes a few moments, but the latch clicks and Ocean appears before me, confusion written across her face as she blinks at me expectantly.
“I have a solution,” I grunt, pointing over my shoulder, and her eyebrows rise in surprise before she nods slowly.
Without question, she follows me out into the hallway, locking the door behind her as she goes.
Silence still lingers as I lead the way, waving her into our room before closing the door and turning to make sure everyone is present.
As Ocean peers around the lounge, Elodie steps out of my room in one of my t-shirts, which hangs to mid-thigh. My cock stirs, but irritation quickly coils through my bones when Rion steps out beside her, wearing the same shorts and t-shirt he had on earlier.
All I actually see is the smug grin on his face, and it’s more than I can handle.
I track his every move with narrowed eyes as he takes a seat on the opposite end of the sofa to Thorne, swiftly pulling Elodie into his lap.
Fucker.
Ocean perches herself on the arm of the sofa on the other side of Thorne.
I grunt, irritated that Elodie is closer to Rion than me right now, but my desire to interject and pull her away from him is halted by the uncertainty that I feel still wavers between us.
I don't know where we stand.
The moment Ocean used her magic to break down what my brother had been exposing me to was quickly outweighed by more drama, more trauma, and more strife before I could see where we were.
I should have taken that moment with her, that night in my room when she crawled into my lap. Iwas a fool. I thought I was doing the right thing. Now here I am, as clueless as ever.
It’s not hard to understand that my brother placed me in The Sanctum to selfishly fuel his own personal gains, but as much as I hate that reality, it brought her to me. If someone had told me my life would change being confined like that, I would have believed them, but not in this way.
Never in a million years could I have seen this coming.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head, eager to pull myself from my thoughts once again, but as I stare at her, bile burns up my throat.
The wedge between us is too real. My betrayal will linger forever. And as much as she may come to forgive me, I don't know whether I will be able to forgive myself.
“What's going on?” Ocean asks, breaking the silence, and I exhale, thankful for the interruption.
Peering at each of them, I stuff my hands in my pockets, opting to remain on my feet.
“Elodie wants her parents out of Castle Jude, and?—”
“Castle Jude?” Ocean interjects, and I roll myeyes.
“That's what he calls it,” I explain, and she scoffs.
“Why am I not surprised?” she mutters, more to herself than anything, but the rest of them nod in agreement.
