“And I think that we remedied that,” he retorts, running his hands over the lapels of his jacket.
I scoff, feeling the eyes of everybody in the room on me as I stare at the man wearing a calm and collected smile, like it’s something we should believe in.
“Why should we trust you?” I ask, and he grimaces, revealing the first slide of his mask as he acknowledges the truth.
He shakes his head, and when his eyes return to mine, guilt flashes in his features. “You shouldn't, not with the version of me you have seen,” he offers truthfully, and I’m surprised. “But in all of my years, at my core, I've never faltered from the truth. The demise of the Shadow Realm was at the hands of Toman, Saken, and Anya. Cordelia, I believe, is unaware, but?—”
“She's dead,” I grunt, making it clear, and his eyes widen as his jaw falls slack.
Elodie clears her throat as she shrugs her shoulders. “She attempted to kill me when I tried to leave.”
I almost drop to my knees and worship before her, desperate to acknowledge how brave she sounds right now.
Rikard can only hum in acknowledgement as he rocks back on his heels, stuffing his hands into his pockets. It takes a moment for him to regather himself, but when he does, he brings his attention back to me.
“Your parents being in prison was at your brother's hands. Visiting them in secret has not been easy, but I've managed enough, along with Rory, to realize they've remained there by choice.”
His words are a punch to the gut.
It takes everything in me not to stumble backwards.
“What? Why?” I blurt, my pulse pounding in my ears as I see the truth on his face.
“They’ve been plotting and planning,” he rattles off nonchalantly as I continue to splutter.
“How?”
Movement captures my attention as Elodie nudges her way through the crowd, placing herself at my side. I blindly reach for her hand, and she offers it willingly. I squeeze tight, trying to convey how much I appreciate her right now, but I’m sure it doesn’t do it justice.
“Because of me.”
The noise comes from behind Rikard, but I know who it is before I see his face. I'm sure the familiar brown leather jacket will bring Elodie much joy as he saunters into the room, leaning against the wall beside the weary Sanctum member.
My hand tightens as my gaze swivels to Elodie’s. It’s no surprise when I find her glaring at the man in question, just as I had assumed.
Odie startles, taking a large step that puts him between Rory and Elodie before he plants his hands on his hips, glaring at Rory before settling his attention on his daughter.
“Why don't we like him?” he asks, capturing everyone’s attention if he didn’t already have it, and Elodie waves her hand.
“I didn’t?—”
“Please, your mother has that look when we don't like someone,” Odie mutters, and Rory lifts his hands in surrender.
Despite the tension in the air, I’m in awe of the man before us. A pang in my chest makes me squeeze Elodie’s hand even tighter. At first, I’m certain it’s jealousy as I watch Odie effortlessly step into his role as father, placing Elodie at the forefront of his mind as he assesses everyone around him.
She’s a priority to him, just as she is to us, yet that paternal factor that the rest of us don’t have is paramount. As I absorb the energy in the room, I quickly confirm it’s not jealousy, but admiration.
She deserves this; an unwavering unit from all angles and every role, standing side by side with her through thick and thin.
Brushing her hair back off her face, Elodie looks at the ground before turning her attention to her father. “He's the one who captured me.”
Odie spins on the spot, rage burning in his eyes as he turns toward Rory, who lifts his hands higher.
“I also convinced them not to kill you. Had Inot intervened, they would have killed you back at the derelict warehouse,” he insists, and I watch as Elodie's throat bobs as she folds her arms over her chest and cocks a brow at him.
“Then you hung me out of a floating building.”
Ocean gasps from behind us, but it’s Odie’s booming voice that has me on edge as he calls out Rory’s name in warning. His hands are clenched at his sides and ready to take action as black smoke blooms around his knuckles, just like when Thorne is ready to attack.
