I can’t wait to gossip about this with Seiji.
Someone looks like they pissed off the All-knowing Fates.
“Nevaeh, this is my mother, Kiara Alarie, and my father, Luke Alarie.” Anxo’s voice is stiff, like his posture. I’m afraid his act might break if I hold his hand too tight.
Angel curtly replies to the small talk they initiate after theybowto him.Ugh, kiss-asses.
Angel and I take the small couch when the older couple sits on separate chairs opposite us. The meeting has barely started, and I want to go back to my room and never see them again.This is so fucking awkward.
As if Angel’s womb provider heard my thoughts, she turns to me with a look that screams false pity, and I dread her next words before she even opens her mouth.
“You know Grim’s heart shattered the day you were taken. The misery of Fates not giving him a mate was cruel enough, but then he let his onlyoffspringget kidnapped?” She tsks, “I hope you both can find some semblance of peace if he returns.”
Let her get kidnapped?Is this woman on drugs? And why is she talking like we are from medieval times? She could’ve said ‘Your father was fucking wrecked and disappeared to find some inner peace’ just as quickly.
“It’s exciting to have you back with us. Maybe your presence would help the kingdom. The way things are running now is lousy at best,” she scoffs and continues like she isn’t badmouthing my mate in front of me.
I couldn’t stop myself from interrupting, “Why don’t you lend a helping hand, then?”
Angel squeezes my hand on his lap, maybe to ask me to shut up or help me calm down, but something—no,everythingabout her tone is testing me. I’m surprised how comfortable she is openly criticizing Angel and his work with her snide remarks as if no one has ever told her to shut the fuck up before.
She doesn’t know me if she thinks I would sit back and let her insult my mate’s hard work.
Kiara chuckles nervously and puts down the teacup she had filled for just herself.Inherently selfish. “We’re old, my child. We have worked for years and deserve some time off. And Anxo has to learn someday. We have given him everything he needs, so he needs to learn to do better.” Oh, now she’sreallytesting me.
“By everything, you mean the insecurities or the bruises you gave him growing up?”
My response stuns both Angel and his parents. I’ve heard him talk about how the beating stopped as he grew older, but they never apologized for it. Hell, they act as if it never happened in the first place.
But it did, and I’ll be damned if I let them slide scratch less. Especially after being shameless enough to continue to demean him, after all the respect he has shown these undeserving assholes.
I glance at Angel to check if I am crossing a line by confronting them and if he wants me to step back. Anxo is essentially ignoring everything and holding my hand in his lapas if his life depended on it, his fingers tracing the lines of my palm.
Watching him so distant and indifferent in their presence sets me off. My vision blurs and all I see is a kid who was constantly told he wasn’t good enough.
The way he has he shut down as soon as they started talking about him shows me how deeply their words cut him even now.
By keeping a lid on his true emotions and not paying attention, Anxo is trying to protect what little patience and love he has left for them, but it pains me to see him so quiet. No hint of the smile I love so much.
How long is he going to let them walk all over him just because they gave birth to him? Angel might not be ready to put them in their place yet, but I will no longer let them take him for granted.
They want someone to target?They should try me.
Plastering a phoney, sweet smile on my face, I turn to the ‘parents’, trying to keep this conversation verbal before I act on the urge to suck their rotten souls out of them.
“Seiji’s parents are older than you, but they’re both still working. They’re waiting actually, for whenSeijithinks he is ready for such responsibility,” I squeeze Angel’s hand in apology for bringing it up. “My papa lost his only family but still worked for a decade until hephysically couldn’t. If you so firmly believe the kingdom is doing poorly, why are you vacationing instead of helping?”
They say nothing. Of course, they don’t because what excuse could they spit now?
When I feel my mate’s burning gaze, I turn to find him blankly staring at me. With a warm smile, I say the words to him, instead of the two people making my Divine bloodthirsty. “Anxo is doing his absolute best, and it’s more than enough. And nowthat he has his mate and the future Death by his side, I hope your worries would fade with time.”Just like you will.
After an uncomfortably long pause where they stare at my face, stunned and struggling to form words,Lukesays, “Of course. We have immense faith in you both.” The sperm donor finally speaks, his face reddening, full of shame since he realised I knew every little detail of their disgusting acts.
“Hope you have a wonderful vacation. Maybe you’ll start visiting less and less with time.”
With that hint, my smile broadens when I see anger lighting in Kiara’s eyes at the insinuation. Give me one reason, and I’ll show you I am indeed my father’s daughter.
With that, I stand up and tug on Angel’s hand. “It was nice meeting you both, but we are on a tight schedule.”
