Loving parents. Fierce leaders.
I try to turn back, to run, but Angel doesn’t let me. He doesn’t understand.
I didn’t come here to see a shrine built for Harvey’s parents. I came here to hug my uncle and aunt. To smell Uncle Henry’s famous burgers, not this overwhelming candle scent and wilting flowers surrounding his photo.
I didn’t come here to be weighed down by a stillness their house has never known. Aunt Stella is always humming, always singing as she floats from room to room like a fairy. This can’t be her house.
They are gone. They’re not coming back.
Did I kill them?
This happened because ofme. Their son suffered because ofme. Papa is not here because ofme. They must’ve cried, begged, and searched tirelessly for their son because ofme. I killed them, didn’t I? I killed them.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It was all my fault.” The words loop endlessly. It’s all I can think of. All I can say.
My knees give out, but before I collapse, Angel scoops me into his arms. He lowers us gently until I’m sitting on his lap, not the cold, hard floor.
I don’t deserve him. I don’t deserve his warmth. I ruin everything I touch.Even if I apologize for eternity, it still wouldn’t be enough.
My words become jumbled, incoherent, but I keep saying the only thing that matters. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for ruining their lives.
My body trembles with sobs, and I don’t fight it. I deserve this. This unbearable ache in my heart. The punishments I endured in that dungeon. Maybe that’s why Visha wanted to kill me. Because I ruineverything. I’m the reason for everyone’s pain.
“It’s not your fault, sweetheart.”
“Of course it is! He was protecting me.Me.If I had just donesomething—”
“You were nine, baby. It wasn’t your fault.”
I bury my face in his chest, desperate to hide from the shame clawing at me. “But their deaths are on me. Their heartbreak killed them. They died because their son was taken from them. Harvey wasted a decade in that fucking dungeon, beaten half to death because of me! Because he made the stupid mistake of looking out for me. I ruined their family, Angel.I killed them both.”
“Don’t you dare talk like that.” Angel grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him instead of the shrine. “You are the victim here, not the culprit.Visharuined everything, not you.Shehurt Harvey, not you. And Harvey willingly risked his life for you. Don’t reduce his love for you by calling it a mistake. Any debt you think you owed him was paid the day you risked your own life to set him free. Harvey is safe. He’shome, right where he belongs because of you.”
“But… he never got to say goodbye,” I croak.
Angel holds me tighter because there’s nothing he can say to that. Even if I believe it wasn’t my fault, it doesn’t change the fact that Harvey came back to his world ripped to shreds.Because of me.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I didn’t know how.” Kissing my head, Angel tucks me against him protectively. “You were already blaming yourself for Harvey and your dad… and still looking after August, helping him heal. I didn’t want to add more weight. I didn’t want you carrying this misplaced guilt, too.”
Angel wipes my tears, looking into my eyes. “Trust me on this, sweetheart. Believe me when I say it wasn’t your fault.”
I clutch his shirt with trembling fingers. “What if Harvey hates me now? I took everything from him, Angel. I’m the reason he lost everything.”
“Harvey doesn’t hate you, baby. And he has a family. He has two brothers, a mate, a clone, and the world’s most amazing best friend.”
“Monkey,” I remind him.
“Of course. Add one adorable nephew to the mix, and there’s no way the man is ever going to be alone.”
“You really think he doesn’t hate me?”
“Not a chance.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” Angel easily lifts off the ground with me in his arms, carrying me away from a place full of guilt and hurt. “Come on, let’s get you home before they think you got kidnapped again.”
