“I didn’t think you’d come,” said Pella, her voice reflecting her appearance.
“I almost didn’t.” Killian moved further into the barren room, his boots echoing on the wooden floor. Taking a seat, he crossedhis legs leisurely, then said, “You look like shit.”
Pella’s laughter surprised him—surprised both of them—and sent her into a fit. She doubled forward, her body bent as she coughed and coughed and coughed. Her cream handkerchief came away soiled with dark blood.
There was a pitcher of water on the nightstand next to the bed. She didn’t reach for it. Neither did he.
“I’ve had better days.” Pella smiled bitterly, her teeth stained red. “I guess I should thank you for coming.”
“I don’t need or want your thanks,” Killian stated simply. “Why am I here, Pella?” Her eyebrows rose at his tone. “Don’t fuck with me. Just give me a straight answer. I’d rather not waste anymore time with you.”
“At least we’re trying to be civil,” Pella sniffed. She pursed her lips and cleared her throat. It was a long time before she spoke again, each word chosen carefully. “I loved my husband, but I know what kind of things happened in this house. Things I turned a blind eye to because I couldn’t bear to face them. Things I should have protected you from. You were my responsibility and I failed you. I won’t ask for your forgiveness, Killian. I don’t deserve it. I know that. You have no reason to say yes, but I have to try. I ask you to indulge me a last wish. That’s why I called you here.” She paused, her voice softening. “My son. My Kade. Promise me you’ll leave him alone. Vow to me you’ll leave him be. My precious boy. He’s done so well without you. Don’t ruin him.”
Killian blinked. He couldn’t help the laugh of stunned disbelief that punched from his chest.
“Keep him safe,” Pella continued, leaning closer. Her breath was rancid, like rusted iron. “Say your goodbyes, and then goback to wherever you came from and stay far, far away from him.”
“I was never the one who was a threat to him.”
“You were. Youare. I saw it with my own eyes the way you looked at him. You know as well as I do, you’re no good for him. You’re notgood, Killian, but my boy is. My Kade is. Let him be.” Pella held out her arm, ready for him to take, to swear the oath and bind theiren.An oath that would hold even after her death. “Please, Killian.”
As if it were that easy.
Killian grit his teeth, sudden anger rushing through him. He’d been the only one in that house who never hurt Kade, who had never laid hands on him. “You’re insane if you think I’d ever make oath toyou.”
Pella’s face fell, the soft, sweet facade melting away. It was how it always was, if her guilt didn’t work, she leaned into her anger. She snapped, “I did my best. I did all that I could to keep Kade safe from you. From his father.”
“You failed.”
Pella’s nostrils flared. “There were too many monsters in this house. I couldn’t fight them all.”
“You didn’t fight any of them. You encouraged them.”
“I did no such thing. There was only so much I could do. It was just me. Against you and Tyr.It was just me.” Pella closed her eyes and put a hand over her heart, her chest was heaving with effort, her body struggling to keep up with the anger inside her. She made one last appeal. “If you love him, if youeverloved him, you’ll stay away.”
Killian stood to leave. “We’re done here.”
“You’re just like him—Tyr. You’re just like your father.”
Killian knew she was baiting him, trying to force him into a position where he would bend to her will and give in. He was familiar with her games. He knew, but there was always something about Pella that wormed under his skin. It trampled all over the carefully constructed control he had built over the years spent away.
Before he knew what he was doing, Killian found his hand wrapped around Pella’s neck as he towered over her. He squeezed, feeling her choke under his grip, her eyes bulged out of her head. It would be so easy. She was so weak already, so close to death; he could just snap her neck and be done with it. It was the death she deserved.
Pella clawed at his wrist, trying and failing to get him to let go.
“Tyr is not my father. I am nothing like him,” Killian snarled. With a long, slow breath, Killian released his grip but kept his hand on Pella’s throat. She was shaking, her eyes wet with tears. She looked scared. A warm satisfaction spread through him. “You’re right, Pella. There were too many monsters in this house, but don’t forget, you were one of them.”
Pella gurgled. “Kade is innocent in this.”
“Which is why I stayed away.”
“Then a vow would make no difference.”
Killian shook his head. “I’m done staying away. Kade said he needs me, so I’ll be what he needs. I’ll be here for him in his time of mourning.” Stepping back, Killian watched as Pella dissolved into another fit of coughs, blood dripping down her chin onto the bedsheets.
She glared up at him, and for a moment he could see her as the woman he remembered. “You’ll burn for this.”
“I’ll meet you in hell,Mother.”
