‘You need help?’Lynx asks, and I seek him out as he stands up on the other side of the room. As soon as we make eye contact, he shifts without question.
Lumbering over to me, he jumps onto the sofa, making the guys shift over a little, and Reaper growls. I open my arms, and Lynx curls into my lap, allowing me to melt into his fur and take in his heat.
‘Thank you,’I sigh.
‘Anything for you, Rezzi-bear. Now ask him what you need to,’he coaxes.
Giving Lynx an extra squeeze, I peer over his shoulders at Dad and take in a deep breath.
“Why did you abandon us?”
Let’s see you disappear out of this one.
CHAPTER 12
The Birds and the Bees and the Science… Oh Please.
Rez
It’s almost comical how some people set themselves up and then look at you like it’s your fault.I mean, come on, Dad. You said you were here to answer questions; you didn’t say they had to be easy ones.When he left, my world became a shitstorm of disasters full of heartache and confusion. Thankfully, I still had Mom and Lynx to help me heal, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want answers.
Dad shifts slightly before setting down his bowl of fruit and giving me beseeching eyes.
“The simple answer is, I didn’t, but I know it doesn’t feel that way,” he admits, his voice cracking. He sighs and shakes his head in disapproval as he continues. “Purgatory makes being able to travel between realms seem so great, but it’s really a double-edged sword.” He leans forward, resting his arms on his knees and looking down at the floor. “There are time limitson how long you’re allowed to be on Earth depending on your status, job, qualifications, permissions, and such.”
I remember Moni mentioning something like this the first day that I got here. She seemed so bummed about it because she automatically knew she wouldn’t be placed high because of her status as a PIMP—her words, not mine.
“The fact is, I didn’t have a time limit for Earth, because I wasn’t allowed to leave Nova,” he says matter-of-factly.
“How come?” Moni gasps, flashing between dark gray and light teal. My bestie can’t hide her worry at all, can she?
“As you will soon find out, sometimes being popular doesn’t always mean freedom to do as you wish.” He looks at Levi, Zeke, Knox, and Ryker. “As they might tell you, power and responsibility also come with a price. When I asked for leave to go to Earth, I was denied. I was told my services were needed here,” he admits before turning back to me.
“So, I did what any parent would do for their child: I broke the law and went to Earth on my own and hid the best way I could, as a true human, as long as I could. That is, until a storm shifter showed up on my front porch like a literal fucking red flag waving in the breeze for the Reapers,” he growls, giving Lynx a pointed look.
Lynx flinches at Dad’s words, and his jaw drops.
‘Dude, really? I was a kid, and it’s not like I was there for you!”Lynx scoffs.“I was following my mate bond to Rez, and how was I supposed to know the portal I made caused the storm that was a beacon for whatever Reapers are?’he hisses, shaking his head.
I parrot Lynx’s statement and frustration back, and the room goes silent as Dad averts his gaze and bites his lower lip.
“How did you make it to Earth without the clearance?” Chester asks.
“Who denied you?” Levi asks, looking thoughtful.
“Did you explain why you needed to leave?” Knots questions.
“Where have you been all this time?” Ryker asks, spinning a blade in his hand.
I turn my head and lean my cheek against Lynx’s fur as I listen to my friends, my family, asking my father their questions. A part of me wants to jump in and save him from the onslaught of it all, but I’m curious also. I’m about to speak up when something catches my eye by the fireplace.
My backpack.Well, I don’t remember putting that there.The last time I had that was right after coming through the portal from Hell. It was sitting by my chair before I went up for the Gauntlet announcement, but I’m sure one of the guys carried it for me during the attack or shoved it in their own S.I.N. box.
“Hey guys, one at a time,” I gently remind everyone. “He’s only hum— well, you know what I mean,” I say, sheepishly.
“It’s okay, Nerezza. I have a lot to answer for, and that was the plan for this morning,” he tells me before turning to address my friends and their questions.
I low-key appreciate him more for owning up to that and for facing my crazy family and their questions, because I want to know the answers as well.
