Page 93 of Ravaged From Fate

“He’s going to be a real Stoll rockstar,” Drake adds. “A handsome little heartbreaker in the making.”

Axel sits down by his fiancée’s bedside and takes her hand.

“We’re going to name him Gabe,” she announces to the room. “He was Axel’s best friend growing up until he passed away. It’s what we’ll like to do to honor his memory.”

“That’s a good name,” I remark. “A really good name.”

Maddie turns to Caspian. “So, are you really coming back to Ravaged, then?”

He turns to me. His hand reaches for mine. He’s relying on me for strength.

“I won’t do anything without Elsa’s blessing,” he says.

“You have it all,” I reply softly.

“She really has changed me,” he says to Maddie. The whole room is listening to him now. Even the baby has stopped making any sounds. “And it’s true. I’m back. I’m back to rejoin Ravaged.”

47

ELSA

Giving Maddie and Axel the sorely needed space to be with their newborn, Caspian and I leave the hospital through the throng of assembled paparazzi and drive to a nearby hotel, ready to come back tomorrow to see them again.

As Caspian checks in at reception, I stay outside and phone my brother back in East Springs. He picks up immediately.

“How are you?” I ask.

“Pretty good.”

“Pretty good? How so?”

There’s a high-pitched chuckle on the other end of the line. Cyrus is very keen to tell me something, I can guess. He’s excited. “I went on a date last night.”

No way.

“A date? With Juniper? How did it go?”

Now I can’t contain my excitement.

“Crazy good.”

“Anything else you want to add?”

“Let’s just keep it at that. Crazy good.”

“Okay. Well, that’s good.”

“Yep.”

I smile. “I just saw a newborn. Caspian’s friend’s given birth. Seeing that baby made me think of our own childhood,” I say. “Growing up together with Dad. How magical it was. How lucky we were we all had each other.”

“It was the best childhood,” Cyrus says. We don’t usually talk about our past or our deepest feelings. You know, usual sibling behavior. So this feels so sweet.

“Our lives have turned out pretty well, don’t you think?” I ask.

“They have, Elsa. Yeah, they have.”

Caspian emerges from the hotel. He flashes me a smile. My heart melts.