Chapter 408: Worth the Risk
Seth studied Nedra as he held the unconscious August in his arms, considering what to do. If Zagan set the alyko free and had not missed the Luna so far, then maybe it didn’t matter where she rested until she was conscious and out of pain. It wasn’t like he was aiding in her escape.
"Let’s go this way," he jerked his head toward the atrium that was now open to the rooms without any glass restricting its access. "I don’t need any questions from my team about where I am taking her."
"Gossips," Nedra muttered under her breath and followed him, watching as he jumped down the two floors to the ground and landed with August in his arms. It was such a soft landing, she wondered how lycans like him managed it. They had human bodies, didn’t they? It’s not like he was currently in his wolf form, and yet he was so graceful—handling that jump as if it was nothing whereas she would likely break something.
"Can you make it?" he called up to her.
When she didn’t respond, he set August down and extended his arms in an offer to catch her. Nedra groaned and looked up at the ancient tree that rose, reaching toward the sky.
"Jump, Nedra. I’ve got you," he reassured her.
She squeezed her eyes shut and cursed under her breath before jumping to where he was waiting for her. He caught her in a princess hold and set her down quickly without making a big deal out of it. He knew she hated being made to feel weak, and relying on him to do something so simple fit into that category.
They walked in silence, avoiding all of the trafficked areas of the island where Seth’s team would likely be leading the alyko to the exit or roaming about.
"Why didn’t you tell me, Nedra?" he finally asked, his thoughts consumed with the boy’s face—Sage. He looked just like his mother. He had the same raven black hair and piercing green eyes.
Nedra lifted her chin higher at the question, trying to maintain her composure as she considered how to respond.
"I have a son who is how old? Ten? Eleven? And you kept that from me all of this time?" he said gruffly, his voice catching at the end.
Nedra’s chest ached hearing the emotion that made its way into his voice. How was she supposed to tell him that Sage was not the only one?
"So he was in their pack?" he asked, lifting August with the question.
"I didn’t know that until today," she sighed. "Apparently he and August have become very close. I am thankful he has had her."
"And you... what? Just sent him out into the world without anyone? You didn’t even know where he was?" he asked, his tone becoming more demanding. This whole thing was outrageous.
"He had his sister!" Nedra whirled toward him, her eyes fierce. How dare this male question the actions she took to try protecting her children. He was the second in command to a vampire! That was hardly father material.
Seth stopped walking, the breath stolen from his lungs. He stared at Nedra in disbelief as she stood, fuming at him for even asking questions. He set the Luna down at his feet and backed away from her—from Nedra—from this whole mess.
"Where do you think you are going?" she demanded.
"I have TWO children Nedra?" He roared, raking his hands back through his hair. "Two?! How could you... you didn’t think I should know about them?"
"What would you have done? Abandon this place to go raise them?" she scoffed, narrowing her eyes at the male who had given his life to Zagan’s cause.
"Goddess, Nedra! Do you not see how fucked up this is? How could you not tell me?" he shook his head and began pacing. It was nearly impossible to comprehend—two children that he was responsible for helping create were out there in the world somewhere, and he had never known about them.
Nedra watched his face contorting as outrage and anguish and fear all fought for control. She didn’t want to hurt him, but honestly she would have never done anything differently. She couldn’t trust Seth with that secret—not when he was so close to the vampire who was hunting her kind. And their children were her kind.
"I couldn’t let him get them," she said in a small voice, pleading with him to understand this from her perspective. "I couldn’t allow them to live like this—trapped here for life. Only knowing the world behind glass. And he would have used them—experimented on them—if he knew they were mine. Who knows what he would have done... what he could still do!"
"You still should have told me. I had a right to know," he growled, glaring at her with his hands on his hips.
His chest was aching for something that was out of reach—something in the past that was inaccessible now—and he hated it. It ached for Nedra constantly, but that was a dull pain that he had gotten used to over time. He was able to ignore it. But this was different. This ache threatened to overtake him.
He groaned and dropped his head, staring at the dirt under his feet as he rubbed the back of his neck. This wasn’t something that he could just push back and ignore. This was going to change him. This was going to haunt him.
"What is her name?" he asked, his voice a low gravel. "My daughter. What is her name?"
"Selah," Nedra replied.
"Selah," he repeated, chuckling as he did. "A name of confusion and debate. A name of pause. A name of praise. You chose well, Nedra."
"I didn’t keep them from you to hurt you. I was terrified. I was terrified and..."
"Alone," he interrupted, glancing at her with an unmistakable sadness. She didn’t know he was capable of looking at her that way.
"I was... alone, yes," she said quietly. "But I had to be strong for her. And then for him."
Seth walked toward where she was standing, her chin raising defiantly as he approached, and then he stopped a breath away from her.
"I would not have told him," he said so quietly and close that she could feel his breath on her face. "I would have protected them, too. Just like I protect you."
"You mean like I protect you?" she snapped back, her eyes going hard. Part of the reason she was here was because Zagan threatened her with Seth’s death. If he honestly thought that he was protecting her...
"You are determined to be alone, aren’t you?" he sighed, taking a step away from her. "You push me away. You push everyone away."
"I push everyone away because it is dangerous to be close to me. I am a threat to anyone who I care for or love," she exclaimed.
"It is worth it!" he yelled, startling her. "The risk is worth it! It would have been worth it to know my children when they were born. It would have been worth it to know you! But you will not let me! You do not even give me a choice!"
