Page 108 of Rising

The last visions were of his father. A man who read to him every night as a kid, but lectured him with adult expectations by day. The father who’d driven four hours overnight, just to check on the son who’d had a tough week. Who’d learned how to use social media, just to connect with each of his kids, to stay in the know to figure out how to converse with teens of the times. His protector, his friend, his mentor. His biggest critic.

“It was all real, all of it. I did what I had to because I had no other choice. I don’t regret my choice, Moe. But I regret hurting you,” he reasoned.

I wasn’t convinced.

Alexiares’ lock sounded. He’d stepped away from the door, giving us some privacy. Just the two of us now.

“The gate. Did you plan to be there with me?”

His face flushed, shame framing his handsome features. “It wasn’t supposed to happen that way, but yeah. I wanted you nearby to make sure nothin’ bad happened.”

“Nothing bad? Seth, people died—good people died. Riley’s friend died.Ourpeople died.”

Had I laid with the devil?

“Duluth lied dammit!” I jumped as his palms slapped against the wall, voice still a harsh whisper, “It was supposed to be just a few of ‘em, not fifty-one. I didn’t know. You gotta believe me.”

“And Jax, did you know they were going to kill him?”

The silence was louder than any admission could be. His thick brows scrunched, as he thoughtfully chose his answer. “No. They said he’d be … incapacitated. I’d then step up and fill his role—”

“Oh my God,” I breathed, horror crossing my face.

“See! That look right there, isexactlywhy I gotta go. I don’t belong here anymore. Not sure I ever did.” If he wanted my pity, my understanding, he wouldn’t get it.

He could write his own story, make everyone else the villain. But he was responsible for his own actions, and actions had consequences.

Wait. “You’re leaving?” I asked.

He stepped forward, fingers itching to graze my lips, but I smacked it away. “Moe, please, don’t yell. Listen to me,” he pleaded. The threat in his eyes kept me quiet. “I love you. Okay? I meant that, I still mean it. I never meant for this to happen.”

His fingers curled through his hair, the nerves demanding to find release as he paced the hallway, stopping to grip my shoulders. I let him. Love and the lingering fear of what he was capable of freezing me in place.

“I thought they had my father. This had nothing to do with you. Or even the rest of ‘em. I just wanted my family back—”

I shook my head. “I thought we were your family.”

“You are, but not like that,” he said, brushing me off, all of us off, “not like my dad. My cousins.”And Reina.

“Not like what? Your blood?” He remained silent. I stifled a laugh. “Right.”

“Wouldn’t you do anything you could to have your family back together if you found out they were alive, too?” His eyes narrowed, challenging me.

I looked down guiltily. I would. “So you’d just leave Reina behind? Sloan?”

A flash of determination crossed over his face. “I’ll come back for them. When they’re ready.”

I didn’t know what that meant. Didn’t appreciate the way it sounded. But what could I do? I couldn’t stop him from leaving. I had no weapons, no magic of value.Ha, magic of value. I sound like his father. I could alert Alexiares, the sound would draw Amaia and Reina from their rooms.

But then what?

Would we become more trouble than we’re worth? Seth sent to execution, or Amaia, or shit, all of us?Or worse, they would fight each other, an outcome I never wanted to envision having to choose. But it seemed like that would soon be a reality, just not today.Please, not today.

“There’s nothing that could convince you to stay?” I tried.

His hands dropped from my shoulders, shaking his head.No. His eyes dropped back towards the ground, refusing to meet my eye and say the words to my face.Coward.

I brushed past him. “Then I have nothing to say.”

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