Page 84 of Blood and Reign

My mother turns white, this time staying that way. This man, Hyde, was obviously someone she feared.

“We had a nice littlechat. Apparently, you owe him something. A life.”

A life... I stare at my parents and watch as my mother leans against my father for support, both of them now truly fearful.

Kai looks at me. “Did you know they were eventually going to trade your life for theirs? All to cover up their little secret.”

Mylife. Not theirs. They were willing to sacrifice their only son sotheycould live.

Finding out your parents would give you up to save themselves is a step further than simply not caring.

Any love or respect I felt for them shrivels up and dies in that instant.

Kai continues to push them, oblivious to my own inner turmoil. “It seems you like to play games. Especially with those that are well out of your league.”

“If you’re mixed up with demons, you’re no good for—”

I laugh, but there’s no amusement in it. “You were going to trade my life for yours and yet youstillthink you have a right to question who I spend my time with.” I shake my head, feeling like an idiot for how blind I was to them.

“Hyde will come after you,” my father tells me like a threat. Kai steps forward as they take a step back. My amusement flares seeing two grown people fearful of someone a lot younger than them.

“Only if you try sending him to us. But I’d advise against it. Hyde and I already had a little chat, and he doesn’t dare want to cross a descendant of Cerberus, no matter the price you give him.”

My head whips to Kai at his little reveal. Something I didn’t know about either.

He turns to look at me as if sensing my eyes on him. He gives me a look telling me we’ll talk… soon.

I nod as he turns back to my parents. I guess I wasn’t the only one that had a few revelations while our family was apart.

“You’re a… you’re a…” My parents back up, making us follow them until they’re at the basement door.

Kai grins a wicked smile. “From the bowels of Hell itself. Or as the saying goes. So, here’s what’s going to happen from here on out. You’re going to leave Rion alone.”

My father opens his mouth to object when Kai gives him a sharp look, his red-rimmed eyes pulsing again, making my father snap his mouth shut.

“And if we don’t?” My mother’s hands dig into my father’s arm as she stares down Kai. Or at least, attempts to. The fear leaks from her in droves and we all can smell it.

Kai’s grin widens. “Then I’ll set my hounds free and drag you to the Underworld itself. I’m sure there are more than one or two demons you’ve crossed that might want to settle a score.”

My parents’ eyes widen just before they scramble out of the basement and hopefully out of my life for good.

Kai turns to me, a soft smile on his face. I open my mouth to apologize, but he raises a hand, stopping me.

“We cannot change our past, but we can make sure we have a better future. Now let’s go get the rest of our family back.”

I nod and follow him out just as the ground shifts beneath my feet.

The world around me stops as I’m brought back to the bedroom it all started in. I look up and catch my reflection in the long-standing mirror in the corner of the room. I’m no longer younger me but I don’t feel completely back to myself either. I feel… unsettled.

The memory of finding out my parents never cared about me, and the blood of the innocent man still sits with me, as fresh and as raw as if it really happened moments ago.

How could I have been so blind?

I shake my head at my stupidity. After what happened that day, I promised myself that I would let no one use me again. I was meticulous with everything, training myself to be two, three, and ten steps ahead of everyone else, so history did not repeat itself.

But still, that day has never truly left me. The fault still lies with me.

“You’re right. It was your fault.”

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