Page 226 of Bound By Crimson

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Even if he didn’t mean it—

Even if it was a lie—

It meanteverything.

He didn’t let her go.

He sat beside her on the bed and held her like he used to.

Cradled her until her sobs turned shallow.

Until the tremors in her chest began to slow.

Then he looked at her.

Brushed her cheek with the back of his hand.

“I’m sorry, Lyric,” he said. “I’m so sorry.”

She wanted to forgive him.

Wanted to believe the words.

Wanted to take their baby and run.

To be a family.

To pretend it had all been something real.

For one fragile second, she almost let herself.

Almost closed her eyes and fell into the lie.

Almost believed they could still be whole.

Almost.

But then it hit her.

He was her uncle.

The thought turned her stomach.

She pulled back from him, just enough to look into his eyes.

“Did you know?” she whispered.

He didn’t have to answer.

She could see it in his face.

He had always known.

“How could you?” she asked, her voice barely more than a breath. Not angry. Just broken.

He stood.

“It was my duty,” he said. “To keep our lineage alive.”

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