I open my mouth to speak, but my mother beats me to it. “She killed your brother,” she spits. “Murdered him.”
“Yes,” Rev says, his eyes still haven’t left mine. There is no shame or anger left there. Only unconditional love.
“She released those beasts. She failed at what her father gave his life to keep from happening.”
My limbs feel suddenly weak, but I can’t show any of that now. I can’t fall to the ground the way my body wants to. I will stand for the next few minutes. I will survive this.
This, this is just another repercussion of my actions. A parent who will never respect me again.
Did my father die hating me the same way my mother does now? Or did his death increase her anger?
“She didn’t free them,” Rev says. “I did.”
My mother blinks. “No, you don’t understand—”
“I understand it all,” he says quickly. “Your husband gave his life to stop the Night Bringer from using him. Caelynn gave her life for the same cause, only I didn’t let her.”
I close my eyes against the wave of emotions, both good and bad that rush inside me now.
“I used her magic through our bond and freed the monster in order to save her.”
My mother’s mouth parts as she stares at him. “You...” She shakes her head.“Your bond?”
Rev nods, his eyes soft, but it’s me who answers. “We’re mates,” I whisper.
***
“HOW?”
Rev snorts. “Hell if I know.”
“Rev,” I chide.
He quirks a brow. “You don’t choose your mate,” he says more seriously. “I would never have chosen Caelynn for mine, but the fates know better than we ever could. She’s everything.”
I pull in a breath and hold it.
The moment lingers. Rev holds my stare, and I don’t know how to react. Finally, Rev smiles again and then turns his attention to my mother. “We didn’t come for your forgiveness. Closure, maybe. But we also came to warn you.”
“Warn me,” she repeats.
Rev nods. “The Night Bringer has made threats to destroy everything that Caelynn loves.”
I release the breath I’d been holding. Her face doesn’t change. Not even a slight shift. Her expression is frozen.
“And despite what you may think or feel about your own daughter,” Rev continues, “she loves you. You are at risk.”
“The... the Night...”
“The Night Bringer.”
She blinks and then shakes her head. “He is targeting people you care for?”
I nod.
“Why?” she whispers. “I thought...”
“Because we are and will forever be his enemy,” I say, more confident now. “We’re going to kill him.”