Page 15 of Cruel Revenge
Heath’s face paled. I knew he was going to be thinking about that for a long time, so I just continued, knowing the full story. I had visited Mozambique right after all of this had happened. He’d known about the trip and the discovery of Jabari’s family, but I had never told him theentirestory.
“Subira, Zuri, and Jabari are too powerful to do healing magic, and from their time, there wasn’t enough knowledge about the human body for them to know how to even try without… catastrophic results. The mate bond and how it was formed gave Aisha the ability to tap into Jabari’s ability to use magic.”
“So…”
“I’m glad my parents trust you enough to bring you in on everything,” I said lamely, smiling weakly, hoping this wasn’t the thing that finally scared him off. “You’re not going to run, are you?”
Heath blinked before what I said finally sank in.
“No!” he said loudly, coming over to sit beside me on the bed. “Gods no, Jacky. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just shocked at how you knew all of this and kept it secret for so long. You told me just enough to keep me from asking for too much more. I always wanted to respect the privacy of your family, so I didn’t hunt for more information. This is just so much. Knowing Subira is powerful is different from hearing several examples of how powerful she really is. It’s just a lot to take in, and I’m amazed you have been able to compartmentalize everything so well.”
“I guess it’s a talent,” I said, half-serious, but the pun was intended as well. It didn’t make Heath laugh, but it made him crack a small smile. My small joke also made me think of Hasan again. An honest thought came to mind as my first knowledge of his Talent came to mind. “Personally, I kind of hate Hasan’s Talent.”
How long has it been since I’ve thought about that?
“Why?” Heath asked, tilting his head next to me.
“Don’t judge me for what I’m about to say. It was like fifteen years ago,” I said, putting my hands in my lap, wringing my fingers together. “His Talent was why he Changed me but not my fiancé. Why Hasan believed he could save me, but didn’t even try to save him. Hasan thought he would just make it more painful for him to die.”
“Jacky…” Heath reached for me, his fingers brushing against my back before wrapping around my waist. “No judgment from me. We both have previous relationships. While you’re the love of my life, that doesn’t mean I’m okay with Landon’s mother being dead. Why would I judge you for missing your late partner?”
“Thanks. It’s just… Hasan and I have had a really complicated relationship all these years. He lied to me early on. Told me that he was dead. When I could smell the lie, I recognized the scent of it… I left. That’s why I came here and lived away from my family. At the time, Hasan wouldn’t tell me the truth. I wouldn’t know for several more years.” I shook my head. “But he told Dirk when he was a child… something everyone has been angry with him for.”
“He did what? Dirk has always known?”
“Yeah…” I gave him a sympathetic look. “Landon learned in Germany, too.”
“My son has been…” Heath’s jaw clenched, and I could hear his teeth grind. “I guess that’s why Hasan and Subira smelled a little surprised I didn’t already know some of this.”
“They would have expected me or Landon to say something eventually, because I trust you both. But I compartmentalize, and Landon probably thought he could just mind his own business. He got back from Germany with his mate and was happy with that.”
Heath rubbed his face.
“Even if he tried to tell me he had secrets about your family, I probably would have stopped him from telling them to me,” Heath said, muffled thanks to his hands. “There’s no more, right?”
“Not that I know,” I said, reaching out to rub his back this time. “Do you still want to marry me after learning all of that, or…” My question was rhetorical. I knew Heath wasn’t going to run just because he learned family secrets. The threat of death didn’t scare him away. Why would any of that?
But the heat in Heath’s eyes as he turned to me…
“Do I need to prove to you how much you’re stuck with me?” he asked softly, reaching to grab one of my wrists.
“I was kind of joking. I know you won’t go anywhere,” I said, trying to scoot away before he acted on whatever thoughts he was having.
“No, no. I think we need to have a long discussion about the many reasons why I won’t be leaving you for any reason,” Heath said, a growl in the words, the heat behind them making my face warm.
“I don’t think that’s a discussion,” I said, huskily as he continued to invade my space. His lips touched mine.
“Well, while you’re breathless and can’t argue, I get to tell you everything about you that I love,” he said, grinning before he swiftly moved, lifting me up and tossing me into the middle of the bed. “All the reasons why I’m here and nowhere else right now.”
7
CHAPTER SEVEN
It was after sundown when Heath and I had dinner alone in the dining room, getting another night of takeout, almost missing the dinner window.
“Did anything else happen today?” I asked as we dished up. My voice was a little hoarse, nothing water wouldn’t fix.
“Hasan talked to Brion. I should be getting the pack’s full access to the Tribunal soon. He did so because Subira wanted to speak to me, and Hasan had to clear my schedule for that conversation.”
