Page 63 of Right Hand Of The Reaper
“Understood.”
They both gave me a short nod and turned to towards the room we’d been in earlier.
“You okay, kitten?” Atticus asked softly as he stepped through the door.
“Suppose you heard all that?” I asked, hanging my head.
He tipped my chin and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “I did, yes, but more importantly, so did he.” Atticus looked over his shoulder and I followed his gaze until it landed on Magnus. The vampire looked like he was chewing glass, his jaw tight and his eyes on the floor. Good. He had a long way to go before I even considered moving past what he’d done to me or the twins.
I looked back at Atticus and found him watching me intently. “I’ll meet you in there. You too, Thane. Give me a minute with Magnus.”
Atticus gave me a small nod and another kiss on my forehead. Thane gave me a long look but followed Atticus. There was something weird between the two of them, but I hadn’t figured out what it was yet.
“A Metus demon? Really?” Magnus asked, genuine surprise in his voice.
“Yes,” I said quickly. “I’m his mate.”
“What? How’s that possible?”
“I don’t know, but he is. I’ve marked him too.”
Something like anger flashed in his eyes at my words. We’d never discussed the status of our relationship, so I didn’t know what he had to be pissed about. He was the one I found with his tongue down another woman’s throat. I didn’t even know I could mark a soul. Doing it with Atticus had been so instinctive and felt natural. I’d never had that feeling with Magnus, which just showed how unstable our relationship had been.
“If I could go back—”
“Well, you can’t,” I interrupted. “You made your choice, for whatever reasons, and this is where we are. You have no one to blame but yourself when it comes to me or the twins.”
“You’re very protective of them,” he snarled.
“Yes, I am. They’re my family. I’d do anything for them. A concept which just seems alien to you.”
He at least had the grace to look fucking sheepish. “There are reasons. I couldn’t share them with you then, but I want to now.”
“Now thatyouare ready.”
“Yes.”
“And I suppose I should be grateful for that, hmm? That the mighty King Magnus is now finally ready to speak his piece?” I walked closer as I flung my words at him. “Fine. But you say your piece and then you go because I was done waiting for you a long time ago.” Then I turned my back and began walking away.
“I had a sister once.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. He had a sister? How did I not know that? I turned back to him and watched as a myriad of emotions played across his handsome face.
“What was she like?” I asked softly.
He smiled, the curve of his mouth full of sorrow. “Full of life and very cheeky. You’d have loved her.”
“Why don’t you talk about her?”
“Because it’s painful and reminds me of the path I chose. Roux, I know I have a lot to explain, just give me time. I want to make things right. With you, Rafe and Rayne.”
I pursed my lips. “You hurt them. A lot.”
He winced. “I know. I never thought I’d find something like I did with them. It was unexpected and beautiful, and I know I ruined it. But I want to fix it. I want to fix everything, Roux. Just give me a chance. Please.”
I chewed my bottom lip. I wanted to give him a chance, but would it hurt me in the long run. Would he hurt Rafe and Rayne? I know they could decide for themselves whether to listen to Magnus but I know that if I took the first step, they’d be more inclined to follow.
Magnus took a step closer, closing the distance between us. He was close enough that he could wrap his hands around my face. My body trembled. It had been so long since I’d been touched like this by him. I knew I still loved him, and that’s what made me so angry.
