Page 153 of The Satyr's Guilt
The images of Jonquil and Denim faded whenhe remembered. Amelia’s father was here. Dante. It’s what he calledhimself.
Amelia, a sweet, fragile human gave her lifeto bring their daughter into existence. Holding Ram’s hand in herfinal moments, she had said, “Don’t blame yourself. I was alwaysfree to choose, and I picked you. Let our daughter comfort you whenI’m gone. Forgive yourself so you’ll love again.”
Her last words were for their child. “Tellher I love her. Take her home to Scath. Raise her to be a goodperson. Don’t ever let my father near her.”
Cloaked, Ram had crept into the nursery asasked by Amelia. Once home with the infant, he hired a nanny andgrieved alone in silence. He hadn’t loved the cheerful, kind Ameliaenough. But he planned to devote himself to her and Jonquil.
Instead, she died, and he buried himself inthe Scion Firebrands. They and Jonquil became his purpose.
He hadn’t saved Amelia. He’d let her down,but he was true to his word. Their bright, sunny child was perfect.Despite long, unpredictable work hours, he always carved out timeto share with his adorable daughter.
The familiar voice broke into his thoughts.“I’ve found you.”
Ram tugged furiously against the chains.“Why?”
The human snarled.
“Why? What audacity. You killed mygolden-haired, innocent girl.”
“Amelia died giving birth to yourgranddaughter.” Ram did have regrets. He never should have allowedAmelia to have a home delivery. He should have brought her to Scathfor the birth. He should have rushed to the hospital sooner. Heshould have worn a fucking condom. He had let Amelia down, but hehad not killed her. And she had wanted only his and Jonquil’shappiness.
“I feel nothing for the alien you plantedinside my lovely child. That fetal otherworlder murdered her justas you did.”
“Amelia was a bright light who dimmed tooearly. I made mistakes, but being with her wasn’t one of them. Isnatched Jonquil from the nursery because it was your daughter’swish.”
“You hypnotized her.”
“No. Never. I mourned her loss. Shoulderedthe guilt. Raised an extraordinary child.”
In that moment, the satyr felt the darknesswhich had surrounded his heart for eight years fade. He acceptedhis role in Amelia’s death, but he deserved happiness. It wastime.
“You made her a mindless minion.”
“You’re crazy. Cut me loose. Stop now beforeit’s too late. Your grandchild needs me.”
Dante turned toward a male in a white labcoat. “Keep him sedated. He and the vamps are our proof Scath andotherworlders exist. The Americans may have more questions beforethey leave.”
“We’re not otherworlders, old coot. We’reAeternals. We were here long before your kind. We locked ourselvesaway in another realm to protect your species. Your asses are stillon our to-save list.”
Ram thrashed against his restraints, tearingout stitches, opening the incisions, as the technician prepped asyringe.
“Fuck no.” Lights out again.
****
Once her assigned healer gave finalapproval and Kole stopped shooting fire, Skyler sat cross-legged ona gray yoga mat in a small empty room at the Covenkirk Stronghold.She rolled her head, stretching her neck. She raised her shouldersto her ears and lowered them. Vanilla-scented candles flickered.Soft music played on her MP3 player. Her mate had set everything asshe desired. The rest was up to her.
Scryers used reflective tools—mirrors,glass, crystal balls. Skyler’s medium was inside her. While sheplugged into Enya’s “Watermark,” she closed her eyes and pictured ariver. The water chilled. Little by little it froze. She imaginedherself encased in the frigid cube.
Not correct.
She became the ice.
Skyler clasped Ram’s black shirt to herheart. Though her lids opened, she couldn’t see the strongholdchamber. She was elsewhere. A lab.
Voices sounded through an open door. Shewandered into the room, invisible.
A man donned a white coat, talking andsquirting liquid from a syringe. Four guys lined up in front ofhim, one by one getting an injection.
