Page 31 of Retribution

“But –” I tried to keep the hurt out of my voice. “Why?”

“Just because the fates put a child on this earth every twenty years in hopes to defeat evil does not make your life less important. If you had known there was a backup plan, you might not have tried so hard,” Lenin answered before holding up his tray. “Tea?”

Yes, I wanted his fucking fantastic tea. But I was also a little mad. “So you two – wait, three –” I pointed at Rolland, “decided to hold this from me?”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference. I could not have loved another if they were placed in front of me after I set eyes on you.” Why was he always so damn sweet? I wanted to be angry, not feeling amorous. But the fact remains the same. “You are the only hybrid that exists. It was James’ blood and Sarah’s ancestry that made you able to survive. The fates, they cannot control all. It is a lot of trial on error.”

“And Lacy?”

Lenin looked sad. “It is true; she would have died in that cave if you didn’t rescue her. Died before she turned into an adult like so many others.”

Bless her little heart. I couldn’t even be mad that she was hogging my mate right now; the kid would have died. “She will live now?”

“Aye,” Lenin confirmed before adding, “He feels the need to protect her because she has a part of you that lives within her. It’s the strands of fate. He does not know that he is drawn to protect and teach her because she could have been you.”

I watched Oak as he stood next to a tree, his hands on his hips as he instructed the girl to be careful and to use her toes to grip. “Don’t tell him. He needs to believe that their friendship is built on their trust and not fate’s intervention.”

“It is why we had not mentioned it to him as well.” Lenin took the few steps to the table and placed the tea down.

I sat and watched as he poured my tea. “I’m still mad at you, though.”

“I suspected.” He offered me a cookie, his eyes sparkling because they all know the way to my heart at this point, and he knew he was buying my forgiveness.

“This cookie only makes it marginally better.”

“I will let you braid my hair,” he offered, and I nearly dropped my cookie. I’d never once seen his hair in any form but the perfect braid trailing down his back. The opportunity to run my fingers through the locks, to style it, and feel it sift through my hands. This was a unicorn offer. He must genuinely think he angered me beyond repair.

“Can I use my curling iron?” I was mentally already planning my night out.

“I do not know what that is,” Lenin admitted as an adorable wrinkle creased his brows.

“Trust me; you’re going to want to say yes,” Rolland said as he stepped off the ladder, not even trying to hide the smirk.

“Yes,” Lenin answered trustingly, and even if I could refrain from the girlish squeal that left my lips, I wouldn’t have. He flinched at the sound. Oak and Lacy watched from a distance while the sound of my other men running through the house echoed around me.

Sterling broke through the door first, followed by a panting Justice with ribbon stuck to his clothes. “What happened?”

“I believe she is excited. Possibly. You are excited, right, Kitten?” Lenin’s head tilted to the side as he waited for an answer.

“Yes.”

“She is excited,” Lenin confirmed.

“Fates, Libby.” Justice held his chest. “I thought something happened. I literally had to fight a vampire to get here.”

“You were blocking the hallway,” Sterling mumbled.

“Told you to calm down, and she was fine.” Michelle pushed past the men as she sipped her soda through a straw.

“She did tell you,” Maggie confirmed.

The men collectively rolled their eyes as Ellis walked up, oblivious to what everyone had been working on. “I heard a scream. Are you okay?”

Rolland crossed his arms over his chest, a look so proud he couldn’t even hide his amusement. “Lenin over there has agreed to let Liberty play hair salon.”

Every man turned with a grunt and disappeared while the females all squealed to match my excitement. Lenin blinked a few times, confused. “I do not know what that means.”

Chapter 15

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