Page 38 of Agony of Our Regret

“The three of you made a choice. You did what was best for you. The three of us have too.” Gavin remained stern.

Sky’s wide eyes landed on mine. “I told you I was coming back.”

I sucked in a breath, and Luca gave me a reassuring squeeze. “But not when.”

“I would never leave you, Avalon.” He used my full name. Something he rarely ever did.

“You did,” I pointed out.

“Noah needed me.”

Noah shook his head, but Sky continued.

“I stayed with himfor you.For us. I didn’t want us to lose him again.”

“I was going to come home eventually, too,” Noah added.

“You stayed for months, Sky. When were you guys planning on coming back?” Gavin demanded. “If the threat hadn’t increased and the Society called for you to return, then when? Six more months? A year? Two? Ten?”

Sky and Noah exchanged a look I couldn’t interpret.

“I thought we cleared things up?” Noah finally spoke.

“Yeah, the past, but I’m talking about right now,” Gavin shot back.

“And the future,” Luca added.

Vince crossed his arms. “We’ve been back for less than a day, and we’re already fighting about what comes next. What happened to appreciating the here and now?”

It was ripped away from us over and over again. And now I couldn’t only think about my future. I had a little one to protect.

“I’m staying,” Sky declared. “It was time, and I’m ready to settle into my next chapter. I’ve been talking to my dad's and Bruce about a position within the Society.”

Everyone was silent, staring at him.

“When?” Noah’s voice was barely above a whisper.

Sky shrugged. “For the past three weeks or so. Whenever we had service.”

Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to pressure you. I’m doing what I want and what feels right. You’re free to do the same.”

A tiny lift of Noah’s lips had my heart freeze. “Me too.”

“What?” Gavin blurted.

“I’ve been speaking to my dad's and figuring out an assignment that would suit me.”

“Within the Society?” Vince asked Noah.

“Yeah.”

Vince’s shoulders dropped. “So, you’ll all be here. Working forthem?”

“The people who have protected and supported us and our families?” Sky clarified. “Yeah.”

“They haven’t supported all of us.” Vince glared at the wall.

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