Page 41 of Crimson Flames

He chuckles, taking the piece back from her and biting into it without a care. “I think it’s delicious.”

I am thankful he was able to lighten the mood a bit, but suddenly Nessa’s eyes shoot up to ours, realizing something.

“I told Gray that we thought it was my father. He tried to warn me. Green did too. They knew. Oh my gods, they feckin’ knew and I didn’t listen.”

Her hands ball into fists, clenching the sheets so tightly, I can hear the seams ripping.

“We need to come up with a plan,” she says before trying to get out of bed and wincing. I rush to her side, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and pushing her back.

“No,Lisichka.” I sit beside her, clasping her clammy hand in mine. “Alexi and Lev are already on it. You need to focus on resting and healing. When we can make a move, we will.”

She shakes her head. “This all feels so wrong. We’ve been trying to get ahead of them for so damn long, but it feels like no matter what we do, it’s worthless in the end.”

“It’s not,” Kai says from his chair beside the bed. We all turn to look at him. “It’s not worthless. You saved us, and I can promise you that not one of us will ever forget it. You changed the lives of forty-six kids. Saved four pairs of parents from wondering what happened to their children for the rest of their lives. That isn’t something small or meaningless.”

Nessa’s eyes soften as she gazes at him. It seems that sometimes he is the only one able to say the right thing to her.

“You’re right,” she says. “Nothing about that is small.” With a heavy sigh, she relaxes against the headboard.

“So, what do we do now?”

My hand reaches for her hair, stroking it. “We try to heal. And when it is time to move, we destroy the ones that thought they could torment our family.”

Her face presses into me as I fold myself into the bed with her, enveloping her in my arms. One way or another, we are going to get through this.

Together.

Chapter 16

Kai and I walk the perimeter of the property, something we started doing every morning together after breakfast. I’m not quite sure how it started, but it’s been almost a week of having him with me, and I’ve loved the company.

Sometimes we talk to fill the silence, needing the distraction from whatever the latest shit show is. But most times we don’t speak, needing the space to think, like this morning.

I know, I know. You’re probably shocked I can keep my mouth shut at all. Believe me, I was stunned too. I guess losing a kid will do that to ya?

I shake off those dark thoughts this morning. Out here is where I try not to be sad. Not because I don’t think I’m allowed to or anything, but because I just need a break from the overwhelming feelings.

Nessa has been struggling; we all have, but I’m hoping things will get better soon. Last night, Kai went into her room while she stared out the window at Aiden’s flame. He’s done it a few times now, but she never spoke to him until last night.

“Did you know I had a sister?” Nessa says. Boris and I are sitting out in the hall, listening as always. The first time she did this and asked to be alone, I couldn’t bring myself to go far. I tried to give her space, but it wasn’t what I wanted or needed. Being away from her made that pain I feel in my heart so much worse.

So, I just sat outside the door. After a minute, Boris did the same. I asked him if he felt the same, but he said it was different for him. Being away from Nessa felt like he was breaking his promise to her, so he said that at least if he was close and she called out for him, then he could prove he was going to be there.

“No, I didn’t know. What happened to her?” Kai asks gently.

There’s a long pause before she answers, causing Boris and me to look at each other in shock. She has hardly talked to us about Enya, much less a stranger.

I guess Kai isn’t much of a stranger anymore.

“Ronan killed her. Right in front of me. I held her as she took her last breath.”

Her voice sounds so raw with emotion. I ache to wrap my arms around her just like I did back then. But I won’t let her know I’m here. Not yet. With the short amount of time he’s been with us, Kai knows Nessa better than most. I trust he’ll say the right thing to comfort her.

“That guy’s a real dick.”

I can’t help the snort that escapes me, but that’s not the sound that has me inhaling a gasp. It’s Nessa’s laugh. While it isn’t loud, I hear it. The melodic sound spreads throughout my entire body.

The kid made her laugh. I’m totally getting him more Twizzlers for that.

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