Page 101 of Back In the Shadows

I kissedthe kids goodbye as Sebastian and I left to check on Velvet Vortex, the bar and restaurant he and Kip owned together. It was a relief to do something normal for a change, and I was looking forward to having a nice meal and a few drinks with my husband.

The moment I stepped into the elevator, my stomach clenched. The enclosed space, too similar to the glass cage, made my palms sweat and my breathing shallow. Sebastian must have noticed because he immediately pulled me against him.

“Count with me, baby,” he whispered. “Five things you can see.”

I focused on his voice, on the grounding exercise we’d developed. “Your blue shirt. The floor numbers. Your wedding ring. The elevator buttons. My reflection in the mirror.”

By the time we reached the lobby, my heart had stopped trying to escape my chest, but my legs still trembled.

“Let’s get you outside in the fresh air.” He led me out of the building and to the garage where he kept the BMW. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the healing touch of the outdoors.Sebastian gave me a few minutes to settle down before we got into the car.

“It’s good to be back home.” He reached over the console and squeezed my hand. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve upgraded everything at the penthouse,” Sebastian explained. “Dope installed military-grade surveillance, and motion sensors on every floor. The elevator needs both keycard and biometric access now. No one gets within fifty feet of this building without us knowing. I hope it helps.”

“It does … a lot. Thank you.” I nibbled on my lower lip and then said, “As much as I love upstate New York, I think it will be best to sell the place and property. I’m so sorry. I don’t think I can go back there.”

Sebastian frowned. “You don’t have anything to apologize for, baby. I didn’t protect you the way I should have.”

“You can’t keep blaming yourself. We had no idea we were being watched.”

“We do now,” Sebastian muttered, anger in his voice. “Ella, I know something happened with the Pied Piper when he took you to the side to talk. Please tell me. You’ve been acting strange ever since.”

The glass of the passenger window blurred as tears were about to spill, my fingers trembling against the cold surface. Every word caught in my throat like shards of broken glass—each potential revelation a dagger that could slice through the fragile peace we’d fought so hard to maintain. Sebastian couldn’t know. The weight of my silence pressed against me, a suffocating burden that threatened to crush my lungs.

My daughter. My beautiful, vulnerable daughter. The thought of exposing her to even a whisper of additional danger made my heart seize with a primal, raw terror that cut deeper than any physical wound. I’d become an expert at swallowingpain, at burying truths so deep they might never see the light again.

The Pied Piper’s identity burned in me like a fever, a toxic knowledge that could destroy everything. And yet, I would endure. I would protect. No matter the personal cost, no matter how much each unspoken word felt like a betrayal, I would keep my family safe. Even if it meant carrying this darkness alone, consuming me from the inside out.

I blinked hard, swallowing the storm of emotions, and prepared to wear my mask of calm. Again.

“I’m processing it all. I went through a lot, and we’re just now settling down enough for it all to hit me like an avalanche. I almost lost you and the kids—lost my entire life.” The pain and the memories pressed against me like a cement block on my chest. “As for the conversation with the Pied Piper, I just wanted to make sure that he could be trusted. I’m still not sure, but he promised to take care of us again. He said he wanted to meet me, and that I was special for being able to marry you and hide your secret. I also asked about Xavier, and he promised he would never bother us and that Xavier was under his care. It was interesting, because he seemed to really care about Xavier. The rest of the time he was devoid of any emotion.”

“Other than living at the penthouse where we’re safer, I’m not sure what else to do to help you heal. I fucking hate it. I hate watching you hurt and pretend to be all right when I know you’re struggling, Ella.”

His words were a protective shield. He saw me. His love wrapped me in a warm blanket and reminded me that he would be by my side every step of the way. Even when he wasn’t physically with me, I knew Sebastian would remain close by. If he wasn’t, then Kip and Dope would be with me. Yet, even amidst the relief they provided, I found solace in moments of solitude, and I longed to make peace with them. However, it wasa small price to pay for never being imprisoned in a glass cage again, though.

I was painfully aware that time could not be rushed, but today—this minute—I had the privilege of being with an incredible man who would move mountains for me. Taking a deep, calming breath, I lifted my chin defiantly, ready to embrace the night with my husband, my soulmate. Together, there was nothing we couldn’t conquer. We had already proven our strength and resilience through countless trials.

52

DEATH

“The flock remembers a lamb that was led astray. The shadows remember a soul that finally found its way.” ~ Anonymous

“Where are you taking me?”

Ella’s laughter echoed through the air, a stark contrast to the quiet terror that still lingered in our minds after her kidnapping. The scent of spring blossoms filled our senses, a reminder of the world moving on while we did the same one day at a time.

After Ella’s abduction, Sebastian and I made a pact to spend more of our days with our family, to make sure they felt safe and loved. Despite not being able to switch back and forth at will, we were always aware of each other’s presence and could sense each other’s minds.

“This way, little lamb.” I slipped my arm around her waist and led her to the rose garden in Portland. Cami had taken care of Ella’s hair and makeup under the guise that I was taking Ella on a special date, and I was. The tricky part had been to blindfold her and have Cami help her get dressed. Their giggles had filled the bed and breakfast we’d rented out. Sebastian and I weren’t sure how we were going to keep all of this a secret from Ella,but Kip, Dope, Ryan, and Cami had been excited to help. At one point, when we were all making plans while Ella was giving the kids a bath, the tension between Ryan and Cami had reached new heights. I glowered at them and said, “This is Ella’s day we’re planning. So whatever is still between you two, fuck it out, and get over it.”

“Oh, shit. My heel just sunk into the grass.” Ella tugged on my arm, stopping me while she tried to work her shoe out of the dirt while blindfolded.

“I’ve got it.” Cami hurried to her best friend and freed the shoe. “There ya go.” She brushed off her hands, giving me a big grin. We’d come a long way, and I was grateful for Ella’s sake. The only reason Cami was important to me was because she was my little lamb’s best friend, and the kids loved her too. It was good enough for me, and I’d made a huge effort not to terrify her. Every once in a while, I couldn’t help myself, though.

“Be still, little lamb,” I said, before I scooped her up in my arms and carried her the rest of the way.

“I might like this,” she whispered against my ear and nipped at my neck.

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