Page 139 of Falling in Love with A Tiny Bat

“It’s classic divide and conquer.” Willow looks squarely at Pollux and Cael. “Secrets hurt, don’t they? You kept the fact you were unseelie hidden for centuries, Cael. And, Pollux, you knew. Whether it was your secret to tell or not, to someone like Castor, that kind of vital information being kept from him as good as unwrites everything between the two of you. This isn’t just division; it’s the perfect revenge. It’s thehow does it feel when the most important people in your lives do the same to you?”

In the following stillness, Pila murmurs, “People will act in a way that compels others to feel what they’re feeling… Such is especially true of those who are lonely. It’s a desperate effort to feel less alone.”

Willow drops her arms. “We’re the found family, guys. Nothing’s supposed to get between us like this. So maybe instead of reprimand and accusation that stems from hurt and fear, why don’t we try getting to the root ofwhywe’ve done what we have,whywe’re so hurt, andwhywe’re going to actually come out of this stronger? We can’t let Castor win, but especially not like this. I, for one, never would have tried to help him if I thought it would hurt any of you.”

Cael’s amber eyes close briefly before he faces Alana again. When he looks at her, every inch of him implores. “I am devastated you went behind my back. I… It tortures me to think you felt you had to keep something so dangerous from me.”

Alana shrinks. “Every time I’ve tried to talk to you about Castor, you’re guarded. Xios and I can sense something more in him than you and Pollux can. His melody is no less burdenedwith a desire to care and protect. It’s just so…”

Pollux mumbles, “Sad.”

Alana nods.

The large man’s dark eyes land on Alexios. “Like a weeping soul.”

“Quite frankly, it’s sobbing like a baby. Truly shocking he’s the eldest of us all…” Alexios murmurs. “I sought out Castor before A ever confronted me about joining her in thesesave the villaincrusades. He’s my friend.”

Cael’s whole demeanor droops, wings dragging on the floor. “We thought that once, too, Xios.”

“Time changes many things.” Alexios lifts a hand from his pocket and peers at his fingers. “I’ve withheld information from everyone, because Castor needed someone like…like any one of us. Someone he could trust to lean on. Someone willing to be there for him, no matter what.” His fingers close. “Who knows. Maybe I wanted someone like that, too.” His attention lifts, skimming Willow and Zylus, Ollie and Brittny, Cael and Alana, Pollux and Kassandra, Pila, Andromeda, and…me. “All of you have history I can’t hope to compete with. When I first approached Castor, I was still trying to find where I belonged.” Sighing, he lowers his sights to Pila. “Forgive me for what I’ve done that has hurt you.”

Pila’s steady green eyes close. “That is not an apology.”

“I do not regret my actions. I knew the sapling I took would never have flourished where it was. I’m not sorry, because I do not want a world without Ash in it, but I do hope one day I’ll gain your forgiveness.”

Pila runs her fingers over the curly top of Terra’s head. “Mistakes…I suppose…are an inevitable part of existence. We have more important things to consider at the moment. If our interests have realigned, what are we to do about Dani?”

Heaving a sigh, Alexios lifts his shoulders. “I’ll talk toCastor.”

“Is that a good idea?” Alana asks. “He’s not very happy with you right now.”

Kassandra wraps herself in a hug, tapping her fingers against her arms. “Not to mention he is obviously not above seeking extremely specific revenge.”

Alexios’s eyes roll. “He gets grumpy like this sometimes. It’ll be fine.”

“And if it isn’t?” I ask, voice breaking.

Alexios’s attention shifts my way once more. “Careful, snowflake, I might convince myself you care about me.”

What an idiot.

Of courseI care about him.

Standing, I say, “Dani is my friend. I should be the one to talk to Castor.”

Cael’s wings bristle. “Absolutely not.”

Holding Ash tight, I face down the faerie prince. “Well, if no one’s allowed to talk to Castor, what are we supposed to do about Dani? I don’t know where she is. I don’t have her last name. She’s supposed to be on the run right now. And it took Castor weeks to find her. Unless you can reach her immediately, who knows when he plans to act?” My heart sinks as Ash’s complaints heighten. Swallowing hard, I kiss his forehead and pull his face near my heart. “It may already be too late.”

Alana’s fists close. “We’ll position sentries at every exit.”

“Alana…” Cael murmurs. “…that is not wholly feasible, my love.”

“At leasta few of your spy moths?” Her eyes search his. “We have to do something. What else can we do?”

Cael frees a breath, then draws his wife into his arms, curling his wings around their bodies. “I do not have record of every exit in Castor’s domain, but even if I did, such energy would be wasted against someone who senses my presence effortlessly.”

“What do we do?” Alana whispers.

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