Page 78 of The Dark Rising
“At one point, yes. Though she was a little pup. Then I became busy with Higher business and I couldn’t be around as much. Then the news broke about her parents, and that she had gone missing. I’m not sure if her path could have been changed if I were more involved in her younger years, but it seems nothing could derail that girl from her ways.”
“I will let you get on, Aldus, you must be busy,” I say, stepping to the side to let him through, wanting to wrap my hands around his throat. Now is not the time.
“Yes of course.” He bows his head. “Come see me and we can try and figure out what happened to the memory of you being an Heir.” With that he walks past us, his arms still clutching those papers.
“Aldus is the only one who can mess around with memories,” Leo says quietly when he hears the door close. “Do you think we can find proof that he tried to mess with your memories, or Kade’s?”
“I don’t know, but maybe I need to go to my father’s home and see if there is anything there. He knew I was an Heir, he saw it for himself, maybe he kept his own record of it even though he never spoke of it again. There is also the fact that he went to see Rhea in the basement.” My father and I were not close. He trained me hard to be an Elite, and out of some sense of loyalty, I kept my last promise to him to do what Charles has asked. Now I know he wasn’t the male I thought he was, he wasn’t the Elite I thought he was.
My temples pound. I suppose Rhea can’t even stand to be near me, well, more so now after finding out my father was involved. But when we went to her old home to get Sarah and she caught my hand, I saw in her eyes that she didn’t blame me. No matter what went on between us, she didn’t blame me for my father’s sins.
How could my father have stood by and let Rhea be trapped in that basement? How could he have not gotten her out of there?
It seems the poison of the Elites runs deep, and I need to go even deeper to get rid of the rot.
“You haven’t been home since…” He trails off but I know what he’s going to say.
I haven’t been home since my family was killed by rogures.
“Maybe it’s time I did. My father was hiding things, especially concerning Rhea.” I remember every time we went to Zakith, where my father would go to the Alpha house and send me off around the territory. All that time, I hated him for shutting me out of conversations with Alpha Paul, I was to be the Alpha of the Elites. It was important I was present for talks and meetings. I know better now, he wasn’t there for conversations, he was there forher.I clench my fists and Leo and Damian eye me warily.
“Let’s not destroy another room, brother,” Damian says, and moves over to another shelf. “Let’s try and find these names and get the fuck out of here. I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to be.” He slaps me on the back and we get to work, trying to find names from the notes we found in Rhea’s basement.
If we find any names that match, that confirm the Highers have been taking people right under our noses.
And we didn’t even realize…
Twenty Nine
Rhea
IholdSarah’shandin mine as she sits on the bed, rubbing my thumb in soothing motions over the back of her knuckles as she looks up at me with an apology in her eyes. Josh sits on a chair next to the bed like I am, his eyes not once moving from her.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, a tear falling from her eye.
“What happened?” I ask.
She looks at Josh before her eyes fall to her lap. “When they took me, they put me in a room and my father came.” She swallows roughly and her hand shakes in mine. “He… he started shouting, screaming even. He said awful things. He went to hit me, but his second in command reminded him that I can’t have any more injuries when I go in front of the council.” She shakes her head. “They said they would hurt you all if I didn’t agree with what my father said. I didn’t know what to do, I was so scared. I… I didn’t mean to betray you when they took me to the hall, I vow it. I didn’t know what to do… I didn’t—”
I knew there had to be a reason why she did what she did, but her words have shoved out any doubt left in my mind about it. I shift to the edge of my seat and move some of her dark hair behind her ear. “It’s alright now, I’m sorry too. I said I would keep you safe and I didn’t.” I clear my throat and try to get rid of the feeling of someone choking me. Another failure. Push it down Rhea. “Can you forgive me?” I ask her.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” she sobs, and I see Josh clenching his hand. “I betrayed you all by going along with what my father wanted.”
“You did what you had to do, what you thought was best, I can’t blame you for that.” A sob passes her lips, and I lean forward, gently wrapping my arms around her, the need to ease her making me not able to help myself. I hold her as she cries, my eyes connecting with Darius as he leans beside the door, his jaw ticking as he watches us.
Josh shifts in his seat, his knuckles white as he watches Sarah. She quiets after a while, then she leans back and wipes her face. She settles back in the bed and looks over toward Darius near the door. She tenses slightly, but then lifts her chin.
“Are you going to take me back?” Her voice wavers, but it’s still strong. Brave girl. Josh tenses as he waits for his answer, his face hardening.
“No, I’m not,” Darius tells her, and the room relaxes.
“But you’re the Highers’ weapon,” she says. “You… you could have told them I’m here, told my arranged mate I’m here.” Josh flinches, a growl rumbling in his chest.
“I’m not their weapon to do with as they please anymore. A lot has happened and changed.” Darius’s eyes come to mine as he speaks. I look away.
“Did you know my father sold me?” she asks him, and I freeze along with Darius.
“Sold you?” His brows furrow, and I look at Josh as he practically shakes with rage.
