Page 75 of Fire Touched

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Killian

I do my best to put everything I’m feeling into a box, and shove it to the back of my mind. That doesn’t stop the hurt in my chest, though. The way my breath hitches, trying to swallow down everything I’ve learned.

Haldreg and I stand before Verron and Prescott, waiting for them to bite our heads off, or shout, or look at us with soul-crushing disappointment. I’m not sure I have a preference. Whatever happens, I deserve it. Despite what the guard said, my betrayal feels measurable to my parents’.

Night has faded into dawn; soft, grey light spills through the window. Another stab of pain, guilt. Another night has passed which I should have spent in bed with my mate. I shove that into a box, too, unable to deal with it.

Prescott glances at Verron, who gives a shrug, a nod. The Second flips a chair and sits on it backward, facing us. He drums his fingers on his knees. ‘To be honest, Killian, I’m surprised you didn’t do something like this sooner. And Haldreg, we’re sorry. You deserved to know the truth about your mother a long time ago.’

His words settle over the air around me, but don’t sink in. Inwardly, I flinch, expecting to leave this place as much an enemy to this pack as my father did eighteen years ago. I blink. ‘Wait, what?’

I glance sideways at Haldreg. He looks how I feel.

Prescott runs a hand over his jaw. ‘Come on. It’s been a long night.’ He gets to his feet and comes and pats me on the shoulder. ‘You at least need to eat before you go, Killian. I’ll get you copies of these to take with you.’ He gestures to the files I stole.

Prescott claps Haldreg on the shoulder. ‘I’m sorry. When we buried that night, we buried the memories of a lot of good people.’ He and Verron exchange a look of what might be guilt, or regret. Both. ‘That wasn’t our intention.’

‘You were protecting young Ivy, sir.’

Verron gives a mirthless chuckle. ‘She’s not so young anymore.’

‘No, I’m not,’ comes a voice from the doorway.

We all spin to face her.

‘Dad, Pres, I’m going with them.’ Ivy raises her chin, a stubborn set to her jaw.

Verron sighs. ‘I know, baby. Your mother told me you would.’

I swear colourfully. ‘That’s why Elga’s been so upset.’ I turn to Ivy, piecing everything together. I’ve been so stupid. All the comments the witch made. One day, if you have children, you’ll understand. She was mourning Ivy leaving. Katie told me about the strange exchange she’d had with Elga. If I give you something precious, would you promise to take care of it? Ivy.

I am the last person to want to tell Ivy to stay home, but I raise a hand before more can be said. ‘On that front, actually, we need to have a conversation.’ There’s much I haven’t said. Much that needs to be sorted out.

We leave with the rising sun. We don’t have much time.

I am itching, burning, to get home. To confront my father.

But first, I turn to face Verron and Prescott. ‘Have I—have I made enemies of you?’

Prescott breaks into an easy smile, reminding me of his son. ‘No, Killian. Not at all.’

Verron crosses the room. ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve offered what I’m about to offer you.’ He cuts a worried glance at Ivy, remembering, before he holds his hand out. ‘We part as friends. Allies.’

Relief washes over me so strong I think I might vomit. Instead, I clench my jaw and grasp the alpha’s forearm with a firm nod. ‘Friends. Thank you.’

‘I know what your father will do when you return,’ Verron says. ‘He will declare war on Water Pack, on your witches, and I understand why.’ His grasp on my arm tightens. ‘But I want to make something clear. We are not his to call into battle. It’s only you I will answer to.’

Guilt thickens at the back of my throat. ‘That’s fair.’

‘Good. Now.’ Verron looks between me and Ivy. ‘What’s left to arrange?’

My heart almost too heavy to carry, I sigh. ‘How we divide our group.’ It’s the choice Elga warned me I would have to make.

Prescott’s brows shoot up, but Verron just nods.

**scene break**

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