Page 40 of The Dark Elf's Secret Twins

20

CYRA

Afew weeks have gone by since that fateful morning when Lykan lost it. I’ve lost count of just how many it’s been. Things have been tense to say the least. In an effort to distance myself from Lykan, I’ve moved to the opposite side of his manor where the guest rooms are.

I’ve made them into a room of my own. It’s not like anyone would come see him anyway, who would willingly wish to waste their time with some grouchy asshole? I won’t make that mistake again.

I rarely ever talk to him now. Admittedly, there are times I do want to spend the evening with him but why on Protheka should I make the effort? It always ends the same, with him pushing me away. It’s like he hasn’t changed at all from when we worked together in Le Lazurt.

“It’s not worth my time or energy,” I tell myself.

I throw my clothes to the floor before climbing into a bath filled with rirzed infused hot water. Letting out a long, drawn out sigh, I relax into it, submerging my body all the way until only my head sticks out above the surface.

It wasn’t like Lykan ever reciprocated my efforts to connect on a deeper level. It only confuses me. We’re two people living in the same estate, yet he drove me away to the point where we now acted almost like strangers. Even now as I close my eyes and concentrate, I cannot think of a single time he has ever asked me how I’m doing.

I wonder now if it was all one big mistake in moving here into his home. Then again, Colson and Kenji are happier than they ever were with Nasthyn. They both bear a tremendous amount of love for their father and I cannot take that away from either of them.

At this point, the children seem to be the only thing holding this all together.

“Lykan and I probably would have murdered each other if not for them,” I chuckle.

I knew in every joke there was a hidden truth. I wish he and I got along better but I know I’m not the problem. Alas, I could never force someone to open up for me. I only wonder what has him so tormented.

The only times we ever talk now is when we convene in the middle of the estate to hand over the kids to each other. Even mealtimes are separate, with Lyklan no longer cooking for us. I wonder what to do about it all, and if I should try and give it one more shot, but for now I cannot find the strength I need to do so.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, I realize evening time has arrived. It’s time for me to retrieve the kids off of Lykan before he heads to work. Climbing out of the bath, I dry myself off and get dressed in a matter of minutes. I leave the comfort of the bathroom and make way for the meeting point.

I walk down a large set of stairs into a common room, which has become the undeclared meeting point for us to exchange the kids. Already waiting in the center spot is Lykan, standing there with a hand resting on the shoulders of our children.

Seeing him there reminds me again that I miss him. It’s a sad sight and feels like a business deal more than anything. Even if Lykan and I shared no romantic relationship, I still long for us all to act like a complete family. I feel sorry for the kids, for they’ve been left utterly confused by the whole ordeal.

“Hello,” I greet politely.

“Children, go join your mother,” says Lykan, ushering Colson and Kenji toward me.

They join my side, squeezing my hands as we turn to their father.

“I’ll be off very shortly, and will return at my usual time,” he says.

“Okay. Good luck.”

With that, he spins on his heels and marches for the door, disappearing to his side of the estate. So ended another emotionless conversation, leaving my heart aching for something more. In an effort to distract myself, I turn my attention to the kids.

“So, how did you guys get on with Daddy?” I ask in an upbeat tone.

“Okay,” mutters Kenji, a hint of sadness coming through in his tone.

“Is something wrong?”

“Miss you and Dad together with us,” says Colson.

Their words tear and stab at my aching heart, breaking it into further pieces. I may be able to deal with my own sadness but hearing your children suffer made it unbearable.

“Come on guys, let’s go eat some dinner and we can do something fun afterward,” I say, already trying to brainstorm ideas.

I lead them into a small kitchen and help them climb into their seats. I then walk to the cupboards, sifting through the stowed ingredients to see what I can cook. I think now of when Lykan used to cook for us. I can’t say I didn’t miss his interactions at the table with Colson and Kenji.

As I throw together a random assortment of ingredients into a frying pan, I glance outside the kitchen window. Lykan strolls out through the gates of his estate. He flicks his long silver hair, a move that takes my breath away. Through all the pain in the last while, there’s still one thing that remains unchanged; my feelings for him.

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