Very slowly, Winter drew off the ring and held it out to River. “Hold on to this for me.”
Bel let out a little gasp, his eyes closely following the ring’s movement from Winter’s hand to River’s. The werewolf smiled broadly as he closed both hands around it and tucked it against his chest.
“Why does he get to watch over it?”
“Because it’s not science, Bel. It’s magic,” Winter teased. He started to turn and stopped, narrowing his eyes on River. “Plus, he knows that if he ever wants to touch my guitar collection, he’s going to guard that with his life from you fucking heathens.”
There was a little laughter, but the room turned oppressively quiet as he approached the door. He could feel all eyes on him, and he didn’t doubt that his brothers knew exactly who Winter was going to talk to. He was a little surprised they all weren’t jumping to get one last conversation in, but he was glad they weren’t. This chat was long overdue.
The whispers didn’t return to him until he was in the hall. So very soft, he almost didn’t notice them at first. And then a little girl ran across the hall chasing a bouncing beach ball. She looked as if she were maybe five or six, and she was dressed in a swimsuit. Poor thing was a far way from the beach. But she didn’t seem to notice him or the world around her. It was just about the ball.
Part of him relaxed to see the ghost. It had been weeks since they’d been a regular appearance in his life. It was almost like slipping into a comfortable pair of worn shoes. He descended the stairs to Marcus’s grand foyer. There were no other ghosts besides the passing child. His mother was usually right here watching them as they came into Marcus’s home.
Something white caught his eye in the doorway to the parlor, and Winter followed it. She was standing near one of Marcus’s pianos, an expectant look on her beautiful face. It was the same face he’d known his entire life.
“Mother,” Winter whispered, his throat suddenly raw.
“My poor, sweet Winter,” she said. Her voice wobbled as if she were close to tears as well. She held out both hands to him, and Winter quickly crossed the room to her side. He reached out to take her hands but stopped himself. His hands would only pass through hers, and he couldn’t take that right now. She lowered her arms back to her sides and smiled at him.
“I’m sorry we haven’t spoken sooner,” he said, his voice still rough and unsteady.
Julianna was shaking her head. “No, you needed time.”
“You knew? Or…you remember…”
Her expression became pained and her eyes dropped to the piano. “Things became clearer after that night. When I died.”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t save you.”
Her eyes jumped to his face again, and her expression was fierce and determined. A flash of the woman he remembered from his youth. “No. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I saved Ethan that night. And Marcus needs him. I’ve seen them together. They’re so happy.”
Winter nodded and swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. “Yes, they are. You did save him.”
“I needed to do some good…after everything…” Her voice trailed off and she blinked rapidly a few times as if fighting back tears. “I’m so very sorry. I wish I could have said it sooner. I wish I could have said it a hundred times in your life to you and your brothers.”
“Why?”
“Because I know what you suffered for me. I would never have wanted this life for you. I only wanted you and your brothers to be happy. I dreamed of you finding love and living interesting lives on your own.”
Winter stepped up to the baby grand piano and ran his fingers over the shining black lacquer surface. He’d dreamed of this moment, of finally telling her off about all that he’d suffered when she was insane. He wanted to shout at her for all the times they’d pulled her off of one of their siblings, covered in their blood.
But the words wouldn’t come. He couldn’t even summon the anger. The pain was still there as an old dull ache. Yet when he thought of what his life was because of her, he only saw Fox’s smiling face in his mind.
Yes, he’d traveled through hell and he became a vampire, and he’d had to survive two hundred years in order to meet Fox. But it was worth it.
“Life was…difficult at times,” he admitted. “It wasn’t the life I would have expected for me or my brothers.”
“Oh Winter, it was far more than difficult. I know what I did to you—”
His head popped up and he stared at her. “And we always knew it really wasn’t you. What I’m trying to say is that…just because it’s not the life we expected, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a good life. You gave me three brothers who have always looked out for me and loved me. You also found the absolute best father for us. Aiden has loved and guided us from the very first day we met. We can’t believe how lucky we are to have him.”