Why is she here?
And how did she find me?
“You know this woman?” Soren asks.
I nod. When Natalie sees me, her eyes tear up too.
“April,” she mutters, and we stare at each other for a moment, the silence feeling like it lasts an eternity.
She looks … normal. Not wearing the clothes from the cult. And I can’t imagine what I must look like to her. Just two average girls who’ve seen their worlds destroyed and rebuilt.
And I can’t help but step forward and fall into her arms, hugging her tight.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” I mutter.
“I promised I’d come looking for you,” she answers. “I searched for so long, oh my God.”
I push her away, grabbing her shoulders. “How did you find me?”
Suddenly, a man steps out from a bush beyond the property, and the sight of him instantly makes my skin crawl.
Noah.
The man she fell for.
One of the leaders of that damned cult.
“What is he doing here?” I say through gritted teeth.
“He helped me,” she says, clutching my hand, trying to stay close. “He helped me find you.”
“Hey,” Soren says, grabbing my shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Grinding my teeth, I look at him and then at Natalie, who begs me with her eyes. “Please, let me explain.”
I sigh. “Fine.” I look up at Soren. “I’m fine.”
He nods but still remains on guard and protective of me, just like I’m used to.
“He’s not the man you remember,” Natalie says. “He only brought me in to destroy the cult from the inside out.”
“Right …” I frown, trying to stay calm.
“Noah helped me find the papers where your address was labeled.”
“They kept addresses of all their captives?” I make a face.
“Just as records for safekeeping, nothing more,” Noah answers for her as he steps forward. “I know we weren’t on good terms, but you mean a lot to her.”
I take in a deep breath and try to focus on Natalie. “Why?”
She rubs her lips together. “We shared a cell. And I still consider you my friend. I was worried about you all this time.”
“No need to worry,” I say, raising a brow. “I have protection,” I add, looking over my shoulder, but it’s mostly just to intimidate Noah.
“I see that,” she replies. “Is he …?”
“She’s mine,” Soren barks back.
“I see,” she responds, hiding a smile.
“What?” I say.
“I’m just happy you made your way back home. And that you look happy here, with him.”
Soren places his hand on my shoulder. “I am,” I reply. “He helped me when no one else would.”
“Is that how you got back home?” she asks.
“You sent her to the House,” Soren barks at Noah.
He raises his hands. “That was not my decision to make.”
“But you played a part in her unhappiness,” he says, stepping forward.
“So did you, it seems,” Noah quips.
Soren’s eyes fill with rage as he prepares for the attack, but I block him with my body.
“Now, don’t start a fight. Not on my property,” I say, pushing him back with a single hand.
He could easily crush my opposition, but he doesn’t because he respects me.
“Stop, please,” Natalie asks Noah. “I didn’t come here to fight.”
“Then why did you?” I ask, cocking my head.
She swallows and steps closer again, grabbing my hand. “Because I needed to know if you were okay. You were taken away, and I didn’t know where.”
“The House,” I respond. “Where I was supposed to be punished for my sin of not wanting to marry one of you fuckers.” I glance at Noah with disgust.
Noah sucks in a breath, closes his eyes for a second, and then says, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what my people did to you.”
Sorry.
He’s sorry?
I wish it didn’t make me tear up, but it does, and it’s so unfair.
It shouldn’t affect me. Not after everything else I’ve been through.
But then why does it feel like someone just split my soul in half?
I turn around and walk back into the house, unable to let them see my tears. Soren follows me inside, but I wave him off as I sit down on the couch.
“I just need to breathe, just one second.”
“They hurt you,” Soren growls, preparing to march right back out there.
“No, wait!” I raise my hand. “Don’t.”
He comes close and caresses my cheeks, wiping away the tears. “But you’re crying.”
“They’re not bad tears. They’re good tears. Tears of relief,” I explain.
“Do you want me to get rid of them?”
I shake my head. “No. This is good. It’s a wound that’s been festering for so long, and the mend is long overdue.”
He sighs and leans over to plant a kiss on my forehead. “If you’re sure.”
I nod. “Let her in. But not him.”
Soren does what I ask, and Natalie carefully steps into my house as though she’s afraid she’ll break something just by breathing.
“I’m sorry,” she says after a while.
“I know,” I say, and I grab a tissue to clean my eyes and nose. “It just doesn’t make it any easier to hear.”