“I’m sorry.”
“What are you—”
“I’m sorry for doing that to you when you were so young. I’m sorry for not seeing that it hurt you, too.”
“You shouldn’t be sorry for that. The bastard should be.”
“He won’t be and it doesn’t matter. He’s out of our lives.” She took a deep breath. “But don’t you think Edmund deserves a chance? Not all people are built to hurt, and you see how he is with Archie. You see how he is with me.”
“It’s an act. It has to be.” But there was doubt on Charlie’s face now, struggling with what he saw and what he believed. “Are you letting him back into your life, Alexa?”
There was a time to create white lies to protect her loved ones, but this wasn’t one of them. So, she inhaled deeply and let it out in one go.
“Yes. I love him. He loves Archie and me. I know you will see it too, eventually.”
An ugly look took over Charlie’s face, making Alexa understand that that time wouldn’t be now. When Charlie disentangled from the embrace, she let him go, refusing to pressure him until he was ready.
“I have to go,” Charlie announced, hands in his pockets and avoiding her gaze. “I will come back later.”
“Charlie—”
“Please, sis. I don’t want to fight, and we already have an argument brewing here.”
She watched him go, felt so guilty, and took a glance at Archie’s dozing figure on the couch before trailing down the stairs. She caught her brother just at the apartment building’s front door, as tense as they came. Alexa reached for his shoulder, but he was quick to take her hand and squeeze it behind them…a warning, one that had her gaze flying everywhere. Nothing seemed amiss, but Charlie had been trained like all of them to detect danger. So, she kept her mouth quiet as they stayed in her spot, not daring to go up and lead that danger towards her son.
Oh, God. Her son.
She thought of calling out a name. Before she could, figures appeared from the shadows, a number that had her hair standing on end. One or two they could have handled without breaking a sweat, but the crowd that was circling them was guaranteed to hold them down even if they shifted. Charlie got this, too, despite the fur already breaking through and sweeping over his stiff body. Despite their regular forms, there was no doubt in her mind what kind of creatures they were facing.
“Hold,” she warned quietly, trepidation ringing at the idea of him getting hurt. “Let me talk to them.”
“Is there even any talking to them?” he muttered. Then, “Hey, Fae bastard! How about you show yourself instead of hiding with your pathetic crowd—”
“Charlie,” she growled, glowering at him. Then she glowered at the approaching group. “Don’t you dare. One more step and I am going to make sure that all of your skin’s stripped off and hanging up this building.”
She sensed their hesitation via their pause, then heard the chuckle at the back. Seconds later, Duncan appeared, dressed in semi-formal attire and handsome with his grin. He crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“I didn’t know you had this edge in you, Alexa,” he said, voice filled with admiration. “I like it.”
She held Charlie’s elbow before he could lunge. She bared her teeth. “How about we talk about it like civil people, Duncan?”
“How about we skip the discussion, and you allow me to see my son—”
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” a voice pierced the air loudly, demanding attention with its cheer and the graceful figure that jumped the circle and landed beside her with barely a hitch. “I didn’t realize we have company. How about you invite them in, my love?”
She stared at him in disbelief. Then she met his gaze and glimpsed the tension under the cheer, recognizing it only because she knew him so well now. Her heart swelled as nerves assaulted it, wondering if this was the right decision. Then she held on to the anchor that Edmund provided and accepted the trust he offered.
“Okay, sure. I just cooked dinner, and we have some tea to serve.”
Chapter 16
It was the most harrowing walk of his life, knowing three people’s protection relied on his actions, but Edmund listened to his gut instinct as he led them up the flight of stairs. The two were so silent and tense, but Alexa managed hers better as she held her head high and walked like a queen. He brushed his fingers against hers and felt the thrum of connection, but held the rest back in preparation for what was to come. He stopped at their apartment door on the designated floor and turned to beam at the crowd.
“Now, he might be asleep. You see, Archie doesn’t take kindly to getting interrupted with his sleep, so we have to knock gently and wait until he answers.”
He knocked, soft taps that barely made a sound over the wood. He knocked again. At the nth knocked, Duncan made an impatient sound and pushed him away, and it took everything in Edmund not to claw the guy’s face out. He pretended to be alarmed and grabbed Alexa and Charlie out of the way as Duncan’s men barged into the bedroom, breaking the door. Duncan stepped in last.
“Archie? It’s me. I felt you. I know I’m interrupting your sleep, but this is very important—”