Daddy sighs and goes to his desk, clicking on his computer. He brings something up on the screen, and I stare in shock. It’s the email trail with the hitman, who I assume are some dealers, and even the vow Christos signed long ago. Daddy also brings up screenshots of the account information and the start of a wire transfer. But something’s different. It isn’t Talon’s alias. It’s Christos’s. Now I know this is all completely wrong.
Now I wonder if Talon was telling the truth. Maybe it wasn’t Daddy. But...no. That still doesn’t make sense. Why would my dad cover up for Talon supposedly betraying our family? The only explanation I can think of is that Daddy doesn’t want Talon to know he knows the truth. Maybe he’s using Christos as a cover for Talon’s behavior. He could be doing this to prepare for when Talon comes after him. Maybe he thinks I’ll tell Talon.
And now I’m stuck in the middle of everything.
“Is this proof enough for you, daughter?” Daddy asks, clicking out of the screen.
I just nod my head. I have nothing else to say. I need to get out of here. I need to tell Christos what’s happening. I need to find Talon and warn him.
But mostly, I need to figure out what to do next. I can’t stand the thought of something happening to anyone because of this.
I stand up from the chair, half expecting Daddy to shove me down, but he doesn’t. He lets me have my space.
“Now that you see, will you please stop taking these risks and putting our name in jeopardy? You need to hide and pretend that this is not happening. I’ll have Talon bring you in when the time comes, okay?” Daddy asks, remaining stern-faced toward the situation.
I nod my head in silence and walk toward the door.
He stops me and kisses the top of my head. “I know this is tough, but it is what it is. I will handle it and will take care of those against us. Then we can move on.”
Again, I bob my head in agreement.
I leave Daddy standing in the office staring behind me.
I feel as if my world is about to implode.
I’m afraid there won’t be any survivors.
Christos parks in the garage of Leandro’s house, and I finally intake a deep breath. I haven’t said anything since leaving the Looking Glass, and he hasn’t pried. He knows that I need time to process. He’s always been good about that.
But now he looks at me, the anticipation for answers clear on his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me that my dad arranged your initiation?” I ask, keeping my voice low. “He said that he made it so that neither of us had to do something worse and that I fucked up by being ungrateful. He thought we would be married and happy because of it.”
Christos purses his lips and frowns. “What do you mean he arranged it? The initiation was given to me by William. I had been given a choice after one of the other new recruits... God this is fucked up. I don’t even want to think about it. I love you, Stacia. I love you so damn much, but I know I failed you. I just couldn’t do the other thing they had demanded. It’s why I’ll probably never be the king of a chapter. It all came down to testing my loyalty. It was either that or lose you completely. Because you were marked. You were marked as a victim to be sacrificed as an initiation for someone else. You weren’t chosen at first.”
My heart sinks to my stomach. Daddy said I wasn’t chosen, but he never said I had been marked. I didn’t think that still happened. I’ve heard rumors about those seeking power killing as part of their initiation...but the King’s Court picking me as sacrifice? What the actual fuck?
“From what I know, another guy showed up. A relative or something. I don’t exactly know who he was, but he was also considered an heir. He was to be groomed to be a King like me but for the Looking Glass. But he died before he could be initiated. I don’t know all the details. I just know that his death fucked things up. He committed suicide to escape. So William gave me this offer, thinking I might follow the same fate. I didn’t know it was you until then. He said I could do this and solidify both of our places. He never mentioned your dad.” Christos frowns and leans closer, pushing my hair behind my ear.
I’m more confused than ever. “So what was your other choice?” I know the answer deep down, but I need to hear it.
“To finish what the other heir couldn’t. It would’ve solidified my path to take over. I chose to betray you instead, and then...it ended up being for nothing. I lost you anyway.” Christos closes the space, resting his forehead to mine. “I’m so sorry. astéri mou. I couldn’t tell you any of this. You know the consequences if I did. It would’ve jeopardized both of our lives. So I risked losing you to save you. I prayed you’d forgive me...but I did lose you. I wouldn’t change it though.”
My heart hammers at his admission, and I close my eyes, sharing his breath. I wish with everything in me that I had known what was happening. I was too naïve. It was too easy to just get angry and throw Christos away. Then he accepted it. He left. But something must’ve changed. My dad was the one who brought him back.
Daddy knew what kind of effect it would have on me, and he did it anyway. I think he did it on purpose.
Shit.
“You didn’t lose me,” I murmur, wanting nothing more than to forget the shitty situation. I want to forget all the treachery and the lies spun like spiderwebs catching me as the prey. I can’t escape. But I can at least learn to cut myself free. To fight back.
“But I did. You obviously have your heart open for others, astéri mou.” Christos grazes his lips to mine with his words.
“I do, but that doesn’t mean it’s not open for you too. I wish things could’ve been different, but then...” I let my voice trail off, closing the space to his mouth completely, kissing him softly, gingerly, waiting for his reaction.
He slides his tongue over mine, deepening our kiss, giving in to my need instead of sending me away despite everything.
Heat blooms between us, and I drag my hands over the front of his shirt, unbuttoning it as quickly as I can, wanting nothing more than to feel his skin against mine. To remember what it’s like to be with Christos with his love for me. With his loyalty.