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“Why?”

His eyes, a duller gray than I’ve ever seen, fall to the floor between us. “I just needed to tell you⁠—”

He’s interrupted by the creak of a door opening. Luca steps into view from the hallway, pausing the moment he sees Rhenn. Rhenn also holds his focus on Luca, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear something like hurt washes over his face.

“Everything good?” Luca asks, slowly shifting his gaze to me.

I don’t answer that because I honestly have no idea. I never expected to see anyone from Fall Haven again. If I did, I certainly never expected it would be Rhenn. “Can you give us a minute?” I ask, needing a moment to process this, and I can’t do that with him also standing here.

“Sure,” Luca answers. “Should I go back to the bathroom and wait, or sit on the opposite end of the couch?” He holds his hands out, gesturing to the very limited space.

“I’m really sorry, do you think you could go for a walk or something? Please? Ten minutes.”

He looks between us, holding his gaze on Rhenn. I don’t bring guys around. Ever. And Luca knows better than anyone why. So I can’t imagine what his thoughts are seeing the very tall and equally intimidating man in my house.

“Fine.” He sighs, slipping on his sweater.

“Off a fucking cliff,” Rhenn mutters, his eyes locking onto mine. Luca pauses, glancing at me as if to ask if I really want to be alone with this guy. I give him a small, apologetic smile, assuring him I’ll be fine.

Rhenn waits for the door to close. I couldn’t tell you his expression when he first arrived, I was too thrown off by the sight of him. Now, though, he looks pissed. “Who the fuck is that?”

“Luca. And you didn’t need to be such an ass to him.”

“Didn’t I?” Rhenn steps closer. “How should I have been then, Vix? Please, tell me.”

“I don’t know. Maybe like a decent person for once.”

“Why is he here?”

Is he really lecturing me right now? This is my house. He can’t just show up out of the blue and start bossing me around.

“Why are you here?”

“I wanted to… I thought…” Rhenn shakes his head, sounding genuinely flustered for the first time since I’ve known him.

I fold my arms in front of me. “Maybe you came to apologize?”

“Apologize?”

“Yes, Rhenn, because you knew. You knew exactly what happened to my mom and you never said anything.” I’ve been nothing but angry over the situation. Now, it’s like every emotion is fighting to break through me.

I knew there was a chance she was really gone forever, but I hoped, prayed, she wasn’t. I kept this naïve idea with me that I might find her again. That we would be a family, me and her.

I know now that will never happen.

Years of my childhood lost.

I’ve always tried to be strong. I’m not strong though. I am lost and I am hurt. More than that, I’m full of resentment. Rhenn never asked for my trust, he did nothing to deserve it. Still, a small piece of me opened up to him. He was an ass, sure. He was also real.

I thought he was real…

But he betrayed me.

“Your world is nothing but rainbow-colored shit. Vile creatures disguised as something beautiful. You’re all terrible,” I spit, feeling tears pool in my eyes. “And she’s gone. I lost my mother because she trusted a monster.”

Rhenn’s entire body hardens then. “That monster lost his life for you,” he grits through clenched teeth. “He adored Eloise, and my uncle didn’t like that. Didn’t like that she wasn’t of pure blood.” He pauses, trying to collect himself. Me? I nearly collapse hearing him say her name.

After another breath, Rhenn continues. “My father was devastated when he took her from him. But he knew she had a daughter, a little girl who was now without a mother. He wanted to get you, bring you into our home and raise you as his, because that’s how much he loved her.” Rhenn closes his eyes, squeezing them tight, like he’s reliving a terrible memory. “My uncle didn’t like that either. Dad was his family, his brother. That didn’t matter.” His focus finds me again. “I grew up with no one, had no one, because of you.”