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“God, Riley. Who else have you told? Kai? Mera?”

“No one.”

Lukas stepped toward Blaire, but she held up her hand.

“Stop. I’m too pissed off to deal with whatever you’re going to say right now.”

Lukas stepped back and leaned against the bathroom wall, shutting his eyes.

Riley looked back at Blaire, and her eyes watered. “I’m sorry, Blaire. I really didn’t mean to hurt you. I thought if they knew, it would help them understand you… protect you.”

The rational part of Blaire understood Riley’s intentions, but it still didn’t soothe the upset of having her trust betrayed. Charlotte hadn’t told her mothers when Blaire asked her not to; at least, they never indicated they knew.

“I trusted you.”

“You can trust me. It won’t happen again. I messed up. I should have let you tell them in your own time. Again, I really thought I was helping.”

Blaire sighed. “I know…”

“Please forgive me.” Riley sniffled.

Lukas stared at her legs, saying nothing.

Blaire shook her head. “It’s over now. And yes, Lukas… my stepbrother did this.”

He growled.

“Why are you still so bruised?” Riley asked, her voice wobbly.

“I don’t know. It’s always been this way. I bruise easily, and when it happens, the bruises last for a really long time. My mom had me examined periodically as a child, but even after lots of tests they couldn’t figure out what exactly causes it. I don’t have any diseases or anything like hemophilia, so your guess is as good as mine.”

Lukas stepped forward again until Blaire looked at him. He stopped, as if waiting for approval to approach. It made sense he’d hesitate; she had stopped him moments earlier. She stepped toward him and Riley.

“Does it hurt?” he whispered.

“Not really. Not unless you press on it.”

“Can I see them?” Lukas asked softly, meeting her eyes.

Blaire averted her gaze. She wasn’t sure what good would come of him seeing the evidence more than he already had. Her response came out small and uncertain as she looked back at him. “Why?”

“I just want to know… what you went through.”

Blaire’s brow furrowed, but she stepped back. If it helped ease Lukas’s mind, then it couldn’t hurt to show him. Riley had already seen them close up, anyway. She rolled up the loose pant legs to expose her inner thighs.

Riley turned away.

Lukas knelt in front of Blaire and held out a hand, looking up at Blaire, waiting. Blaire nodded. He growled as he looked at the bruising, resting his fingertips over the finger-pattern bruises. His eyes momentarily flared wide as he made the connection as to what caused that pattern.

Blaire bit down hard on her lower lip, shame bubbling in her stomach and threatening to surface. She had hoped the bruises would be gone before anyone saw her bare legs, since her uniform stockings hid them so well.

Lukas pulled his hand away as he studied the larger bruise on her other leg.

“I’m sorry this happened to you.” He met Blaire’s gaze.

Blaire shrugged.

“Don’t do that.”