"Is it true?" Kay could tell he heard everything; the guilt in his eyes told her that. Nor did she have to elaborate.

Thane hesitated, and for a moment, she thought he seemed embarrassed.

"That I didn't want to admit that I fell for a mere child, and she almost made me forget about Azera, who I was, and that if I were human, even the memory of me would have long turned to dust?" he asked gruffly.

The unexpected sense of betrayal his words elicited caused turmoil inside her. The screen's reflection showed her the blazing blue of her eyes, the glint of her fangs peeking through her lips, and the stiffness of her posture, but did her emotions no justice.

"How many more lies have you told me?" she bit out, her hands fisting.

"I had to distance myself from you to allow Akira to send you on your mission, and when we made peace, I didn't want to see that look in your eyes because I knew your human roots lay too close in your memory."

"What look?" she asked almost aggressively, unsure why such a little thing sent her over the edge and if this was just an extension of what Zeus set in motion. Maybe it was the culmination of everything finally catching up to her.

"Distrust, betrayal, and maybe even a little disgust," he admitted, and despite his remorse, she wasn't ready to forgive him.

Somehow, the little distance between them when she thoughts she had been coldly planned as some part of an experiment, made his choices more acceptable, but knowing he was her father in the true sense of the word... Even worse, that he had loved her mother, and she had feelings for him, yet he abandoned her to her fate, rushed anger through her veins she struggled to contain.

"I'm going to Akira," she said, pivoting on her heel before she said something she'd regret.

"And just like that, you turn to the dark?" he asked, sounding odd, and she turned back to face him.

The hurt and betrayal, guilt, and loss in his eyes brought her up short, but even realizing that he cared more for her than she ever imagined, didn't silence her raging storm of emotions.

"No, Father, I am going to my sister because I need to clear my head and deal with this as far from you as possible. I need her."

"And you want to know if she knew? If she betrayed you as well. But her you would forgive, I am not so sure you will forgive me."

"Thank you, that didn't quite occur to me," she bit out, rubbing the back of her neck. "Your paranoia needs to be controlled, Father, and preferably before I return."

"Then you are coming back?" he asked hopefully.

What was this? What happened to the Thane she met not so long ago? Why would he think that she would desert him and not return? Was he still not over the past? Would she be? He lived with the idea of his family's betrayal for two millennia. Had it instilled the fear of abandonment so deeply into him that even the great and powerful Thane was crippled by it? It seemed absurd, but the look in his eyes settled a little of her anger.

"Yes, when I am ready."

Why did that seem more like a promise than she had intended?

"Take all the time you need. Akira misses you but wasn't sure how you would feel about returning to Azera's castle."

That bit she hadn't thought through. She expected the light of victory in his eyes, but instead, more worry settled about his broad shoulders like a cloak.

"We must all face our fears at some point," she said, not sure if it was the truth or an attempt to save face.

"Why don't you stay, and I will visit my vassals to smooth out things and assure their loyalty?" he asked, sighing, his knuckles white on the back of the chair he stood behind.

He would do that for her? Thane was such a mass of contradictions, and each little thing chipped away at her anger.

"No, I can't stay here. This place is like an extension of you. Everything here oozes with your essence, and I just need..."

"A little space," his hands relaxed as he accepted her decision.

"Why don't you try making peace with Zeus instead of going out to your vassals? He should be more amenable in a day or two, but don't give him too much time to overthink it."

He nodded, and she left.

***

Marcus appeared at her side before she had taken more than a dozen steps, but she was already aware of him and realized she had been for several minutes.

"Do you need a break from me too?" he asked, his face austere as he stared straight ahead, seemingly as angry at Thane as she was, or did her anger so directly affect him?

"Give me a couple of days?" she asked, already much calmer, and he finally turned his head toward her. A frown creased his brow, and she wanted to wipe it away, but the things vying inside her had created a barrier she wasn't ready to lower.

Typically, Marcus didn't force the issues, giving her whatever she needed, but he would not for long.

"I am sorry he hurt you again," he said, and she nodded.

"He is as well, but I am..."

"Hurt?" he asked, voicing her feelings because he experienced them, too.

"Yes." They both knew it was so much more complex than just mere hurt.

"Claudia thought you handled all of this too well and that there would come a time when you would 'blow a gasket.' After that night with the alfa females, I thought you would be alright, but of late, I wondered."

"It is the thing about strength, is it not? It is a good thing to have when you need it, but afterward, allowing yourself to work through things isn't that easy," she admitted. "Because if you open the floodgate and let the water flow through, there is no stopping it or returning it from whence it came."

"Do what you must and take your time, my love. You've been through hell, and there hasn't really been time to absorb things, inspect them, and work through your emotions."

"I am not to only person here who suffered," she said, still stubbornly clinging to her stronghold.

"They had thousands of years to deal with their issues; you are but a babe."

"What? Compared to your fifty-odd years?" she mocked, another defense mechanism she had picked up of late. Too much time around Darcy, Cat, and Marcel.

A smirk touched his handsome lips but faded almost instantly.

"Go. I will tell Akira to expect you. Will you be alright going there on your own?"

His concern almost made her cave, but she nodded.

"Just call for me if you need me?"

"I will," she said, and they both knew it was a lie. Neither of them was any good at asking for help. "Were you looking for Thane or me?"

"Thane, I need his authorization for payments."

"I would not suggest bothering him with those now."

"No." He nodded and stalked away with one last glance in her direction.

She would miss him, but with him around to distract her, she'd just find excuses to bury her feelings again until the next thing happened.

What did her therapist call it? Unresolved issues and there were a lot of those. Returning to Azera's castle, the dungeon, and even worse, her cell would take a lot of courage. Would it heal or hurt? She had no idea but refused to live the rest of her life with a piece of her still locked in that dark hole.

Even the thought turned her hands clammy and made her jittery. Could she even make it through the gates without turning tail and running? Wouldn't it be hilarious if she came this far and couldn't face her past now that her demon was dead?

The deepest, darkest recess of the human mind, where we lock up all that we cannot deal with until it bursts from our subconscious and rips free like a lanced boil. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she shuddered.

Don't know if I would be able to do it. Newest Version ©2014-2023 All rights reserved. If you find this on any other platform but Wattpad under @CSDreamer, please report it. No part of this book may be copied or reposted without the author's permission.