Part 33 (1/2)
”We were eight years old. We didn't understand what that promise would cost us. I remember giving it to you and feeling the breath being crushed from our lungs. I remember the panic that gripped us as that promise bored into our souls, caging us in these tiny bodies.”
”I'm so sorry, Sibyl. I never meant to hurt you.”
A hollow laugh rose up, too old for the body from which it came. ”You did a fine job of it without even trying.”
”One day you'll understand.”
”How?” demanded Sibyl. ”When I grow up and have a child of my own? You've stolen that from me. You've taken from me everything I should have had, including driving Mauraa”the other half of myselfa”away.”
”No. I didn't do that.”
”You did. She left because she couldn't stand the sight of you. She couldn't stand the reminder of what we should have had, what we should have become.”
”She chose to change sides.”
”No. She chose to run away, and the only place where she would be safe was with our enemy. It's not as if she could have lived on her own.”
”She betrayed us,” said Gilda, knowing Maura had learned to do so from her.
”You betrayed us. Your actions set all of this in motion. I'm sure the damage you've done hasn't even finished playing out yeta”at least, not for me and Maura.”
”If I could take back what I've done, I would.”
”It's too late for that. Your time is nearly up.”
”So you can see thata”see my future.”
Sibyl nodded.
”And your father's?”
”You'd have to ask Maura. It's her turn.”
”I wish I could see her again before I die,” said Gilda.
”Don't worry,” said Sibyl. ”You will.”
Madoc's heart was going to explode from his body. First he had the most powerful o.r.g.a.s.m of his life, and now Nika was screaming in pain, writhing in his arms.
”Tori!” she yelled, reaching out as if she could actually see her sister.
”Nika, come back to me.” He didn't know what was happening to Tori, but he knew for sure he didn't want Nika anywhere near it, whether in body or mind.
She went still, then opened her eyes and looked up at him. Tears leaked from the corners, wetting the pale hair at her temples. ”She was here. For just a minute. They're hurting her.”
Nika still clutched her stomach. Her legs were curled up tight against her body, and Madoc was certain he knew why. ”She's in labor. There's nothing you can do.”
Nika shoved herself away from him, stumbling from the bed. Her clothes were draped over a chair, and she hurried to put them on. ”I have to find her.”
”How? All we know is that she went southeast.”
”She called out for me once. She will again.”
Madoc started to dress, because he knew she'd be tearing out of here at any minute, and he didn't want to follow her bare-a.s.s naked down the hall and scare all the human children. ”And you'll be incapacitated by the pain again.”
She pulled a s.h.i.+rt over her head. ”I don't care. I'll be ready for it next time.”
Madoc wanted to force her to stay here. She was too precious to risk. He knew she'd give her life for her sister in a heartbeat and he couldn't let that happen. He didn't want Tori to die, but if she did, he didn't want her to take Nika down with her.
”Just what do you think you'll have to gain by running off in a panic? We need to go to Joseph and do this the right way.”
”How long do you think that will take? How long do you think Tori has? I can't wait.”
Madoc grabbed her arm, being careful not to grip her too hard. ”What good will it do you to find her if we can't get her out alive? We have to gather the men.”
”Fine. You talk to Joseph. Gather whoever you like, but we're leaving now.”
Meghan was on her way out of the office when she came to a rocking halt.
John Hawthorne leaned against the trunk of her car, his thick arms crossed over his chest.
Just the sight of him made something deep inside her loosen up. A familiar pang of arousal shot to her womb and made her knees go weak. She wondered if he'd always have the power to do that to her.
She hadn't expected to see him ever again. He was just one bright, secret spot in her life she'd hold close and never forget. Seeing him here, in her town, at her work, was completely shocking and completely unacceptable.
”What are you doing here?” she asked, checking over her shoulder to see if any of her coworkers were nearby. Luckily, they weren't, but that wouldn't last for long.
”You left. I wasn't ready for that, so I came to find you.” He said it as if it was the most reasonable thing to travel nearly two thousand miles to finish a conversation.
”You can't be here.”
”Why not? It's a free country.”
”If someone sees, they'll tell my father.”
John lifted a brow. ”You're twenty-eight. I'm pretty sure you're allowed to date by now.”
”It's not that.”
”Then what is it?”
Meghan didn't know how to explain it. Her father had his pride. If he thought caring for him was robbing her of anything, he'd push her away. She wasn't convinced he was strong enough to live on his own yet. Sure, he was better, but what if he had a relapse?
”We had a great time, John. But you just can't be here. Please go.”
”Are you married?” he asked, his face darkening with rage.
”Heavens, no. Nothing like that. I just can't be involved right now. I have too many responsibilities.”
”So do I, but here I am anyway. I thought the two of us had something special.”