Exodus (The Ravenhood)

“No one knows? I find that hard to believe. You grew up here.”

He’s old enough to have left Triple Falls years ago. And he wasn’t close. If so, it wouldn’t have taken him so long to find out about me.

“You weren’t here in the US. You weren’t close. Were you in France?”

He remains mute, confirming my suspicions.

“That picture wasn’t you, it’s your father, right?” He’s not even using a real picture in a government-issued ID? Or is it fake? This shit is something out of a spy novel, not real life.

“So, you share a mother? But you took Dominic’s father’s last name? Why?”

More silence. But if his mother fled France because of his father…

“I’m guessing your father is more of a monster than you are?”

“Watch it,” he snaps. I’ve hit a nerve, a very big nerve.

“So, you were in France the whole time? Doing what?” I run my hands through my hair. “Jesus. How far does this go?”

“You don’t want to know.” He cocks his head. “We’re not playing a game with toy guns, extra lives, and Monopoly money. We left the fort and torched any trace it existed a long time ago, Cecelia.”

It all makes sense. He’s remained faceless in a faceless and nameless organization because he’s the man behind the curtain. I’m sure of it.

And in order to reign, if he is the mastermind, then there’s definitely a pecking order. If so, Sean is the equivalent of a foot soldier, and Dominic is both brains—and by his behavior—the henchman.

But Tobias is the devil you meet only when you’ve fucked up to the point of no return.

There’s a change in his tone, and it’s grave. I take it at face value. This goes so much further than anything I could have imagined.

And I want no part of it. Not anymore. Not without them.

I’ve lost half my mind due to heartbreak alone.

“I can’t pay for my father’s mistakes. It’s hard enough being his daughter. But I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry about your parents. And for whatever part Roman played. It’s not my place to apologize, but it’s not my place to pay for it, either. Your war is with him.”

I sigh, my limbs drained from the struggle. “I’m here for my mother. I’m here to ensure she’s cared for and will want for nothing. She’s ill. I’m sure Sean told you as much,” I close my eyes briefly. “Or maybe he didn’t, but that’s my purpose here, the reason why I’m still here. She’s my priority, and I can’t imagine losing her. So, I’m sorry it happened. But for the last time, I’m not your enemy.”

Skin stinging from his bite, body swollen with desire, I shake my head in aggravation.

“I know you don’t give a shit about me because you just ripped any amount of safety you yourself could guarantee from my neck. Jesus, this is so fucked,” I walk to the edge of the clearing, intent on keeping what’s left of my sanity. “I’m done, okay? I’m done. Just stay the fuck away from me.” Gathering myself, I turn in the direction of my house.

“You’re safe.” His words stop my retreat and wrap around me like a balm. I turn to see him standing close as if he’s silently followed me.

“Yeah, well, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t believe you. The kingdom is all yours. I’ll be gone by the end of the summer.”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

Utterly exhausted, I let him have the last word. I feel his gaze on me the entire walk back to the house.

Days later, I sit at my vanity gaping at my neck, and the puncture marks at the top of my breasts. I look like I was viciously attacked, and in a way, I was…until I wasn’t.

The morning after our run-in, I spent an hour trying to cover the bite on my neck before I discovered the bruises on my wrists and called in. The bite marks have gone from red to purple to fading yellow, but they are still there, and I am nowhere near okay enough to fake it through a shift with Melinda.

I’ve been mostly holed up in my bedroom the last few days, unable to escape the constant replay of that kiss while deciphering all that was revealed to me.

Dominic’s brother.

I kissed him.