Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
On top, she threw on a T-shirt of soft pink that actually fit pretty well, along with a hoodie of multihued shades that zipped up the front and seemed like something a juvenile might’ve helped purchase. She liked it. It was bright, open, more Soleil than anything she’d worn since the massacre.
She felt more real, more herself.
There was a mirror not far from the front door and when she glanced into it, she saw that she looked good. It had little to do with the clothes, however. It was the brightness in her eyes, the shine in her face. Happiness, she realized. She was glowing with happiness.
And though her heart tugged her toward Ivan, this Psy her cat had claimed, she followed the deep familiarity of Yariela’s scent to her room. She needed answers to her questions before Lucas Hunter got here. Because he would be coming.
Chapter 26
Not every changeling with the dominance to be alpha has the heart for it.
—Lucas Hunter, alpha of DarkRiver, to Remington “Remi” Denier, alpha of RainFire
“OH, MY LEILEI, come, come,” Yariela said with a teary smile when Soleil hesitated on her doorstep. “My sweet girl.” She closed her arms around Soleil when she sat down on the bed next to her.
Her eyes caught on a couple of colorful little cat planters on the bedside table, each holding a tiny succulent, and she had the oddest feeling that there should be three, but then Yariela was enfolding her in her arms and her entire world reduced to the care of this woman who’d taken a brokenhearted little girl and lavished her in such love that she’d healed, had flown.
The healer who was her grandmother in every way but blood felt so very fragile, far from the strong woman Soleil had known, but her hug was just as all-encompassing, her love a storm.
“I’m so happy to see you, Abuela,” Soleil managed to choke out, breathing in the scent of the ocelot who’d mothered her since she came into SkyElm. “I thought you were all dead.” Sobs overtook her. “The pack was erased in the records.”
Yariela kissed the top of her hair, squeezed her tight. “After all that happened, after the lack of honor displayed by Monroe, we as adults—all of us who survived—made the decision not to saddle the cubs with that history.
“Our babies will be told of it when they come of age, but as far as the records are concerned, they will be of DarkRiver. SkyElm’s terrible history won’t shadow their lives.” Dark, dark eyes held Soleil’s. “I’m so sorry, my Leilei, we didn’t think anyone else had survived. I would’ve never left you if I’d known.”
Soleil wiped the elder’s tears. “It’s not your fault. Monroe knew.” She had to say that, had to make sure Yariela never blamed herself for it. “He chose to reject me.”
Eyes burning, she admitted to the truth she’d already shared with Ivan. “I tried so hard to save Em and Robbie, but I couldn’t.” The alpha’s mate and their treasured cub had died in her arms. “I really tried, Abuela. I gave it all I had.” Her heart had shredded itself into a million pieces as she felt Robbie slip away, such a small and bright light, one she’d helped birth into the world at Yariela’s side.
“I know, my Leilei. I know.” Her mentor kissed Soleil’s hair again, her voice unsteady. “I saw their bodies in the aftermath. Those injuries … not even the most senior healer could’ve saved them, even had they been rushed into the infirmary right away.”
A sob caught in Soleil’s throat at Yariela’s confirmation that it had been too late long before she got to mother and child; the senior healer’s words could never erase the guilt that haunted Soleil, never silence all the hollow-eyed ghosts that followed her, but they softened the serrated edges of that guilt.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you at that time,” Yariela said, her voice quiet with pain. “You should’ve never had to face such a terrible thing alone.”
It was Soleil’s turn to comfort. “No, Abuela, you burned yourself out with helping our packmates.” Echoing with the horror she’d felt at the sight, this memory was as sharp and bloody as a razor. “I saw you collapse, saw Duke drag you to safety.” The young dominant’s eyes had been shocky, but he hadn’t bowed under the weight of the deaths all around them.
Yariela’s sigh told Soleil that the elder healer continued to tangle with her own demons, her own guilt. “So,” she said, weaving her fingers through Soleil’s, “that’s why Monroe denied you your rightful place in SkyElm? Because of Em and Robbie?”
Soleil nodded. “I’ll never know for sure, but it’s the only reason that makes sense.” Because while Monroe had never liked her, he’d accepted her usefulness as a healer.