32. Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lexia

Lumen takes my hand when he sits down beside me. Slate has already devoured two plates of food and is getting another glass of water. Vesperon sat quietly while Lumen asked Slate questions about how he is, ensuring that he's actually okay. Seems he's fine. Since he's woken up, all his wounds have either healed or are almost healed. Whatever state he was in was stopping him from healing, which is odd.

"Did Lumen tell you what happened?" Slate finally says to me.

I shake my head. "He wanted to, but I told him I wanted to hear it from you."

"I'm sorry for what you saw. What you must have thought—"

"Just tell me why, Slate. We don't have time to get into details."

He nods, clearing his throat and putting his glass of water on the table. "You're right. Sorry. They have your father."

"What?" I gasp, unsure I heard him right.

"They took your father and told me if I didn't give them the journal, they would kill him."

"But how… how can they steal someone who is nothing ?"

"Magic," he answers with a shrug. "The same way they had me stuck between this body and my conscience being. It's all magic."

I look at Vesperon. "I thought shadows don't have magic?"

"We do not," he says the same time Slate says, "They are working with witches."

"That makes sense," Lumen adds.

"I didn't give them the journal, though. They kept coming back and telling me I was running out of time. I'd considered giving it to them, because I thought they wouldn't get anywhere with it. We had deciphered it, we knew what we needed to do. Maybe we'd be done by the time they figured out what the journal said, but I didn't do that."

"They have it now," I say, blowing out a harsh breath.

"I assumed as much," Slate says. "They said they would take it."

"Why haven't they killed me?" I ask.

"They found out more of the prophecy. I don't know how, but they know they need all four of us alive. They think there is something in the journal they need though. Like a missing piece of information. That's what they were waiting for before they made their last move. I can't be sure, because it doesn't quite add up."

"It doesn't add up. Why not take us and the journal to ensure they had us when the time came?" Lumen asks.

"That's what I don't understand. There must be a reason, but I don't know what it is," Slate says.

"Maybe it's the same reason they haven't come here," I offer. "They know they won't be able to get us because of Lumen? Save the hardest part for last?"

"It could be so simple," Vesperon adds.

We fall into silence for a few moments before I break it.

"Slate, why didn't you just tell us?"

"I didn't want you to stress about your father. I thought I could handle it on my own. You're dealing with enough as is."

"As much as I appreciate that, you should have told us," I say, pressing my hands flat to the table.

"I understand that now. And I swear to you, I will never do anything like that again."

I nod, letting out a sigh. I want to believe him, and maybe I do. Maybe I don't. It's too soon to tell.

"So that it is, then?" Vesperon asks. "He goes behind our backs, and you forgive him as if he has done nothing?" Ves jerks his hand toward Slate, frowning at me.

"It's called forgiveness," Lumen explains. "Humans do it a lot. You should know this."

"I am aware of what it is called, light-being. What I do not understand is why. This grey has not been honest with us from the beginning, and yet we con—"

"That is not true," Slate says. "I have not lied about anything. This is the only thing I have kept from any of you, but I never lied ."

"I do not believe it!" Vesperon shouts, slamming both hands on the table. The air around us thickens.

"You don't have to believe it, shadow. It is the truth," Slate says through gritted teeth.

"Ves," I say gently, when he opens his mouth to argue. "Please don't. I don't want any of us to fight."

"Perhaps you should let us," he says to me. "You cannot allow people to do this to you. To treat you like this."

My eyes widen. "I'm not allowing anything, Vesperon. I'm choosing to forgive him for making a mistake."

"If this being was your real mate, if he felt what I felt, he would do no wrong to you. He would not risk your feelings or your trust." Vesperon stands up so quickly he knocks the chair back. It skids across the floor as he storms to the door, disappearing outside. My mouth drops open as I watch him go. I never thought I'd see the day where he got angry like that… at me.

"I'll go," Lumen says, getting up from the table to go after him.

"I am sorry," Slate says softly, shaking his head. "I should have told you. I'll do anything I can to make it up to you."

I sigh, burying my face in my hands. Needing a few minutes to collect myself, I take them. Keeping my eyes closed, my face hidden, and breathing.

Once the ache disappears from my chest, I drop my hands and look onto the patio but see neither Ves nor Lumen.

"We don't have time for this," I mutter, getting to my feet. "We need to get to the Underworld now that you're awake. Especially since the shadows have the journal."

Slate gets up too, following me to the door. I grab the handle but pause when I see Lumen and Vesperon speaking on the edge of the patio. I want to go out there, but maybe it isn't me Ves needs to hear from. Maybe Lumen can talk some sense into him. Get him to calm down.

I understand why Ves is so angry about this. All he's ever wanted to do was protect me, and this is his way of doing that. He may never forgive Slate for what he did, but that's something we will have to deal with. Because slate is here to stay, whether he likes it or not. I'm not sure how to get that through to Vesperon. Maybe I can't.

I sigh, turning around to face Slate. "Can you let them know I went to bed? We should leave in the morning."

"I will let them know," he says with a firm head nod.

I kiss him on the cheek before I go to bed. There is no way I will get a simple life if I can't get my three mates to get along with one another. But maybe a simple life isn't in the cards for me anyway.