“Don’t put me in the middle of this.” I laughed, freezing as I fully took in this simple moment. I’d wanted this for so fucking long. I’d wanted banter. I’d wanted family. I’d wanted to have the safety and peace of mind to play with those I loved.
My heart panged thinking about my other family. Jareth had vanished ever since Tony told us that Quell was his daughter. I’d stayed in touch with the cops who’d been assigned to my case, requesting them to let me know if any other Fable survivors appeared across their desks, but so far...nothing.
Guilt was still a permanent piece of my heart, even if I did give back to others who might not have endured our particular brand of horror but had endured their own personal hell. I was helping as many survivors as I could, but I still had a broken piece inside me, knowing I’d failed those I’d pledged to save over twelve years ago.
Gem, Josh, and Katie kept volleying loving insults at each other, and my mind wandered, drinking in the wonder of today, running my thumb over the ring on my finger. I belonged to Gem completely now. In the eyes of the law and my heart.
The fulfillment that gave me was incomparable.
My gaze caught on Maggie, my new mother-in-law, as she waved at me from the food tables, a dainty plate filled with grapes and tiny pastries in her hands. She blew me a kiss, once again welcoming me into her family.
I waved back, noticing the sadness in her eyes from losing her husband was still there, but some of her grief had faded since I’d first met her.
She and Gem were closer now.
We often had dinners together and even had a spare room in the main house purely for her whenever she wanted to stay.
As glad I was that she was happier now, I doubted her loss would ever fully go away—just like mine wouldn’t. Loss wasn’t just gnawing emptiness; it could morph into a dull throb thanks to time. It would be easy to push that throb away eventually, but I didn’t want to. I wouldn’t...not until I knew every one of my siblings was safe.
The cops had officially closed the investigation on Fables a few months ago. Their combing of the valley had turned up no other facts in order to prosecute Storymaker and the other faceless men who’d stolen so many children. I’d been torn getting that news. I was glad that they’d stopped digging before they’d found the graves, but I was also sad that they hadn’t delivered justice to those who deserved it.
My hand curled tight around my champagne glass.
It’s not over.
Justice would come to those bastards.
I’ll make sure of it.
I had resources now. I had a name for myself online. I had money. I had power. Every day that my concussion healed and my sanity was stronger and not as easily triggered, I was one step closer to joining the fight that Jareth was currently enduring.
Gem suddenly froze next to me, her hand landing on my arm, her new diamond ring sending sparkles into my eyes. I squinted and shook my head, fear filling me at her reaction. “Gem...everything okay?”
Fang immediately appeared by my side as my anxiety spiked. My instincts fanned out, glancing at happy partiers, searching for unwanted evil in our midst. Fang let out a growl, feeding off me as I looked faster, filling with worry.
“Oh, my God,” Gem breathed, her fingers digging into my arm. “Tony’s here.”
I scowled. “Of course, he’s here. I saw him during the ceremony. A few rows from the front.”
“I know, but...he left early. And now, he’s back.... He’s back with...” Her hazel eyes met mine. “With a young woman. A young woman who looks like him.”
The world slammed to stop.
Fang nudged my hand as my eyes went tunnel vision, locking onto Tony as he stepped from the main house, his arm linked with a girl.
A girl I hadn’t seen in twelve fucking years.
“Fuck.” I stumbled, dropping my champagne.
Josh and Katie backed away as Gem covered her mouth, and tears shone in her stare. “Oh, my God. It’s her. It’s his daughter.”
Sickness washed through me.
Memories and mayhem.
I wanted to run.
Toward her.
Away from her.
As far as I fucking could.
Every part of me wanted to stay with my wife. To not approach a Fable sister with so many emotions suddenly raging inside me. I wasn’t safe. I couldn’t be trusted.
Fang knew that.
He glued himself to me, his body shaking to match mine.
I backed away.
But Gem grabbed my hand, dragging me forward, fearlessly, wordlessly. She dragged me all while I drowned inside, straight to a girl who looked like her.
Blond hair the same shade, hazel eyes that blended green and gold. However, that was where the similarities ended. Gem’s hair was long and lustrous. Quell’s was still dull and short from a lifetime of malnutrition. Gem’s eyes twinkled with pleasure. Quell’s were permanently blackened with the same fucking horrors I’d endured.