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“Nico, here,” Liam warned. He wanted his husband close to him where he could protect him. But Nico remained where he was, glaring at Regent.
“I get that you wanted to take care of her. But did you ever think about what she might need? She’s been drowning and you’ve been doing nothing! When we arrived here, she’d lost weight, was barely sleeping, wouldn’t step outside without help. Today, she took several steps outside on her own. She’s eating three meals a day. And when the nightmares hit, she has someone to talk to rather than lying in your office for half the night.”
“You fucking bastards,” Regent swore. “I give you hospitality, consider you friends, and this is how you betray me!”
“It’s not a betrayal, Regent,” Liam told him. “But it was also never about you.”
“What?”
“It’s always been her,” Nico whispered. “Always her.”
“Nico, over here. Now,” Liam warned in a stern voice.
His husband snapped his gaze up to him then strode over, placing his hand gently on Lottie’s back. She turned her head toward him and he cupped her face. She let out a small whimper and he leaned in, kissing her forehead.
“It’s all right, pretty girl. We’re here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Nico?” she whispered, proving she was back in the here and now. Although she hadn’t tried to move away from him. Fuck, he’d hold her forever if he had to in order to keep the monsters at bay.
“You back with us, baby?” he asked, before kissing the top of her head.
“I’m so tired,” she said in a low voice that ended on a sob. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for, Lottie,” Nico told her fiercely. “Absolutely nothing.”
“I hurt myself. I didn’t mean to do that. Don’t be mad.”
“Mad?” Regent repeated. He looked like he was about to explode. Victor walked back in, carrying a first aid kit.
“Hush,” Liam told her. “You were stuck in a nightmare. It’s okay. Nobody is mad at you.”
“Regent sounds mad.”
Liam met the other man’s glare, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m not mad at you, darling,” Regent said in a soft voice. “Never you.”
“But I kept my feelings for them from you. I didn’t want you to get mad and send them away because then I’d never see them again. I’m too much of a coward to leave the house.”
“What have I said about you putting yourself down?” Liam said to her in a low voice.
“Do not speak to my sister like that. Give her to me.” Regent stepped forward to take her, but Lottie let out a small noise of distress and clung to Liam.
“Not happening,” Liam replied.
“Think of your sister rather than yourself,” Nico urged.
“Nico,” Liam warned.
“No, it’s not fair that all his anger falls on you. This isn’t all on you.”
“So, the two of you think that what? You’re gonna share my sister? Add her as a third wheel to your marriage? You don’t think she deserves better than that?”
“Charlotte would never be a third wheel,” Nico snapped back. “She’s our heart.” He ran his hand over her tangled hair. “She’s everything. We’re just the lucky bastards she chooses to care about.”
Lottie grabbed hold of Nico’s hand, holding it tightly.
“I’m the lucky one,” she whispered.
