He smiled softly, his heart sad. “You have to play today, little angel. For me and your mom. Just in case the bad men come, okay?”
“ ’Cause of the ice cream?” she whispered, her eyes going wide.
Caro pulled into the driveway and shot him a look.
“No, darling, not the ice cream. The bad men who might come will be here for me and your mom, not you. So you have to stay hidden and wait for me to find you, just like all the other times we played.”
Her nose scrunched. “But this time feels different.”
Because you’re a brilliant little girl, he thought as he opened the driver-side door. “It’s the same as all the other times,” he lied. “Just hide and wait for us to find you. Then we’ll get some ice cream.”
Caro’s expression broke on his clear fabrication, but she smiled in time for Astasiya to look at her. “Go on, my darling girl. Give me a quick hug and run off to your place. Then I’ll try to find you.”
Sethios gave her another kiss and a hug—his version of goodbye. Then he did the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. He set her down and let her go. He knew it was the only way to protect her. Osiris had to believe Caro and Sethios were the threat to his life. They couldn’t risk his father finding out about Astasiya. They had to keep her safe.
“Oh, my darling girl,” Caro murmured, holding Astasiya against her chest in a tight hold. “I love you more than life itself. You know that, don’t you?”
“I love you too, Momma.” She kissed Caro on the cheek. “Please don’t forget about me in the hiding place.”
“I’ll never forget about you, my little love. Never.”
“Never,” Sethios agreed, his throat thick with emotion. “Now go, sweet angel. Hide.”
Caro stepped to his side and forced a smile for their daughter. “Go, darling. We’ll find you. I vow it.”
Astasiya almost seemed to question the veracity of their game and their words, but a smile and a wink from Sethios sent her running to her secret place. The one he created specifically for today.
As soon as she was out of sight, Caro collapsed against him, her body shaking with sadness. “Tell me this is the right decision,” she demanded. “Tell me.”
“It’s the only decision,” he replied softly.
“Then why does it hurt so much?”
“Because we’re sacrificing our hearts,” he whispered. “For love.”
She shook her head against him but said no more. Because there wasn’t anything left to say or do. They could only endure what was to come. For Astasiya.
He held Caro and kissed her hair, her forehead, her temple, her eyes, and her lips. Memorizing every inch of the woman he’d grown to cherish and revere throughout the years. His mate. His other half. His partner in everything.
A few decades apart wouldn’t kill them.
Astasiya would save them. As long as they moved this chess piece the right way.
“Eternity,” Caro whispered.
“Eternity,” he agreed, kissing her soundly. Countless hours in bed and in each other’s arms, and he still desired her as much as he did that first night. Perhaps even more now that they knew each other so incredibly well.
A familiar presence tickled his senses, causing him to stiffen against Caro. The only indication he could give that the hour had arrived and it was time.
“Well, it’s been a long time,” Ezekiel murmured, his gaze hard. He had one of the most difficult tasks of all.
“Ezekiel,” Sethios returned. “This is an unpleasant surprise. To what do we owe the visit?”
A hint of pain flashed in his oldest friend’s features, but he reined it in just as quickly. “Osiris would like to speak with you and the Seraphim.”
“I bet.” Sethios grinned. “You can tell him I refuse.”
“It wasn’t a request.”
