“Oh, goddess… Rex…” Mads scampered up and Rexford stiffened, arms opening slightly, his body betraying all the anger he’d held. Even at his age, he still craved his papa’s love.
But it was all for naught.
Mads opened gentle arms and with a swift scoop, he had Caspian pulled away and tucked to his chest. “Rex… I’m so sorry, baby boy. I am so terribly sorry.”
Marquis made to reach for Caspian, to take him back, but Rexford halted him, hand on his shoulder. “Don’t.”
Marquis swallowed hard as bitter bile rose in his throat. Mads had no clue how long it had been.
“Mads… I’m here. They said you asked for me.” Marquis stiffened, and Mads stared at him with beautiful wonder in his dark eyes, sparkling almost. The same look he had on the day Marquis had demanded his father allow him to be Mads’s mate, to allow them marriage. It was like no time at all had passed, still that endlessly endearing young male who was enamored and spoiled by even the smallest luxuries.
“I did. I’ve missed you so much. I wanted to call and—” Mads’s face went slack as his eyes traced the air, glancing around. Part of him had to know that eighty years had passed.
“Why?” It was all Marquis could ask.
“I don’t know. It’s no excuse. I—” Mads gritted his teeth with a hiss and shook his head. “It’s like gravy in my skull. I swear on my life.”
Caspian stared at Mads with wariness and leaned his head and body back, lips pursed.
Marquis stared, keeping his face neutral, breath even. “Tell me what happened that you do recall.”
“I remember having Rex here. We argued about the names and you wanted something distinguished, and I wanted something short. We were bickering still with his naming coming up… I woke to feed him, and then I put him in his bassinet and…” Mads closed his eyes, tears streaming. “And then I wrote a note for you, and Baron was there, and… I don’t know. That’s a haze. I—Marquis, he made me do unspeakable… Used me. I—he and Damien. And…”
“Did you go with Baron willingly?” Marquis took a deep breath.
“Of course. I wrote the note.” Mads clenched his jaw as he frowned. “Justin was… Damien…”
Mads tapped his foot, an old habit when he was thinking. “Damien had twins. They took one of the babies overseas, and Damien went with them… Oh! And Baron asked me to come get Justin from the estate, asked me to wet nurse him for a while. I thought I’d be right back and—”
“What did you write in the note?” Marquis blinked the sting of tears away.
“That I was riding over to the estate to help with their baby and would be back before the baby needed fed… I didn’t want to wake you.” Mads shook his head. “It seems like that was only a year ago, but so many things are different… But look how you’ve grown, Rex!”
Marquis glanced over to Rexford and then back to Mads. “Mads, hand the babe to me and sit down. We need to talk.”
Mads nodded in confusion; his face twisted with worry and pain. He handed Caspian back to Marquis, who gave him to Rex.
“Who is that? Why is he holding our Rex?” Mads stared at Rexford, head tilted.
“Sit down, Mads.” Marquis took Mads by his shoulders, guiding him to a chair where he knelt by the svelte male. “That manisRexford. That baby is your grandson. Caspian.”
Mads let out a soft squeak as his entire face contorted in agony and tears. With a soft whisper, he broke down into sobs. “No.”
“Shh.” Marquis leaned his head forward and pressed it into Mads’s hand. “I know it’s a lot.”
“How long have I been in this place?” He glanced around, brow furrowed.
“Just over a year.” Marquis gave Rex a serious stare that hopefully told him to stay put.
Mads put his hand to his stomach. “I know I was gone awhile… I had to have been. Justin grew up… And they did things. Wish…”
Mads stared at Marquis then glanced over at Rexford, eyes wide and gleaming as if he were trying to gauge math by presence alone. “How long since I went over to…”
Marquis took a deep breath, centering himself. “Eighty years.”
Mads let loose a wounded cry and tugged at his hair. “I missed my baby… I wanted to see him, and I begged, then I forgot and remembered again. My mind isn’t… Things are so torn apart.”
As if by some instinct, Caspian leaned into Rexford’s arms, making grabby hands toward Marquis, his face a twist of demand for comfort. Understanding lit Rexford’s face as he stepped closer, and Caspian ignored Marquis, reaching for Mads.
