Emerald eyes touched on him, then darted away. “As ever, Meléan’s bloodline was perpetuated by strangers. I don’t even know my father.”
He hummed and turned from her. “Sometimes it’s better that way.”
Pity flared in her emotions, and she stepped into his line of sight, forcing him to look at her. “I think I owe you an apology.”
Apology?He eyed her carefully, searching for the catch. “I think you owe memanyapologies, Isobel.”
“Yes,” she said, “but this is the only one you’ll get.”
He snorted.Typical.
She sucked in a breath, like the next words required fortitude. “I was told your childhood was stolen by coercion, that your obedience to your father was compelled from birth.”
David’s mouth tightened. His heart, however, slowed even further, ice creeping across every bit of it.
“I believed you evil from the cradle.” Isobel’s voice shrunk to a near whisper. “I’m sorry for that. Sean believes you’re good, and I’ve chosen to trust him.”
David glanced Sean’s way. “He believes I’m good because I’m part of him now.”
“No. He believes you’re good because heknowsyou now. Your souls aren’t different because they’re joined. They’re merely stronger for it.”
Stronger.
He made Sean…stronger?
An odd thought.
Isobel placed her hand over her belly—a simple gesture that should have gone unnoticed. Instead, something glitched in the connection. The edginess exploded into true panic.
The baby.
His baby.
No.
Nothis baby.
Or was it?
Why couldn’t he remember?
In one fell swoop, a dam broke inside—just burst apart like it had never been. He wasn’t aware how much he’d been holding back until it all rushed forth in a great tidal wave of feeling, and his rational mind disappeared in the surge.
Memories sprung from the depths, words his subconscious had clung to and muddled over for months.
You’ll share everything. You’ll be one.
She’s with child.
You’re afraid you’ll turn into your ancestor.
I’m not a plague.
They don’t deserve you.
You said I could trust you.
You know I’m going to figure it out.
