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Trevan felt staked to a spire.

Silas took the steps to the bottom, stared at Trevan.

Anger in his stance but nothing in his eyes.

Trevan’s body moved of its own accord. One second in front of his house and the next standing in front of Silas.

Trevan warred, on an edge. Caught in the barbs of both of their mistakes.

In hesitation, he convulsed and juddered before he couldn’t stop himself from throwing himself against Silas. Hugging him so fucking tight.

Silas stood stagnant, his arms pinned beneath Trevan’s hold. His breaths were harsh and his heart slowed. Trevan could barely hear the words that slashed from his mouth, but he felt them to his soul.

“Don’t fucking touch me. I don’t want to ever fucking see you again.”

Trevan squeezed him for one more second, wanting to weep. Drop to his knees. To do any fucking thing but knowing it couldn’t rewrite the wrongs.

It was done.

Over.

He stepped back and dropped his arms, watched as Silas clumped to the van where he slid into the front passenger seat without looking back.

Meems shuffled up with tears in her eyes. “Oh, my sweet Trevan. I don’t know how my heart could break any more than it already is.”

Her chin trembled, and she looked at his house. “I don’t want to leave you here.”

But he wasn’t welcome.

Had no right.

Didn’t belong and the little that he did, he’d destroyed.

“I’m sorry.” He choked.

She touched his cheek. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

But she had no idea. No idea what he’d done.

“You could come. You belong with us.”

She’d offered it yesterday. It wasn’t like his mom would stop him or miss him.

But Silas hated his guts, and Trevan had lost the right.

“I can’t.” He swallowed around razors. His entire body felt like he’d sustained a billion mortal cuts. “Please…be careful. Take care of them.”

“You can rest assured that I’ll be taking care of these babies until my dying breath,” she said.

His vision blurred and he blinked, and Meems wrapped her arms around him. Held him tight like it might be enough to sustain him for the rest of his life.

Then she released him, swiping at her face before she turned and wound around the backside of the trailer.

He heard the driver’s side door slam, and the van shook as the engine turned over.

Standing there, he prepared himself to watch them leave. His spirit screamed that this was his family.

The van started to move before the brake lights flashed, and one second later, Lena jumped out and ran to him. Throwing her arms around his waist as she sobbed. “I don’t want to leave you.”