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‘I am your sister,’ she said, the tears welling once again. ‘And I’m going to need both of you to help me so much in the next few years.’
‘Whatever you need,’ said Star.
‘Whenever you need it,’ said Skye.
Staring into the flames of the fireplace in Lykos’s London townhouse, Theron bowed his head, his fists clenched against the pain that still rocked his body from Kyros’s dismissal of him from his life. From his own personal exile from Summer’s life. But this time, instead of fighting it, he chose to feed the anger instead. The fury coursing through his veins at what had happened after and at what had happened so many years before collided, and he glared up at Lykos.
‘You knew,’ Theron growled.
Lykos’s silvery gaze narrowed ever so slightly before he nodded firmly, confirming the accusation.
‘You knew that Kyros had an illegitimate child—Summer—and that is why you left all those years ago?’
Lykos looked away, as if debating how to handle him.
‘No, I’m done, Lykos. No more evasions, no more lies or witty rebukes. No more. I want the truth. All of it.’
Lykos turned his steely gaze on Theron, the anger burning like phosphorous in his eyes. ‘You want the truth? Fine. When I was nineteen, Kyros asked me to go looking for Mariam Soames. He didn’t tell me why, but I wasn’t stupid. A Greek billionaire tycoon looking for a young Englishwoman and all he had was a faded photo?’ Lykos got up out of his chair and stalked over to the window, the sun beginning to rise across the London skyline. ‘He had betrayed Althaia! He had betrayed his family!’ Lykos raged.
Theron might have flinched but his own anger was simmering. ‘So you discovered Summer’s existence, and what—just abandoned them?’
‘No. Over the years, I have checked up on them. Made sure they were okay.’
‘Really? So, Mariam Soames’ stage three cancer diagnosis just slipped through the gaps then?’ Theron demanded. ‘The way that Summer constantly worries about money, about paying her sisters back for all they have sacrificed for her to attend university?’ Theron spat before rising out of his chair to face Lykos. ‘A girl who thinks that spending one hundred euros on a dress for herself is an extravagance she doesn’t deserve, Lykos. You’ve drunk more than that this evening alone!’
‘I didn’t know about the cancer,’ Lykos roared back. ‘I’m going to buy the estate!’
Theron shook his head in disgust. ‘Were you? Why did you call me, Lykos? The truth this time.’
‘I recognised her, that night in the restaurant. I knew who she was. But what I didn’t recognise was the way you looked at her. Because I’veneverseen you look at a woman like that. And I know—or IthoughtI knew—how you would feel if she were pregnant.’
‘What do you mean,thoughtyou knew?’
‘I believe it’s time for you to tell me just what the hell you think you’re doing here with me instead of being withher,’ Lykos spat disdainfully. Theron could see it as Lykos paced back and forth in front of the fireplace—the anger that he had been keeping at bay all evening.
‘What is it to you?’ Theron demanded, wanting it. Relishing it.
In the blink of an eye, Lykos spun round, grabbed Theron by the shirt collar and shoved him up against the wall. ‘You walked away from them!’ he roared, the fury in his eyes blazing as strongly as the hot coals in Theron’s gut. ‘You know where we came from and youwalked away?’
Theron shoved both palms into Lykos’s chest, pushing him back, but not as far as he’d have liked. ‘Yes!’ he roared back, stepping forward and closing the space he’d just created between them. His blood pounded in his veins, his hands fists already and desperate for a fight, for the sting of physical pain to overshadow the emotional wound that he’d opened up in himself and he feared would never heal.
‘How dare you?’ Lykos growled.
Theron shoved again and the look on Lykos’s face was thunderous. But also knowing.
‘What does it matter to you, Lykos?’ he demanded.
‘Because your parentsdied, Theron. But mine left. They—as you have done—choseto leave.’ The disgust written on his face was so much worse than his anger. ‘And you havenoidea what that feels like.’
‘No? Like whenyouchose to leave?’
‘I asked you to come with me.Youchosehim.’
‘I chose family, Lykos. I chose Althaia and Kyros. And...’ Theron clenched his jaw, a wave of grief hitting him hard and threatening to pull him under ‘...you didn’t even come to the funeral.’ His eyes felt hot and wet and he had to turn away.
‘I was there.’ Lykos’s words were a low whisper. ‘I was there, Theron. I just...didn’t come close enough for you to see. How could you think I wouldn’t be?’
‘Because everyone leaves, Lykos. Everyone. My parents, you, Althaia. And when Summer asked me to promise to be there—to give her the one thing her father had not been able to give her... I just couldn’t. I’ve hurt enough. It’s easier to let her go.’
