Chapter 221
“I have to leave,” I said. I was trying avoid talking about Amber with this group, not wanting to put her in front of the lions before she was ready. She still wasn’t sure if she wanted to be with me, so why would I allow this group of vultures to pick and pry at her. “I am needed elsewhere p>
“ You are needed here,” Uncle Peter continued. “Your mother responds best to you p>
“She has you,” I said. “And I’ll be back in a few days, once I’ve made sure my other matters are attended
to. ”
“Your mother needs you. She should be your primary responsibility, Julian. You aren’t hearing me. She’s gotten better since you arrived here. If you were to leave again, then her condition would likely decrease,” Uncle Peter said. “You need to make your choices carefully here, son. I wouldn’t want your mother’s death to weigh on your shoulders p>
Gods – her death? Could things get that bad if I were to leave? Had they been that bad before I arrived?
Suddenly, I was torn. My obligation was to my mate, but by now her danger had passed. She was with Rafael, who was likely protecting her.
If I were to leave here, and something happened with my mother, would I be able to forgive myself?
I was so tom, stuck between my family here and my mate and daughter. I had no idea what to do, and the fogginess of the medicine was not helping at all.
Maybe if I kept calling Amber…
Maybe if she picked up…
If I knew what kind of state she was in, and if she needed me…
Amber’s POV
I sat on the couch in Rafael’s living room. The tutor was with Alice, thank the Gods, keeping her occupied so she didn’t witness my lingering panic. My nerves were entirely shot.
Rafael was beside me, trying his best to help calm me down, but I didn’t want to be touched, nor did I want to listen to music or television.
I didn’t want to be distracted, but I also didn’t want to think about what just happened.
The only thing I could think about safely was that I wanted to go back to the clinic that I shared with Anna. If I could rewind time, I would have stayed there and avoided this entire thing.
Only, no, I wouldn’t. Because by venturing outside of my comfort zone, I had been able to save many people. But that didn’t make my present dangers any easier to deal with.
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Chapter 222
“I need to go back,” I told Rafael. “I’ll take Amber and we’ll go back and stay with Anna p>
Rafael gave me a pitying look. “That wouldn’t work, Amber p>
+15 BONUS
“It has to,” I said. “I was always safe there, and it’s far enough out of the way that people will leave me
alone p>
“You really think there’s anywhere you’d be safe now?” Mary asked. She stood near the dry bar, holding a glass of dark liquid that she occasionally sipped from. “Amber, there’s nowhere you could go that curious people and potential kidnappers wouldn’t follow you. You are from a prestigious family now, this is just part of our lives. You have to learn to adjust p>
I didn’t want to adjust, and worse, I didn’t want Alice to have to.
But maybe she was right. Maybe it was too late. Our names and faces were out there, and there didn’t seem to be anywhere we could run.
If only Julian was here…
No, I didn’t want to think about him. He hadn’t been there for me before, and now…
I just didn’t know what to do about him, or about anything.
For the first time in a long time, I felt well and truly lost, and more than a little afraid.
I had no idea what was going to happen next.
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