“Is my mom your great love?” Archie asked, ears perked and staring up curiously.
Edmund held him tighter and nodded. “I think she is.”
“That’s a serious declaration,” Charlie said, eyes widening.
“I know. Perhaps I should say it to the person who is meant to hear it. Which shop is she at again?”
A few minutes later, he was bundled up and back in the sunlight, reaching the cake shop in no time. Bewilderment took hold when he found it closed for the day, followed by an off feeling when he texted and got a prompt reply.
I have some things to take care of. Overtime. Tell Charlie to stay with Archie until I’m back. Don’t go out on strolls today. It looks like it will rain.
Edmund glanced up at the sky and felt the off feeling heighten as his heart thudded swiftly in his chest. He tucked his phone into his pocket. He tried to figure out the message, walking towards the ice cream shop just to be sure and discovering a different worker assigned on the counter for the day. He bought a cone, anyway, and went in circles before a destination flourished in mind and had him rushing towards it. He stopped at where Alexa had last asked him to stay, scanned their surroundings, and found nothing amiss. He kept to that invisible line outside their territory and continued circling until voices flitted in his ears and a chill ran down his spine.
“I already told you. You are not allowed in our territory, not when you are an outsider and chose to leave me at my most vulnerable. The clan does not take well to abandonment, and you did yourself no favor when you left.”
“I know that, and I understand. I won’t even attempt to get inside because I know you have an impenetrable fortress.” There was a pause as the unfamiliar voice sank in, deep and melodic. “He’s my son, Alexa.”
“Yet you left when I needed you most, and never once showed interest enough to check in on him all these years. You disappeared without a trace.”
There was an edge to the voice that broke Edmund’s heart, understanding her anguish. The man’s reply was casual, and a quick peek had Edmund finally matching the voice to a figure: tall, muscled, and so ordinary, he could pass for a regular human. But there was no missing the energy that lurked underneath, playful and rising to weave Alexa under its charming spell.
“I had to fulfill my duties. But I have now. Besides, I have also now felt my son’s energy.” Dark orbs gleamed. “I felt it from very far away, and it awakened something in me. Where is he, Alexa?”
“Where do you think he is?” she shot back. “He’s with his safe people, Duncan.”
“I get your apprehension, and I would like to soothe it,” the man crooned, stepping closer. “Perhaps I was too rash in leaving you just like that but I don’t think it’s too late. How about we start over and get to know each other again? I’m sure you have some free time and won’t mind.”
And that was the last straw. Before he could think about it, Edmund stepped away from his hiding spot, making as much noise as he could without alerting the barrier guards. Somehow, he knew that wasn’t what she needed.
“She will mind. I will, too, given how that sounds like suggesting the start of a romantic relationship, when she already has one.”
He stopped beside her, an unspoken unit. He took her hand and squeezed it, then kissed her shoulder in a deliberate move that had the man’s brows raising. A frown came next, deep and unguarded, before those darkened orbs flashed in his direction. He felt their raw power, the kind that could slither its way in without apology and render its victims mesmerized.
“Who are you?”
In response, he bared his fangs and felt the shock as the man stared at them. “I’m Edmund, the current man in Alexa’s life. And you are?”
He asked it nicely as if Alexa couldn’t be bothered telling people of her history with him and had been barely heartbroken over his leaving. The man’s features darkened, but it was swallowed with a neutral reply.
“Duncan. I’m her ex and the father of her child.”
“Ah,” Edmund tilted his head. “Archie’s father?”
“That’s right.”
“Lovely boy. Too bad you deemed him unworthy and left before he was born. But I guess it’s not too bad since that left Alexa free, and only an idiot would pass up the chance.” Edmund smirked. “Thankfully, I’m not an idiot.”
He sensed the rage sputter out, then yanked back and tamped down. He felt assessing eyes sweeping over him from head to toe before the man cleared his throat and turned back to Alexa.
“You move fast.”
“Whatever I do is none of your business,” she reminded. Edmund could have kissed her then and there but held himself back. “And you should leave now, Duncan, before our clan leader detects your presence—and let’s just say he would not be thrilled.”
“You can’t keep him away from me forever, Alexa.”
“And you can’t make demands just like that, Duncan. Have a good day.” A pause. “And if you want to see him or talk to him, it will be under safe territory and on my terms.”
“Of course. I’m at your command.”