Page 118 of Thorns of Desire

Judging by Danil’s expression, she’d surprised him. A slow grin spread over his face. “You and I will get along just great.”

“Good morning,moglie.” I snaked my arm around her waist and she leaned into me. “I’m sorry we woke you up so early.”

She tilted her head up for a kiss and I obliged, then she turned to look at Lykos. “And you are…?”

Fuck, that’s right. She hadn’t met her uncle yet.

“Amorina, this is Lykos Costello.”

Straightening, she frowned. “My uncle?”

Lykos took a step forward and extended his hand. “I’m happy to finally meet you.”

Athena blinked. “I ran into you. In Paris.” Lykos nodded. “Were you following me?”

“I… Your brother and I… have been watching over you for a long time now.”

I pressed a kiss to Athena’s forehead. “Family introductions will have to wait a bit,amorina. Your mom has been poisoned. She doesn’t have long to live.”

FORTY-EIGHT

ATHENA

My mother’s dying.

My chest felt like it was about to explode. I knew I shouldn’t feel this way, considering her betrayal.

My mother had made her bed and now she was going to die in it. But it wasn’t that simple. I couldn’t hate her. I couldn’t celebrate her death.

“Take me to her, please.”

My feet bare against the Italian marble, I walked silently next to my husband, my brother and uncle behind us.

We made our way down the stairs, the space getting colder and more narrow with each step. The men’s steps echoed in the stone corridor, the air getting heavier and chillier. The smell of dirt and musk was more prominent the deeper we went into the dungeons.

Manuel scooped me up and I welcomed his warmth.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, his lips brushing against my cheek.

“Yes.”

I burrowed closer into him, clinging to his strength. In such a short time, my husband and his love had become the most important to me. Our marriage might have not started out as a fairy tale, but it would end as one. I was determined to make it so.

We came to a stop and the iron door opened. There my mother sat, hunched over with her head on her knees as she rocked back and forth.

I slipped out of my husband’s arms, then ran over and knelt in front of her. “Mom?”

It felt like déjà vu from all those years ago when the Triads cornered her and hurt her in our apartment. I had run to her back then too, worried about her pain.

She lifted her forehead, tears matting her hair to her cheeks. She coughed and blood trickled down the corner of her mouth.

“Yavrum,” came a weak voice as her unfocused eyes searched my face. My throat squeezed. I hadn’t heard her call me her baby in so long. “You came.”

“Yes,” I croaked, wrapping my arms around her while emotions crushed my lungs.

“You hate me, don’t you,yavrum?”

I shook my head. “I don’t.”