Chapter 73

Miranda

Noah and Ella sit in front of the television screen. Their eyes are glued to the screen, watching a cartoon show. A clock in Sebastian’s living room ticks away with every passing second.

I gnaw the inside of my cheek. My eyes flicker to my phone beside me, waiting for the screen to light up with something, anything! A light tapping sound comes from my foot, filling in the seconds between the clock’s ticks.

“Mommy?” Ella’s voice drags me out from my thoughts. I turn to her, a small and very faint smile spreading across my face.

“Yes, honey?” I ask. She stands from her spot on the ground and walks over to me, filling in the empty spot next to me on the couch. She wraps her tiny arms around my waist. “I’m scared…is Evan going to be okay? And where is Daddy?”

My heart shatters into a million little pieces. I am unsure if I’ll be able to piece them back together. I pull her into my side, sighing as I kiss the top of her head.

“Evan will be okay, my love, I promise,” I gently coo. “Your father is busy trying to find him. They’ll be back with us soon enough, okay? I can promise you that?”

“You can?” Ella’s eyes meet mine. It takes every bit of strength and willpower to nod at her. I put a fake smile on my face and draw her close, pulling her onto my lap. She places her legs over mine and I draw a fluffy blanket over us, cuddling her into my arms.

My eyes land on the back of Noah’s head. I watch him closely, trying to find any sign on how he’s feeling or if there is anything that I can do to help calm his nerves. I rock Ella back and forth, sighing, as my gaze drifts back to my phone’s screen.

Where are you, Sebastian? You should be here by now…

Anxiety chews away at my mind. My eyes flit between my phone and the clock, unable to focus on just one thing. My fingers tighten around Ella’s body.

The front door of the house rattles, the sound echoing towards the living room. The three of our heads perk up, looking in the direction of the sound. Noah jumps from his spot and rushes to the couch. I open the blanket and he hops inside, taking the empty spot beside me.

Ella and Noah cling to my sides. They dip their heads below the blanket, hiding. Their terror rubs off on me, bodies trembling against mine. I pull them closer, leaning back into the couch’s cushion and pillows.

Slow footsteps clack against the marble flooring. My heart thumps inside my chest, my heartbeats prominent in my ear drums, the veins in my neck pounding. In the shadows, a dark figure emerges. I brace myself, as well as Ella and Noah, for impact in case it is one of the Rogue King’s men, but am meet with Sebastian’s familiar face.

My body immediately relaxes. Ella and Noah poke their heads out from the blanket. Smiles of relief spread across their faces. They jump out from behind the blanket, escaping my lap, running towards him with open arms.

Sebastian scoops them up and into his arms, swinging them around. I watch and stand from the couch, my breathing slowly becoming more and more steady.

“Daddy!” Noah proclaims.

“Where’s Evan? Is he here?” Ella asks. Sebastian’s tired gaze flickers to mine. Purple bags hang from under his eyes, sunken into his skin.

“Evan is not here, no,” Sebastian’s admission strikes my heart with disappointment. The kids show it on their faces, pouting and looking down at the marble floor. He pats their heads and they walk back to their blankets and plates of food on the floor. They go back to their cartoon, picking at the veggies on the animal plates.

Sebastian turns to me and my eyes sting from tears. I slowly step to him, sliding into his arms. He holds my head to his chest. My ear places itself over his heart and I listen to the unsteady beats, his heartbeat matching mine.

“You’re back,” I whisper. His chest rises from a chuckle.

“I told you I’d be okay,” Sebastian tilts my chin up, our eyes connecting. He cups my cheek and leans down. His lips capture mine in a bittersweet kiss. Our lips linger against each other, unable to break away. Sebastian walks me backwards, the back of my legs hitting the couch.

He sits beside me and gently grabs my legs, placing them over his lap. I scoot closer to him and lean my arm against the back of the couch, biting my lip.

“Is everything okay?” I whisper just loud enough for him to hear. He sighs and runs his hands up and down my thighs.

“We followed Lily and Evan through security cameras all the way to the forest in the West. We lost track of them after that, though. I sent a Gamma patrol to follow their tire tracks,” Sebastian watches my volume level. I nod and look back to Ella and Noah. They remain completely oblivious to what is going on.

I can’t help but feel jealous of their ignorance. Maybe then would I feel whole again and not like a piece of my heart has been ripped away from me.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Sebastian and I turn to the door. Ella and Noah jump from their spots, running towards the sound. I leap from Sebastian’s lap and intercept them, shaking my head at them.

“Stay right here!” I warn.

“But what if it’s Evan? What if he needs our help?” Ella whines. Sebastian appears behind me and lowers his head.

“Listen to your mother. If it is Evan, we’ll immediately bring him to you two, yeah?” Ella and Noah nod then hang their heads low. The Alpha King faces me and I nod, following him towards the door.

It creaks open but nobody is there. We look around and then at each other. At our feet lays a black parcel. A green wax seal sits on top. Sebastian plucks it from the ground, tilting it in his hands. He pulls me back inside and locks the door.

Sebastian rips it open and a pile of pictures falls to the ground. I lower to my knees, turning one picture over.

Evan sits on the Rogue King’s lap. His face reads terror, his screams prominent through his open mouth. The Rogue King has a sick smirk on his face, his hand wrapped around Evan’s torso. I drop the photo and fall back onto my butt.

“He wants to see me,” I look up at Sebastian as he speaks. I rise to my feet and stare at the note in his hand. My mouth has gone dry and I am unable to form a coherent sentence. His dark eyes meet mine, the tips of his fingers running over the scribbled words. “He wants to meet to give us Evan back.”

“Do you…trust him to honor his word?” I fumble over the words, unable to fully focus my mind.

“Not one bit…but this is the best chance we have to get Evan back,” Sebastian turns and begins to walk away. I snatch his wrist, bringing him back in front of me.

Moonlight caresses his face, his green eyes flowing under the light. I sigh and slide my fingers into his.

“You have to be smart, Sebastian,” I speak the words carefully, “you can’t go alone. That’s too big of a risk.”

“But it’s the only way, Miranda,” he sighs. Defeat takes over his face and body, his shoulders slumping. I frown and bring his hand up to my mouth, gently kissing it.

“Let’s not talk about it now…but please, please promise me to sleep on it? I…I can’t lose another person,” the last part comes out as a whisper, an admission that shakes me to my core. Sebastian looks at me, taking in my words, and nods.

He pulls me into his arms. I place my ear over his heart and listen to the slow, steady beats to calm me down.