Falling Into Place (35 page)

“I thought he could change.” Her eyes closed
and she pulled at her hair. “He’s family, he’s supposed to love his
family,” she whimpered, curling in on herself. “I was wrong. So
very wrong. I’m sorry.”

Robert took her hands and pulled them gently
from her hair. His voice was so soft. “Did you know that he tried
to rape Liz? That when she told him she was pregnant, and he
stabbed her until she lost our baby? He took our child from
us.”

“I didn’t know,” Emily croaked, but couldn’t
look at him. She already regretted her decision, but now she hated
herself more than ever before.

There was such anguish twisted into his
expression. “Do you have any idea what your piece of shit twin did
to the woman I love? Do you? And what he did to you. I don’t
understand how you could bring him back.” He squeezed his eyes shut
and sat back against the wall beside her.

“I was wrong. I know that now.” She covered
her face as she fell apart. “I would do anything to go back and
kill myself instead of trying to fix him. He’s so broken. There is
no hope for him. I didn’t realize he was rotten all the way
through.”

“James is the worst kind of monster, and he
should be burning in hell for all the crimes he’s committed.”

“I wish she had left me in my own hell. I
was close to death. I should be dead. I don’t want to be this weak
pathetic excuse for a human. I want to be dead.”

“Shh,” Robert whispered, pulling her into
his arms. “Don’t say that. Liz, doesn’t want you gone. She wants
you whole, no matter what you did. If she can forgive you, I can
too.” He sounded so torn, and he held her fiercely. Emily melted
into her brother’s embrace.

The guilt was horrible. She was the reason
James was back and coming after Liz. She was the reason Robert had
lost his child. She didn’t even know about that child. She no
longer knew why she ever tried to save James.

* * * *

“Where’s Robert?” Liz’s voice was barely a
whisper but Robert’s head snapped up. Trem sat on the bed, holding
Liz to his chest with his hand over her heart.

Trem nodded toward him but didn’t take his
eyes off of her. “Right there, taking care of Emily. I told him
you’d be okay.”

“Course I am,” she snorted, but it sounded
pained. Trem winced a little as she shoved his hand away and sat
up.

Liz tried to stand and Tremaine banded his
arms around her, standing as he lifted her in his arms. “Oh no, not
yet, doll. Let us take care of you for now. You scared us all
pretty bad.”

Robert squeezed Emily before going to Liz.
“I’m glad you were right,” he told Liz. “You scared the hell out of
me. Don’t ever do that again.”

“You aren’t my father.” She twisted to glare
at Trem. “You better let me down. I want to check on Emily.”

Robert didn’t have a good argument to stop
her, and she did fight through whatever in the hell it was she
suffered. He nodded to Tremaine who stood her on her feet.

* * * *

Okay, she was a little woozy after living
through a lifetime of Emily’s fucked up life. Man, Emily’s life
almost made hers look easy.

Liz shook it off and turned to find Emily,
who scooted up the wall to lean against it. She stared back at her
with wide terrified eyes, tears streaming down her gaunt face.

“Liz, I’m so sorry.”

“Stop. I didn’t break the curse so you could
apologize. I get it, I do. James is your brother, and you thought
you were doing the right thing. I’m sorry you were wrong, but he’s
a monster. You didn’t deserve to suffer, especially if I could stop
it.”

Emily hugged her, leaning against her, but
her grip was surprisingly tight. Then she started sobbing.

Liz stood there for a moment before she
awkwardly patted her on the back and gave the guys a pleading
look.

Robert and Trem both stared back at her, but
Robert had been crying. Trem looked a little amused.

Liz asked, “Emily, did I get it all? Are you
okay?”

She nodded, but she wasn’t letting go. If
anything, she squeezed tighter.

Emily rambled, “Thank you. I’m sorry you had
to see it all. I’m so sorry. I wish I had never brought him back.
Oh God, it was horrible when he broke loose. He brought all the
memories back at once. I was going to die reliving all the worst
things he ever did to me.”

“Shh, it’s over.” Liz murmured. “We’ll stop
him, but I swear, if you try to stop us, we’ll have to take you
somewhere safe until it’s really truly over. We don’t want him to
hurt you, or anyone else again.”

“I know, I know. I’ll help. I don’t know
how, but I’ll do what I can.”

“For starters, can you let me go? I can
hardly breathe, you’re squeezing so hard,” Liz said nervously.

“Oh, sorry.” Emily backed away and Joslyn
caught her before she could collapse.

Liz swayed on her feet, and then Robert’s
arms were around her. She couldn’t help but sink into his warmth,
even as Tremaine took her hand.

She braced for the worst. “Emily, before you
decide we’re all peachy keen, you should know we’re together. All
three of us.”

Emily nodded, almost smiling. “I figured
that out. If you’re happy, then I’m happy with it. I wish I had
figured that out a lot sooner. I’m sorry, I let James get in my
head and twist me around. I wish I could have been strong like
you.”

Liz closed her eyes, and
took a deep breath. Then she looked Emily straight in the eyes.
“Emily, please stop apologizing. I get it, I saw it, I understand
better than you think. Don’t say you’re sorry. You went through
hell, you survived, and now you’ll be stronger for it.”
God, I really fucking hope she comes out stronger
for it.
“I was never any good at healing,
but I did what I could for you.”

“How did you fight it? I couldn’t.”

“It wasn’t an injury. James cursed you.
There aren’t that many who could have fought it off. We all have
our own gifts, and I would still trade you talents any day.”

Emily shook her head and took a look around.
Her eyes went wide. “Where am I? This isn’t the Council.” Her gaze
landed on Joslyn. “And who are you?”

“Joslyn.” The druid smiled warmly. “I’m a
druid.”

“A druid?” Emily looked to Robert. “You
brought me to a druid?”

Liz snorted a nervous laugh and Robert’s
brow rose as a little smirk appeared on his lips.

He nodded as he looked back to Emily. “Yes,
the druids. I don’t trust the council. Jarvis is involved with
James somehow. There are very few people in the council I trust
right now.”

“And who would that be,” Emily
whispered.

“Preston. A few enforcers,” Robert
answered.

“What about Draecyn?”

Liz looked away, closing her eyes. Okay, so
she did miss Draecyn. He’d always been good to her. She always
wondered why. And why could she heal Robert, but not Draecyn? Was
he too far gone?

Preston answered. “He’s dead.”

“How?” Emily squeaked.

“Look, we can discuss that later,” Robert
answered, squeezing Liz tighter.

Liz took a deep breath and forced a smile as
she caught Emily’s gaze. “You can stay at my cabin. James won’t
find you. I don’t want to hear any complaints about illegal wards.
It will keep us all off the radar.”

“You could stay here,” Joslyn offered.

“Thank you, but no. That would only be
awkward for everyone,” Tremaine said a little too quickly, but Liz
remembered their affair so many years ago. Not that she ever saw
anything, but it was obvious the two had cared for each other. Now
Liz felt a little weird being in her presence, knowing she knew how
he found her.

Joslyn smiled, a knowing look on her face.
“That was ages ago, Trem. There is obviously some trouble after you
all, and I aim to keep my friends safe. You are still a friend,
Tremaine.”

“Thank you for the offer, but we have people
waiting for us at my cabin,” Liz explained. “I’d feel better
keeping a close eye on Christian.”

“My son?” Emily gasped. “James knows?”

Liz nodded. “Yeah, but he just found out
about Christian today. I swear to you, he’s safe at my cabin. James
can’t find it. You’ll be safe there too, if you want to join
us.”

Emily nodded, her hands clenched together at
her waist. “Please, I won’t be any trouble,” she pleaded.

Liz nodded. “I know. You should know that
your son is an empath. He’s going to pick up on whatever you’re
feeling and he’s already there. We’ll explain on the way.”

“All right.” Emily looked hopeful.

Joslyn nodded to the cabinet. “There are
clothes in the cupboard that should fit you, Emily.”

“We’ll be right outside,” Liz told
Emily.

Robert sat in the back of the Land Cruiser
with Emily. Preston sat in the middle seat with his head back and
his eyes closed. Robert knew he was uncomfortable with the
situation, but he wouldn’t leave until they had the problem
solved.

Liz drove, and Tremaine was up there with
her, where Robert would rather be, but he did need to talk to
Emily. He didn’t know if he was supposed to feel sorry for her, or
still blame her for bringing James back.

Robert reached over to squeeze Emily’s hand.
“I’m sorry for how I reacted. I guess I expected you to go after
Liz like always. You have no clue what she’s been through.”

Emily closed her eyes and nodded. Her hands
rubbed up and down her arms. “I’ll make it up to her, if it’s even
possible.

“Don’t worry about it, Emily.” Liz said from
the front seat. “Just do me one favor, and don’t fuck up with your
kid. That is all I ask. He’s not a mage, but he is a clairvoyant
and an empath.”

“As long as my son didn’t turn out like
James, I can handle anything.”

“He’s not. He’s a good kid. He is mated to a
werewolf though. Delilah is perfect for him. She didn’t choose to
be a wolf, she was attacked a while back, but she has her beast
under control, thanks to Christian.”

Emily’s eyes widened, and then she looked
out the window. Her hands shot forward as if bracing for
impact.

Robert glanced up to see the jeep drive
straight through the trees. He sighed heavily. “You could have
warned us, Liz.”

Liz chuckled. “You were busy talking. Now
chill.”

She came to a stop in the middle of a
massive tree and shut off the vehicle. As soon as Liz opened the
door, the garage materialized around them.

Emily took a few deep breaths before
climbing out. She managed a smile at Liz. “You were always so good
with this sort of thing. It shouldn’t surprise me.”

Liz shrugged, her eyes skimming away. “The
cabin isn’t much to look at. It has all the basics but it’s
comfortable.” She nodded to Robert and headed inside. Tremaine and
Preston both followed, leaving Robert alone with Emily.

Emily looked up at her brother. “Did you
know she was alive all this time?”

He nodded.

“Why did you stay away?”

“It’s a long story, Em. Turns out we both
thought we were doing the right thing, but we weren’t. Look, James
came after her, he ripped our baby from her. She went after him,
and I would have helped kill him if she had let me. He’d hurt
enough people.”

She teared up. “I didn’t know. I honestly
didn’t know.”

“I know, but Emily, don’t try to come
between us. I won’t allow it. I won’t hear of it. I’m not leaving
her again. No matter what she says.” He had learned his lesson.

“I told you, I realized how wrong I was.
Then I thought I could fix James, and again I was wrong. God, I had
Liz all wrong. She came to save me, and she didn’t have to. I
wouldn’t have blamed her if she left me to die. I don’t know how to
repay her.”

“Funny thing about Liz, she’ll tell you
she’s not mad, not upset. You know what? She means it. She’s not. I
tried to stop her from helping you, but she wouldn’t back down
because she knew it would hurt me to lose you.”

“Would it though?” He could see the doubt in
her eyes.

“Of course it would, Emily. I just got her
back though, so I’m scared to death I’ll lose her again. It’s been
twenty-one years, and I didn’t go to her until the other night,
after you were dumped on my porch.”

Emily rubbed a hand over her face and shook
her head. “At least something good came of all of this. You two
were always meant to be together, but what about Tremaine? You
don’t want her all to yourself?”

Robert shrugged, a smile
pulling at his mouth. “We fit together. All three of us. If you
can’t handle it, well that’s your loss. I don’t care if it
isn’t
right
or
isn’t
conventional
. We make sense together, and I share something with Tremaine
too.”

She took a deep breath and smiled. “If Liz
hadn’t faked her own death, I would have urged you to marry her. I
know you were getting ready to ask again. I know she only ever said
no because of me, and the way I made her feel unwelcome. I would
have gone and pleaded your case.”

“Look, things are good the way they are. As
long as we have each other, none of us need a typical marriage.
We’re happy. That’s the important part.”

* * * *

Liz walked in and sat on the chair closest
Christian. “So, your mom is here. She wants to meet you. It sounds
like she was trying to protect you from your father, which honestly
is not a bad reason. So give her a chance. She’s had a rough few
days that make what I told you seem like a walk in the park.”

Christian scoffed, and Delilah gave Liz a
look like she was nuts. She shrugged. “Look, Emily hasn’t always
been my biggest fan, but that doesn’t make her a bad person.”

“You really believe that, don’t you?”
Christian smiled sadly.