Reaching Retribution(75)

I tear my eyes away from him and address everyone again. I know he’s still walking in this direction. “Fight for your friends. Your family. Fight for the person standing next to you. Fight for all the mages you’ve met. Fight for the humans who have lost their lives and fight for those we’ve lost. Don’t forget why we’re here.”

I turn to my right and watch Jedrek approach me. “Oh and one more thing,” I say. “Zahtri’s mine.”

“Ryanne, hear me out,” he whispers to me. I know everyone is watching us. I bite my lip and take a step back.

“I can’t do this right now,” I tell him.

He reaches forward and grabs my arm to keep me from walking further away. “I may not get another chance, Ryanne.” I can feel my eyes filling with tears, but I refuse to cry in front of this many people. “I was coming to see you when I got into a car accident. A semi-truck t-boned me and sent my car rolling into a ditch. I don’t know if he planned it, but Dravin found me on the side of the road, unconscious. I came around long enough to agree to a blood promise. I was scared and confused and had no idea what it was, but he said that it would save my life, so I agreed.

“He needed me run his experiments. I specialize in cell research and he knew that my knowledge would be useful for his plans. I didn’t know he would come after you. I wouldn’t have agreed to anything if I thought you were going to be in danger. Dravin made me promise to never seek you out. To never try and contact you. That’s why I never came back. I wasn’t allowed to have contact with anyone I knew before.

“I’ve regretted that decision every day. I knew you were alive, and I knew you’d have questions, but I couldn’t give you the answers you needed. I was literally bound to stay away. I’ve wanted to turn back time every day, just so I could see you once. I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to be your dad. I never wanted any of this to happen.

“Maureen never told me she was pregnant. I called her for months after I left, trying to apologize, but she wanted nothing to do with me. There was nothing I could do. I loved your mom, Ryanne. I know you don’t think of me as your dad, but I am and I’m so sorry this is how we had to meet. I’ve imagined this moment for sixteen years and this is not how I wanted to tell you all these things. I didn’t want to be standing here in front of hundreds of mages while you’re about to fight for your life.

“If I could go back, I would choose to die in that accident like I was supposed to. I know I can’t go back. I can only go forward. I know you have no positive feelings toward me, but I do love you. I regret everything I’ve ever done for Dravin.” Jedrek turns away from me and faces the mages in front of us. “If any of you get the chance, take out Dravin. I’m ashamed of the things I’ve done because of this blood promise. I’ve escaped the fates for too long. It’s time to finally stop running. Dravin’s done some pretty gruesome things under the orders of Zahtri and both need to be stopped.”

I can feel the tears fully streaming down my face now. Jedrek turns back to me. “Don’t cry for me, Ryanne. I’ve accepted this and knew it was coming for a long time now. I’m so proud of everything you’re doing right now. I’m so proud of you, and I’m sorry I was never there for you. I’m sorry I never got to really know you, but I’m glad to call the girl standing in front of me, my daughter. Despite what you think, I do love you and hope you find all the happiness you deserve in the world.”

Jedrek looks at something over my head. He leans down and wipes the tears away from my cheek. “You’re much stronger than you think. Zahtri is strong, but so are you. You can do this, Ryanne. You just have to believe in yourself as much as everyone out there believes in you.” He leans down and whispers in my ear, “They’re starting to stir, you don’t have much longer.”

With that, he leaves me standing on the platform alone. I turn around and wipe the last of my tears away. I feel a pair of arms snake around my waist. I instantly recognize his touch and lean back against Colton’s chest. “I’m fine.”

With a deep breath, I force myself to step out of Colton’s arms, fully knowing that that may have been the last time I’ll feel his arms around me. “The magic is wearing off. Get into position. It’s time to finally end this.”





Chapter Twenty-Three


Colton


I hate that I can’t make her feel better. I can see the Gadramicks stirring around me, but Ryanne is my only focus right now. I turn her around and force her to look up at me. “Ryanne, go tell him.”