Wounded(74)

Nothing could have ever prepared me for his death, nothing.

“He’s not really gone you know.” A soft voice whispered in my ear and I slowly turned to stare into India’s eyes. I said nothing and she put her fingers under my chin, lifting my face. “He says you need to read the letter he left with Doran. That it’s important. And if you don’t he will keep pestering me until you do.”

I didn’t want to get up, didn’t give a shit if the world fell down around us. What was the point, what was the reason? My left hand drifted to my belly. Liam’s child, wasn’t that reason enough? That was why he’d done it, why he’d sacrificed himself. Not only for me, but for the life we’d sparked together.

Less than four hours had passed since he’d died and yet it felt like four years, the weight of time pulling me down. Reluctantly, I Tracked Doran and followed the threads to one of the spare rooms. India walked with me, as if to make sure I did as I said.

Before I could lift my hand to knock on the door, it opened and Doran ushered me inside. India didn’t follow, and I didn’t even realize Alex had been with me until Doran spoke to him. “You wait here. This is for her ears only.”

“Okay,” Alex whispered, the sorrow in his voice turning me around. His ears were slumped and his eyes never lifted. I wasn’t the only one who’d lost Liam. The thought only started a fresh round of tears that I couldn’t stop. Doran shut the door behind me, but I just stood there, numb, too numb to take even another step.

“He left you a letter.” He pulled a thin envelope from under his shirt. “He asked me to give it to you, after.”

His words slowly sunk into my head. “After?”

“Yes, for after he died.”

Doran had known what Liam was going to do, and he’d let him. The shock hit me so hard my knees buckled. My first instinct was to attack Doran, to kill him for letting Liam go. As quickly as I thought it, I let it go. There had been too much death, and I wouldn’t risk the child, Liam’s child, for revenge. Not yet anyway. The envelope waved in front of me and I took it, opened it and stared at the words as they blurred in front of me.



I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. You and the baby are the only ones who matter to me, and you needed time and a safe place to go. The doorway will stay shut for six months; it is my last gift to you, a respite from Orion for that time.

Don’t be angry with those who helped me, they did it for the same reason I did.

Because they love you. Because I love you, because you are the only one who matters right now. Coyote knows of a place that will be safe for you and the baby, holy ground protected by the first guardian. That is the only place Orion cannot find you. Please, for me, do this. Be safe for a little while, be selfish, and don’t tell people about the child. Already too many who would kill or trap you both know.

I wish I could be with you, wish I could see and hold our child in my arms.



His penmanship grew shaky with that last line, and I couldn’t see anymore, and had to hold the paper away from my face in order to catch my breath. The sound of paper fluttering opened my eyes. My hand was shaking and I fought to still it.



You are my world, and I promised you I would never leave you, that we would always be together. Death won’t keep me away. I am always with you. I will be there when our child is born. I will be there when you cry in the night. I will be there when you think you are done in and have nothing more to give. I will not leave you.

You are my world, my heart, my soul. Never forget that.

I have one last request of you.

I want you to live, Rylee, truly live. You know what I mean, so don’t argue with me. Just live. Love. Don’t let the darkness and grief beat you.

Forever yours,

Liam



So easy for him to say. I folded the paper and tucked it into my shirt. “I have to go.”

I didn’t wait for Doran to say anything, just bolted from his room and headed for the main doors. Outside in the fresh air I broke into a run until I hit the edge of the pond. The dock had never been repaired, and the splinters of it were still scattered around the edge of the water. Fog curled about my feet, hiding the ground and quickly soaking the bottom of my jeans.

I squeezed my arms around my middle, as if I could hold myself together as I stared into the pond. The surface of the water reflected my image back to me. I blinked, unable to believe what I was seeing.

Liam stared back at me.

I whipped around, the last of the night fading and the fog holding just the faintest image.

“I told you I wouldn’t leave you.”

I reached for him, already knowing my hand would pass through. “How could you do this to me?” The words were broken, tear-filled, and they didn’t sound like they could come from my mouth.