Chapter 26

(**Irina’s POV**)

I watch as Sebastion leaves. His back is straight as the anger I felt from him carries him from the apartment. I feel guilty that he is angry at me. He has a right to be since I pushed him away this morning. I know that I will need to make it right with him when we return to Redwood. Now I just have to figure out how to tell Lenore, who has been giving me a raised-eyebrow look for the last minute.

“I know this is not my place, but care to explain the tension between you and my son?”

There is it. The loaded question I was trying to figure out how to explain. Glancing at Natalia, I can see she is curious too. “I pushed him away this morning and asked for space, and told him to keep it professional while we are at the office. I also told him it would be best for me to not come to Redwood until we have a plan to convince Vicktor we have taken the step.”

“Why did you push him away? That man is a God, Rinny.”

A growl bubbled up at my sister’s words before I could stop it. Damn her for the grin she gave me afterwards. Turning back to Lenore, I saw a knowing smile on her face. “I am sorry. I regretted it after you spoke to me this morning”

“Did you do this because of my daughter?”

“Yes, I felt it was the right thing to do considering how she expressed herself again.”

Lenore sighed as she shook her head, sadness clear in her eyes. “Arianna watched Sebastion make a fool of himself for Gia all those years, but she didn’t pay attention to him in the way Sebastion needed her too. That is on my daughter, not you. Please don’t let her fear for her family cause you to push him away.”

“It isn’t just fear for her family and pack that is driving her to lash out at me like she did. I think it is fear of losing Sebastion to another woman who she thinks is after more from him. I am not Gia, Lenore, and I don’t deserve to be treated like a whore.”

“I agree with you, Irina. I can’t apologize for her anymore. Just do me a favor when we get back to Redwood.”

“What is that?”

“Talk to my son. He is still reeling from Gia’s death, even if he doesn’t show it. They were something special once and for him that only changed recently. He killed her to save their son. That is still eating at him, even if he doesn’t say it. Please don’t push him away because of how Arianna sees the situation. You know she is wrong, Sebastion knows she is out of line, and both her parents are on his side in this. When she comes back from Virginia, her father and I will have a conversation with her about it.”

“I don’t want her to be forced to accept me as Sebastion’s mate, Lenore. If Arianna can’t or won’t accept me willingly, that is fine. I have already decided to talk to him and tell him I was wrong. There just wasn’t time since you took me into town to shop.”

“What changed your mind?”

“You did.”

Lenore frown at me like she is confused at how she could have done that. “How did I change your mind?”

“Your simple acceptance. For who I am to your son, even knowing what sent me to him. You believe my story, and that means more to me than you know.”

“Sebastion showed his father the picture of your daughter.”

I closed my eyes as the image of Zasha standing next to Vicktor flashed through my head. The way her little head was down as she looked at the ground. The way her hand was held in his as he stood there waiting for me to see them. I want so badly to get her away from him as soon as possible. The way Vicktor looks at Zasha makes my skin crawl. Sometimes I catch him looking at her in an almost fatherly way. He is not her fucking father.

I swallowed hard as I opened my eyes to respond to Lenore. “Is that all it took for you to believe me?”

“No, it wasn’t. It was the look on my son’s face when looks at you that did it. He has never looked at any woman the way he looks at you. He has hope in his eyes again. Hope for the future. You give him that, Irina. Despite everything that is going on with The Collectors and Treadstone, I think you two will survive to see that future.”

I had no idea what to even say to that. How did I give him hope? He was the one that gave me hope for my future. From what Lenore tells me, it seems like I need to talk to Sebastion. He has already shared more with me in a few days than he has with his sister. I feel slightly bad for Arianna knowing he was more open with me about his past than he was with her.

However, after the way she reacted yesterday and this morning, I understand why he didn’t open up to her. “Has Arianna always been like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do either of you want something to drink?” Natalia stood up from her seat as she asked.

I nodded my head, then answered Lenore. “Aggressive to women in Sebastion’s life.”

Lenore looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded her head in understanding. “She wasn’t always like that with Gia. It was only when he took over the Alpha title. Sebastion would bring Gia to family functions to have her be a part of our family. Arianna dealt with it at first until Gia’s cheating became more obvious to everyone but Sebastion.”

“How do you suggest I deal with her when she comes back?”

“Show her you are not like Gia. I think she sees that, but she is worried for her family because of the danger. She blames you for bringing that into our lives, even though it isn’t your fault.”

Natalia comes back with three glasses of ice water for us. She sits back down next to me and grips my hand. “What are the chances of getting Zasha away from Treadstone while he is away?”

That is a question I have been asking myself since Sebastion formed the plan to rescue her. What are the chances of the plan working before Vicktor returned from France? Can they really beat Vicktor at his own game and free all those in his collection here?

“Honestly, I have no idea. I have to hold on to the hope that we can free them all. If I let myself think to hard on it, fear of failure takes over. Fear that my daughter will pay for my rebellion against Vicktor and The Collectors.”

Before I can stop it, a sob escapes my mouth, and panic of losing my child takes over. All the what ifs run through my head like a freight train in super charged rails. My throat constricts as a full-blown panic attack grips me. Getting air into my lungs became a challenge as I struggled to breathe.

I vaguely heard voices trying to soothe me, but all I could see was Zasha’s face the last time I could visit her. Vicktor brought her to the house we use for our meetings. Vicktor gave me an hour with her alone, or as alone as we ever are when I am allowed time with her. All she did was cling to me the entire time. Her little voice kept whispering over and over to take her away.

My heart broke when I was forced to leave her with him again and walk away. If Sebastion and his allies get her free and the others safe, I will never let her out of my sight again. I will keep her safe as long as I live. The last thing I saw before I passed out was Natalia’s worried face, then darkness descended over me. All I want is for Sebastion to hold me in his arms and let me know that everything will be alright. I want to see a day when Zasha is in my arms, safe from all harm.

(**Sebastion’s POV**)

After talking to Rayne, I made a few more phone calls. Gabriel agreed to look for Irina’s siblings, but he asked to bring his brother in on the case. Javier was just as good as Gabriel was, so I agreed. I called Monroe, but only got his voicemail. I would go to Bodega Bay in two weeks anyway, so I could just talk to him then.

I would give him a heads up about the Werewolf Council when I speak to him. Whatever the council wants, I will give him a chance to know it is coming. Monroe is a powerful Alpha, and I fear their intentions are not what my father told me. Even if my first meeting with Monroe wasn’t on the best of terms, I will show him respect.

I will talk to my mother about watching Jace while I go to Bodega Bay in two weeks. I know her and my father are due back to the council at some point soon, but I am sure she would stay longer if I asked. Sending her a text message, I ask how long she thinks they will remain in town. I need to let Irina know about the witches and the trip to California.

Then I sit at my desk and try to get some work done. Two hours passed while I checked on headquarters, a few of our local companies, and a few of the one who had been having problems. All the problems had been resolved with speed and accuracy. The primary office was doing fine, but one of the local companies was in some trouble with machinery. He scheduled a trip for tomorrow to check it out.

The knock at his door had him blinking his eyes and looking up. He knew it was Irina immediately, “Come in.”

She opened the door with a bit of hesitation, but then stepped in and closed the door behind her. The redness of her eyes let me know she had been crying, and I assumed it was from catching up with Natalia. Walking across the room slowly, Irina stopped when she reached my desk, her eyes never leaving mine as she walked to me. I could tell by the way she bit her lower lip that she had something on her mind. This was a habit I noticed from her when she had a question or wanted to say something that was bothering her.

I had closed the link between us after I left her sister’s apartment so she wouldn’t feel my anger. I also didn’t want to feel any of the sorrow or grief that came through the bond while she was with Natalia. To me that was personal for them, so I gave her privacy. I arched an eyebrow at her as she just stared at me.

Since it seems like I need to be the one to break the silence, “I got a call back about my request for a location spell.”

Irina stayed quiet.

“There will be three witches that will go to Shadows Retreat, Rayne’s Bar, in two weeks. They are closer to Bodega Bay than here, so that is where we will go.”

Silence.

“I also called Gabriel to look into finding your siblings. He is pulling his brother in on the task. I believe between the two of them they can find something, if not I have a few more threads I can pull. One of those is in Bodega Bay.”

Silence again.

“Alright, what have I done wrong?”

Irina tilted her head to the side like she was studying my face for something. I was getting the feeling she was ready to walk away. The thought made my heart constrict painfully. I could feel Aries grow restless as he whimpered in my mind.

*I am giving her what she asked for. Why is she doing this now?*

**I don’t know, but Anya has gone quiet too.**

Fantastic, I give the woman what she asked for and somehow, I still fucked up. “I can arrange for a ride for you to take you into Portland.”

“That won’t been necessary. I will stay here for the time being. My sister is here and I would love to spend more time with her.”

Well, I guess I expected that, but knowing she was staying for Natalia and not me really hurt. I did my best to not let it show on my face while I stood from my chair. “I will show you to the room I had made up for you.”

I walked around her to the door of my office to open it. Irina tried to reach out to me, but I walked out of her reach. When I opened the door, she quietly followed behind me as I led her out into the hall. I walked down the hall to the stairs that led to the third floor. I could feel anger from her as we walked up the stairs, but I ignored it until we reached the door to her room.

Opening the door, I reached in to turn the light on, then motioned her into the room. I stayed in the doorway after she went inside, “There is a bathroom through that door,” I pointed to the door next to the dresser.

“Can we talk now?”

“I was talking to you in my office.”

“No, I mean yes, you were. That isn’t what I meant.” Frustration clear on her face.

“Look, I am doing my best to respect your choice, so I think I am just going to find Jace and get him ready for dinner. We can talk about what I told you in my office when after I put him to bed.”

“Stop, please,” Irina reached out to touch my arm.

The emotion in her voice had me looking at her in surprise. What is going through her head right now? Is she going to tell me what was said between her and her sister? Or will this be another pull me close only to shove me away later? I can’t handle that gain. I am seeing that there will never be room in her heart for me.

“Dinner is in thirty minutes. I will see you downstairs,” I move back from her and walk away.