Chapter 0239

Athena

I stood over the empty cribs in the nursery.

My heart ached knowing the twins would sleep here tonight.

It was for their safety, but the separation felt wrong.

“I knew I’d find you here.”

Zachary’s deep voice echoed through the quiet room.

His presence made the space feel even more hollow.

I turned to face him, my eyes wide. “You are?”

“Alexander thought you’d prefer it if I took watch tonight.” He gave a firm nod. “You know I’d die before letting anything happen to them.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Plus, I can keep an eye on Lottie.”

“Her nightmares are getting worse again, aren’t they?” I’d heard her whimpers last night. Desperate sounds she couldn’t explain.

He sighed heavily. “Yeah.”

“She’s just a child. She has a father who loves her.” He rolled his eyes slightly. Even after seven months, he still struggled with the title. “She’ll grow up surrounded by love. These bad dreams… they’ll fade.”

Zachary leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “She has the childhood you never got.”

I offered a sad smile. Lottie was lucky Zachary found her—not someone cruel. We still didn’t know if Gabriel had known she was in that bar.

“You said you were looking for me?” I asked.

“I was.”

“Why?”

He frowned, choosing his words. “Seraphina had a gun.”

“I didn’t see one.”

“Brianna said it was tucked in the back of her leggings. That’s why she jumped down from the tree. She thought you were about to get shot.”

“She told you that?”

He nodded, waiting. When I stayed silent, he added, “She was trying to protect you.”

“Like she ‘protected’ Victoria?” Bitterness sharpened my tone.

“She’s never forgiven herself for that. She’s killed before, but what happened to you… it haunts her.”

“Good.”

“She can’t change the past, Athena. None of us can.”

His words pierced me. Alexander had said the same thing. That we could only build a better future. “You think I should forgive her?”

“I think you should hear her out. If you still want her gone after that, she’ll leave.” I saw the pain in his eyes at the thought. “I can be there with you, if that helps.”

“No.”

“Athena, she’s trying—”

“I’ll go. But I want to do it alone.”

He raised a brow. “You sure?”

“I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”

‘Then she can leave,’ Nyx murmured inside me. I didn’t repeat it as Zachary walked away with a faint smile.

Relaxing felt impossible. Like I didn’t deserve to. The boys hadn’t stirred, sleeping soundly while Zachary and another guard stood watch outside.

“They’re safe,” Alexander murmured, pulling me toward the bathroom. His lips traced my jaw, moving slowly toward the mark on my neck. “You need to relax.” His breath fanned across my skin, sparking every nerve. He stepped back, gaze intense. “Now take off your clothes.”

I pulled the sweatshirt over my head. His smile widened, crimson eyes burning with hunger.

I held his stare as I slowly pushed down my leggings and panties, stepping out of them.

“Get in,” he ordered.

I stepped into the hot water and gasped. The heat soothed me, washing away the tension.

I hugged my knees to my chest and closed my eyes. Everything faded when he stepped in behind me. His legs slid around mine, pulling me against his solid chest. I felt his hardened length press against my lower back.

His teeth caught my earlobe, sucking gently. His hands cupped my breasts, thumbs brushing over my stiffened nipples before giving a light pinch. His lips moved from my ear to my neck, sucking on his mark until a soft moan escaped me.

I tipped my head back onto his shoulder. His lips found mine, rough and demanding. He sucked my bottom lip, grazing it with his teeth before letting go.