Chapter 0464

"You were planning to run from your family?" Caleb demands, his voice tight. "Did you consider us at all? Did you care what your mother and I would feel?"

"You said I'm just like Seraphina!" Liam snaps back. "I heard you and mum talking."

"That's not what we said. We said we didn't want you turning out like your sister."

Liam shakes his head defiantly. Alexander moves toward a pale Athena. She looks ill, but I stay silent.

"Alexander, Athena," Caleb mutters, running a hand through his hair. "How do you want my son punished?"

"I have another question first." Athena frowns, pressing her hand to her mouth as she takes a steadying breath. "How was Levi speaking to you?"

"He came to my room." Liam whispers.

"He was inside my house?!" Caleb's voice rises sharply.

"Likely a projection." Alexander replies calmly. "Not physically present."

"Only there?" Athena asks. Liam nods.

"How many other children has he been manipulating without anyone knowing?" Alexander mutters, frustration evident.

"None." Liam pipes up. "He told me the others weren't good enough."

"Liam, that's what monsters like him say." Caleb tells his son.

"He promised."

"People like him make empty promises." Alexander states firmly. "He only wants you to do his dirty work. He doesn't care if you get punished."

"No. He said I was strong. That I was good. That I could do this. He said I'm his favorite."

"He doesn't see it." I tell the adults. "He doesn't recognize the manipulation. You won't get through to him."

"Then what do you propose?" Alexander asks.

"A few nights in the dungeon might give him perspective."

"You want to lock my child in the dungeons?" Caleb scoffs.

"It worked for your other child."

"She is an adult. He is not."

"Let me guess, your solution is to bind him. A punishment that won't truly impact him until he's older and gains his Lycan abilities? So we should punish him later for something he does now?"

Caleb stares at me, his brows furrowing in anger. "You can't put him in the dungeon. He's eight."

"Luc is right." Athena tells Caleb. "I know what binding feels like. Honestly, I would have preferred death. He'll spend a few days in the dungeon, and then we reassess." She meets Caleb's gaze. "No visitors."

He looks at his son, truly seeing him for the first time since we entered.

"Don't say it." Seraphina steps out from the doorway where she'd been hiding. "Don't say it, Caleb. Because he'll never be the same after."

"Go back to your room!" Caleb snaps.

"I'm only trying to—"

"Room. This doesn't concern you." Seraphina retreats as Caleb accepts Liam's punishment.

Alexander pulls a protesting Liam to his feet. With a hand on his shoulder, he guides him toward the door. Caleb says nothing more. He simply walks out as Liam calls for him.

I follow Alexander and Athena to the dungeons. The moment Evelyn sees me, she steps back until she hits the rear wall. Her eyes lock on me. Not with fear, but with anger. "Who is that?" She asks quietly.

"Levi got to him." Athena explains as Alexander locks Liam in a cell.

"He's a child." Evelyn mutters in disgust.

"Not his usual style?" I ask.

She steps forward, her fingers curling around the bars. She frowns and shakes her head. "He dislikes children."

Her blunt honesty surprises me, but I sense she's telling the truth.

"Is this what he does now? Ruins children?" She asks.

"He did it to you." Athena stops beside me, looking in at Evelyn. "And just like him, you couldn't see his actions were wrong."

"A part of me knew. And I... I let it happen. Maybe," she drops her voice to a whisper. "I can help. I can talk to him. Am I allowed to tell him who I am?"

She glances toward where Alexander is speaking with Liam.

"Within reason." Athena mutters.

"I understand."

I didn't. There was clearly a secret I wasn't privy to. I follow Athena up the steps. "Are you going to explain that? She's his sister, so what isn't she allowed to tell him?"

Athena turns and stares back at me. "What is it that you're not telling me?"