48

“I am not a crybaby!” He sniffles again before kicking his arms and legs, forcing me to release him. To his credit, he doesn’t make a break for it.

“Who’s your father, boy?”

“My name is not ‘boy.’ It’s Finn.” He’s trying very hard not to tremble in front of me. “And I don’t have a father.”

“What do you mean, you don’t have a father?” I stare at him. “What about Erik?”

“King Erik?” Finn blinks. “He’s mom’s friend. I don’t think he’s my dad.”

“Dad?” I try to figure out what that is. “You mean father?”

He gives me a strange look. "Yeah. I asked Mom about my dad, and she said she forgot.”

“She forgot?” I stare at him. “And you bought that? Are you stupid?”

Finn bristles. “You’re stupid! And your face is stupid!”

I glare down at the boy. “Show some respect!”

“You called me stupid first!” He sticks out his tongue at me, his previous fear forgotten.

“I’m not the one behaving like a child.”

“I am a child!” he retorts.

He’s got a smart mouth. “How old are you?”

This has him holding out his fingers, and he counts. “Seven.”

I crouch down next to him so that we are at eye level. “Boy, do you want to see something interesting?”

Finn gives me a suspicious look. “Interesting?”

I reach inside my vest and pull out a thin dagger. His eyes widen, and I hold it out to him. “Let me show you a trick. Children like tricks, don’t they?”

From the look in his eyes, he clearly knows better, but curiosity seems to be fighting for dominance. When he nods his head slowly, I feel a smug sense of satisfaction.

Got you!

Chapter 15

Leanna Avery

I’m running in the forest. The monsters are chasing me. I can see the Veil. But I’m too far away. And the monsters are gaining on me.

“Mom! Mama!”

I hear Finn shouting my name. I have to hurry! I need to get to him!

I feel a burning sensation on my back before I smell the hot, wet scent of my blood in the air.

I’m falling.

He’s screaming for me. “Mom!”

I can barely walk, crawling now. I have to get to my baby. I have to protect him.

But I’m surrounded. They’re approaching me now, vicious-looking monsters with terrifying faces and teeth so sharp, they’re the stuff of nightmares.

“Mom!”

I can barely move.

“Mama, help!”

The terror in my son’s voice has me jolting upright, my eyes flying open. “Finn!”

A wave of dizziness hit me, and I would have slumped back down had someone not caught me. “Easy.”

I’m lowered to the bed, and I look around with a pounding heart. I’m not in the Misty Forest. I’m home. I’m in my house, in my bed.

But where is my child?

“Finn,” I mumble.

“He’s in his room,” comes the familiar voice.

This time, I recognize it, and my heart nearly stops in my chest. My head lifts so I can see the foot of the bed, and there is a large, looming man sitting there. As I stare at him, the events of the night come flying back to me.

The attack. Cedric showing up.

“You,” I breathe.

“You could be a little more grateful, Leanna,” Cedric says arrogantly as he pulls his chair closer to my head. “I did just save your life.”

My body hurts, but I manage to scowl at him. “And I’m sure you want something in return.”

“Have I ever asked you for anything in return?” he asks coolly, and I open my mouth, but I have no answer.

“Why were you there?”

“I was following you,” he answers shamelessly.

I close my eyes, astounded by how he considers stalking me to be no big deal. I finally glower at him. “Why? Didn’t Erik tell you to stay away from me and his son?”

“You mean our son, don’t you, Leanna,” Cedric says quietly.

I go still, panic filling me. No. He’s just testing me. He can’t know for sure.

“He looks just like me.” Cedric holds my gaze, his own unwavering. “And I conducted a blood test.”

“You made my son bleed?!” My voice rises in fury, and his eyes narrow at me.

“Our son, Leanna. And I didn’t do anything to hurt him. I pricked his fingertip. It’s an age-old ritual, one that didn’t even leave a mark on him. But it confirmed my suspicions. Finn is mine. Mine and yours.”

It’s over. He knows. My heart sinks as I look at him.

How could I be so careless? Why didn’t I just leave Finn at the palace? What was I thinking?!

Cedric is smiling. In fact, he looks proud. “He’s a strong, strapping boy. Handsome, too, just like his father.”

I blink, taken aback by his reaction. I’ve never seen Cedric look so pleased.

“He—I won’t let you do anything to him.” My wolf paces inside me, worried, tense, protective.

Cedric’s smile fades. “Do anything to him? He’s my heir. Why would I do anything to him?”

He reaches for me, and I bat his hand away, my eyes flashing. “Don’t touch me! And don’t you dare touch my son!”

Cedric freezes at the venom in my voice.

“He’s the same child you would have killed for having tainted blood! Bella told me as much!” I snarl at him. “So, you stay away from Finn! He’s not yours. He’s mine! He’s only ever been mine! I won’t let you do anything to him! You—”

Cedric grabs both my arms, his upper lip curled in fury. “I would never hurt my child! I don’t care what Bella said to you. That woman lied! I never ordered your execution! I never wanted you dead! If you had stayed—If you hadn’t become so impatient and left that hut—If you had just waited for me, Leanna—” The anger fades from his eyes, replaced by a bewildered agony, and he sinks off his chair to the floor, still clutching me. His voice is hoarse. “You were never replaceable. No matter what I said, you were never replaceable, Leanna. If you had just waited, I would have proved it to you.”