Chapter Twenty-six
Aaliyah
D amn it. Damn it. Damn it.
Logically, I knew there was a good chance my parents were still alive and living their lives, but it's been so long since I've even heard mention of them. Part of me had been hoping that my parents had met their end. Not that it mattered so long as they left me alone.
Except, that's not true at all.
I don't want them alive and roaming the earth. I want them dead where they can no longer cause me any pain.
Not only are they alive, but they're causing problems in the world again. Isn't it bad enough that they brought more than one civilization to ruin? Why can't they just be happy with what they have?
Because knowing they're involved with a drug that was known to increase the powers in supernaturals, I know that's the reason they got involved in the first place. They don't care about anyone but themselves. I don't even think they truly love one another.
I think it's convenient, and that they'd throw the other under the bus without a thought if it would benefit them.
After they kicked me out, I just wanted them out of my life, but what I should've done was kill them. Although, I probably wasn't strong enough to kill them back then. My powers have definitely grown over the years—without the help of drugs.
Ugh.
I don't want to deal with this. I don't want to deal with my parents at all, but I know that's not an option. I already took the job, and the guild won't take kindly to me not completing it.
I have no choice in the matter.
Part of me is happy to rid them from the world, while the other part is worried I'm not strong enough to do it.
"Aaliyah?" My head jerks up at the sound of Archer's voice.
He isn't the one I thought would follow me, but in a way, it makes sense. He's the only one who's seen me break down from just hearing that my parents had been in the same vicinity as me.
"I'm fine," I tell him before he can ask.
He chuckles. "We both know that isn't true. How about instead of doing this little dance where we go back and forth until you finally break down and talk to me, and you just talk to me?"
I make a face as Kira comes running up, barking until I pet her head. Then she's darting over to get pets from Archer before she takes off into the trees again.
She might have loved the forest at the back of our house, but she loves it here even more. It's not just the forest or the pool, but the people. I know she loves me, but she's so happy to be surrounded by so many people who love her.
I sigh.
I guess I am too.
"Fine." I lean back against the nearest tree and slide down it until my ass hits the ground. Crossing my legs, I stare at my hands in my lap as I attempt to figure out where to start.
"Don't think about it too long, love, or you'll never start talking."
Sticking my tongue out at him, I know he's right. "I was hoping they were dead."
"As was I, but you had to know there was a good chance they were still alive. I mean, your father is a god, and they're not easy to kill." Archer lowers himself to sit beside me, taking one of my hands in his.
"It was one of my greatest hopes that he'd faded out of existence—even if I knew the chances were slim. And the raging bitch that is my mother pisses off people wherever she goes. How has no one killed her yet?" I lean my head back against the tree, still avoiding looking at him.
Archer hums. "That's true. Did you know I met your mother once? I didn't know she was your mother until later, but she was in the underworld at some point after you left and I was banished. She hit on me, and Noami almost bit off her head. But that didn't stop her."
"What was she doing in the underworld?"
He shrugs. "I have no idea. After I made it clear to her that I had no interest in sleeping with her, she hightailed it out of there. It wasn't until later that night when the bartender told me her name I realized who she was."
"I'm surprised you didn't take her up on the offer," I say, voice bitter. "I look just like her."
"No, you don't. You look similar to her, which is probably the only reason I gave her the time of day in the first place, but she doesn't hold a candle to your beauty. It's more than just what you look like on the outside, love. It's about who you are as a person." He lifts his free hand to my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "You might kill people for a living, but you have a pure heart. It makes you far more beautiful than your mother could ever hope to be."
I flush at his words. "When did you become such a sap?"
He throws his head back as he laughs. "For you, I've always been a sap." He kisses the tip of my nose. "No more subject changes. What else is bothering you?"
I wrinkle my nose, preferring to hear about my mother hitting on my lover than talking about this—which is saying a lot because I want to rip her eyes from their sockets for even looking at him. "I'm going to have to kill them."
He nods. "Probably. At least your father. I don't think anyone else will be able to do that for you. Your mother? One of us might be able to kill her, but you'll have the best shot at it, I'm sure."
"It's the only way to end this, isn't it?" I ask softly, already knowing the answer. "I have to kill them. Not just to end the drug ring… For me to move on, I need them dead."
"You're the only one who can answer that, but something tells me you already know the answer."
I nod slowly. I do know the answer, I just wanted him to confirm that I was making the right decision. I want my parents to be in the past, where they belong. I want to move on with my life.
Lifting my head to meet Archer's eyes, another realization hits me. It's not just that part of my life I want to move on with, but I also want to move on with Archer. I have been, in a way, but I haven't fully let him in, and it's time for that to change.
It's time for me to start taking charge of my life and take what I want. And what I want is Archer.
Well, Archer and Naomi.
I've kept her at arm's length just as I have Archer because they're a package deal. I'm done with that.
I hate what Archer did to me, but it wasn't really him, was it? It was a maleficent voice fearmongering inside his head. It was his family determined to rid him of me or, at the very least, rid themselves of both of us—both of which they accomplished.
I don't want to let those assholes win. Fuck them and the horses they rode in on.
Archer frowns slightly, his look questioning as I step toward him. It's clear he's noticed the change in my thoughts but doesn't know where they've shifted.
I grasp the front of his shirt, smiling up at him. "Kiss me."
He doesn't hesitate, lowering his mouth to mine. Our kiss is full of heat and passion, but I can't let it go too far here. I don't want our reunion to take place among the trees. Maybe if it was Hayes before me, but that's beside the point.
"I'm sorry I've continued to hold myself back from you," I whisper as I pull back enough to meet his eyes once more. "I'm done with that. I know there are plans to be made and things that need to be done, but it can all wait. I want you to take me to the home you bought for us and ravish me—fuck me. Think you're up to the task?"
His eyes are wide, mouth agape before he recovers, chuckling. "I'm always up for the task, love. If you remember nothing else about our time together, you should at least remember that."
Grinning, I grab his hand and drag him toward the house.
This is how I want to live the rest of my life—carefree and taking what I want.
I could ask for nothing more for myself and the people I care about.
Who am I kidding?
I love them all. Even if Naomi and I aren't there yet, I love her as a person, and I don't doubt that this love will grow between us as well.
But one thing at a time. Right now, I'm going to take Archer to my room so he can remind me just how good in bed he is.