Page 98 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck
Astria hadn’t had any contact with Rachael or Demi in eighteen years. He knew better than anyone that a lot could change in that time frame, but he had to have faith that they were okay. That they’d simply become experts at staying off-grid and were happily living their lives. And maybe thought of him from time to time, knowing that he loved them both.
And he hoped beyond hope that they understood he never wanted to be separated from them. He’d honestly believed at one point that they’d beat the odds.
Never did he dream Henry would create monsters and turn everyone’s worlds upside down. Even when Drest found himself standing before a Nightshade committee, answering for his crimes in it all—having an affair with a charge, a Frankenstein family member at that—a small piece of him believed the council would understand. That upon hearing she was his mate and was expecting his child, they’d lift the restrictions and do away with the archaic rule, letting them be together.
Emotions got the better of Drest as tears welled. Rachael had been ripped from his life in the blink of an eye, as had their child. As much as he wanted to hope Rachael thought of him fondly over the years, the truth was, he’d not earned that. She more than likely blamed him for everything. Rightfully so. And she probably thought he’d not wanted to be with her.
He’d not even gotten to tell her again how much he loved her at the end. How sorry he was for being an ass for months. How she was his world. Had he been smarter about it all, life could have played out so differently.
He’d have had his family with him. And he included Astria in that. Yes, she was his niece, but she’d started to feel very daughter-like to him during his time with Rachael. When Henry’s monsters had attacked, he’d been desperate to keep Rachael and Astria safe but couldn’t be in two spots at once. He’d thrown himself over Rachael and thrust his magik out, trying to get it to Astria in time to keep her safe. But his magik wasn’t needed.
Stratton had been there, already over Astria, protecting her.
Drest opened his eyes, a small snort coming from him. How had he not seen the signs and realized Astria was Stratton’s mate? From the second Stratton had seen Astria peeking out at him from behind the piano, the man had changed. He’d softened and expressed concern for the child. He’d even blown up at Rachael and Drest upon seeing the containment vessel Astria wore around her neck. The one that housed her goblin—Torid.
Stratton had nearly lost his shit back then. That should have tipped off Drest that something was going on.
His mind instantly went to eighteen years ago, when he and Stratton had been in Grimm Cove on the university campus, on the trail of Henry’s monsters. How had Drest not realized the young woman with the pixie-cut purple hair was Astria? Yes, she’d only been four when he’d last seen her, but she looked a lot like Amice. He should have recognized as much.
“She didn’t recognize me either,” he whispered, the implications hitting him hard.
Astria had been four when she’d last seen him. He’d been around her a lot back then. The fact she’d not remembered him hit hard. Demi had never met him. She had no childhood memory of him to draw from.
To his daughter, he was a ghost. A man who donated his sperm to her creation and then vanished from her life before she’d even been born.
His magik flared as his emotions went wild.
Drest sensed Dark Fae energy a second before Torid, in dog form, came bounding into the room. He slid to a stop on the hardwood and cocked his head to the side, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
“Drest?” asked Stratton, entering the room, his gaze darting to the goblin warily. He exhaled slowly. “I was a little worried he ran up here to eat you.”
Torid perked as if the idea of eating them sounded like a good one.
Drest’s power leveled, and a shaky laugh came from him. “I’m sure he’d love to. He’s never been a big fan of Hunters. I like to think he warmed to me some.”
Torid trotted over to Drest and put his head on Drest’s thigh, slobbering down Drest’s leg. Odds were high that even in goblin form, Torid would have slobbered.
Drest patted the goblin’s head.
Torid nudged the photo in Drest’s hand and whimpered.
Drest choked back a sob.
Stratton entered the room more, sadness touching his eyes. “We’ll find them, cousin. I know it. I refuse to believe Fate would be so cruel as to keep you from your family for the rest of your days.”
“It’s what I deserve,” said Drest, lifting his head somewhat while feeling defeated.
“You do not deserve that,” snapped Stratton. “Why would you think that?”
“When Rachael told me she was pregnant, I panicked,” he confessed. “I’d already claimed her, putting her at risk from the Nightshade Clan, and I hadn’t made any headway in how to deal with that. We worked through that, but I know this is punishment for my initial reaction.”
Stratton dragged a hand over his face. “You never told me any of this before.”
Drest snorted. “Not something I’m proud of. That day in the house in Tarrytown was the first time I’d seen Rachael in a month. Amice’s service had been the last time prior to that. I should have taken her and Astriathatday and never looked back. I swore to my wife, my mate, after I screwed things up with her during her uncle’s trial that I’d never again screw up like that. That I would always be there for her. That I’d love her until the day I died. I’m not dead, and I’m not with her. I failed her.”
Stratton said nothing. He merely stood there, silently watching Drest emotionally break down.
Torid nudged the photo of Demi once more, keeping his head on Drest’s thigh.
