A flicker of sadness and regret passed over Malik’s face before he quickly masked it with a neutral expression.
“I’m sorry, my love, but I cannot help you,” he said softly. “I’ve told you everything I know about our past—about Roman, about you—but your connection to Balthazar and Mathias is something you must uncover for yourself. It’s not my story to tell. Forgive me, darling.”
His words felt like a weight pressing down on my chest—the frustration of unanswered questions and unspoken truths clawing at me. I wanted to scream, to demand more, but before I could speak, Roman’s hand gently squeezed mine, grounding me.
“Olivia, my love, you’ve been through so much already. Rest now. We will figure this out together—I promise.”
Before I could protest, he stood and crossed the room. When he returned, he cradled a bundle in his arms, wrapped snugly in a blanket the color of dawn. Seeing the bundle stirred something maternal and primal within me—my baby.
“Look at her,” Roman said softly, a note of wonder in his voice as he placed the infant in my arms. “She’s our precious gem.”
Her tiny face peeked out from the soft folds of the blanket, wisps of reddish hair framing her features like the faint glow of firelight. As her delicate eyelids fluttered open, revealing a pair of clear, piercing blue eyes that mirrored Roman’s gaze, an overwhelming wave of love and wonder swept through me.
Together, we cooed over her, the sound of her soft breaths and the warmth of her tiny body grounding me in the present. A profound and fierce love surged through me, ancient yet immediate, as if I had carried this devotion across lifetimes. Her rosy cheeks and bright eyes radiated an innocence illuminating the room, a beacon of joy amidst the shadows of uncertainty. She was more than just our child—she was a Timeborne, a gift beyond measure. I vowed then and there to protect her with every ounce of strength, to shield her from the darkness that loomed beyond these walls.
A bittersweet ache stirred deep within me as her tiny hand curled around my finger. The fragmented memories of past lives haunted the edges of my mind, whispering truths I couldn’t yet grasp. Who was I, truly? What had I lost—and what was still waiting to be found? The questions pressed down like a heavy shroud, but I pushed them aside for now. Roman’s steady presence by my side and the miracle of our daughter in my arms was enough to anchor me in this fleeting moment of peace.
Yet, even as I allowed myself to bask in their love, the turmoil inside me raged. The vivid and haunting dreams clawed at the corners of my consciousness, demanding answers I didn’t yet have. And though I tried to stay in the present, a quiet voice whispered that this calm would not last—that the truth, once remembered, would change everything.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
OLIVIA
Irestlessly roamed the expanse of my bedroom, my mind racing with fragments of haunting dreams. Each step I took on the cold marble floor echoed with the weight of my frustration. The lavish tapestries adorning the walls, meant to bring comfort, only deepened my sense of unease and disconnection. Despite the opulence surrounding me, peace felt like a distant memory.
The first dream lingered like a shadow, vivid and inescapable. I had been fleeing Salvatore’s relentless pursuit, the twin blades heavy in my hands, their weight tethering me to a reality that felt just beyond my reach. The second dream jolted me awake in a grand, unfamiliar castle-like room—a world drenched in luxury that suffocated more than it comforted.
In the present, Roman stood nearby, cradling baby Luna. His laughter and soft coos directed at our daughter clashed with the storm inside me. Though my heart swelled with love for them both, my joy as a mother was tainted by the ever-present fear of the enemies lurking just beyond the edges of our fragile sanctuary. I smiled and nodded, doing my best to stay present for my husband and child, but the gnawing unease of my dreams refused to be silenced.
Roman and I had hidden the blades in a secret place deep in the woods beneath a well-placed boulder where even the shadows seemed unaware of their existence. They were our lifeline, perhaps the only leverage we had left, and we could not afford their discovery.
“Hand me the baby, would you please?” I asked softly. Roman gently placed baby Luna in my arms, her delicate form molding perfectly against my chest. Holding her close, I traced the elaborate frescoes on the bedroom ceiling with my eyes, their artistry starkly contrasting with the storm brewing in my mind.
It had been two weeks since I’d brought her into this world—a world riddled with shadows and deceit. My lips hummed a lullaby, but my thoughts were elsewhere, ensnared by the fragments of dreams that refused to let me rest.
In the hallway, I caught sight of my mother, her eyes locking onto mine with an urgency that made my stomach churn. Since uncovering the truth about her—the vile layers of deceit and manipulation hidden beneath her maternal facade—I had steered clear of her. Her presence was a storm cloud, dark and menacing, and I refused to stand in its path.
“Olivia, honey,” she called out, her voice sickly sweet.
“Close the door, please,” I murmured to Roman, avoiding her gaze. “And let’s go outside. I need some air to clear my thoughts.”
He nodded without hesitation, always my steadfast protector. As he placed himself between me and the woman who had birthed me but no longer held any claim to my trust, I felt a flicker of gratitude. We stepped through the French doors onto the balcony overlooking the lush gardens below.
The cool evening air kissed my skin, a temporary balm to my frayed nerves. For a moment, amidst the soft rustling of leaves and the fragrant scent of roses, I imagined peace. But peace was fragile, and it had no place in a life built upon treachery and blood. Roman and I were an island of two in a sea of uncertainty, our vigilance the only shield against the tides of betrayal.
Behind us, the heavy creak of the bedroom door shattered the illusion of solitude. Malik entered, his presence a reminder that we were never truly alone, even in the quietest corners of Mathias’ estate.
Roman placed a steadying hand on my back, guiding me and baby Luna back inside. I kept my gaze fixed on the window, the reflection of the garden my only anchor. I didn’t want to speak to Malik. I didn’t want to face anyone except Roman. Trust was a fragile thread, and mine had been severed too many times.
“Olivia, why have you been skulking in shadows, avoiding me?” Malik’s voice broke through the silence, his words edged with hurt. “We’re family. I miss our conversations.”
Turning away from the window, where the last rays of daylight struggled to pierce the encroaching shadows, I met Malik’s gaze.
“Family.” The word tasted like ash on my tongue. “How can we speak of family when trust is such a fleeting ghost?”
Pain flashed across Malik’s features.
“I know you found the moon dagger,” he said quietly, moving closer but respectful of the space between us. “I know about Luna, about her being Timeborne. And Lazarus... I know you’ve met him.”
