Josey’s POV
“I know this sucks but are you really going to let Sabrina pay the price in bringing back your mate?” I ask Anthony, who sat on his bed restrained by Hunter’s intimidating gaze.
“It was her mate that killed mine! Besides, you shouldn’t be one to talk.” Anthony responds just as mother walked in.
“You are right. She shouldn’t say anything given the fact that Sabrina went through so much trouble to bring her mates back, to bring her back from the crazies and she still ends up alone!” Mother says as she glares at me.
“Which is why you should not allow her to go through with this! Goddess knows the price is as big as the pain. Say she loses Adrastos this time? She just lost her pregnancy Anthony, don’t be heartless. You cannot expect Sabrina to pay for Aiden’s sins, that’s not fair. It was your idea that she take away his immortality, how he lashed out, though not ideal, was his own doing as a grown man.” Mother says to Anthony.
“She should have left him in the cells to marinate over his new life. That’s what normal people do!” Anthony lashes out, Hunter having to stand by him to intimidate him.
“What if Aiden had killed him before we found out he was responsible? Would you blame Sabrina then? Because you heard him just as well as I that he wanted to use your mate as bait all along..” I ask, getting a growl instead of an answer.
“Anthony, that is your sister. Think about her! She’s going to walk back in here with your mate all fresh and alive, while she awaits the price she was told she will pay. Not forgetting how she has to deal with her mate, who killed yours and almost killed her son, never mind the stress he put her under so much so that she lost a baby. You remember that while you’re shacked up with your new boo.” I say before throwing a splash of water at his face.
I was getting angry.
I can understand Anthony’s pain but if I had not let my vampire side take over, allowed myself to feel… had I known the dire consequences waiting for my selfless sister right after saving my mates, I would’ve talked her out of it.
“I’m beginning to think that happiness is a life Sabrina will never know.” I say, sitting on the other side of the bed in defeat.
Feeling the waterworks coming, I turn away from my family.
“She has to save everyone. She has to protect everyone. Never sparing her a minute to actually deal with each pain and to grieve. We really don’t deserve someone like her… all we do is bring her pain.” I say.
Mother touches my shoulder to comfort me but I shrug her off, getting on my feet to face my family.
“In case you forgot Anthony, mother could be the price and we just got her back. I could be the price, I don’t know how but I could be because I may never die of natural causes but news flash big bro, I can be killed! Adrastos is not immortal yet! Aiden is immortal now and she’s out there risking our lives for you! For fucks sake, Cj could be the price!!” I yell out loud.
“I’m going to tell you some words I wish someone had told me when I was too chicken shit to deal with the pain of losing my mates, get over yourself! This is life, people die! You of all people should know that and knowing what I know now, you weren’t going to gift him immortality either. Fuck. Do you see how fucked up all of this is? How I wish you all had left us the fuck alone on earth! She was finally happy with Xander but alas. If you’d rather have your mate, then by all means, sit your ass down and sulk until he returns but just know that mother and I are fair game now. Drastos is fair game or anyone Sabrina loves.” I say.
The room stays silent… which annoyed me. I climb the bed to pull Anthony by his shirt.
“Go kill Aiden then! Make him pay for your mates death by death! Don’t subject all of us to a future unknown and moving from you blaming Brina to us blaming you because I can promise you an eternity of blame if she walks back in here with your new boo. I refuse to lose Drastos and allow you the happiness being a couple brings. I refuse to allow you any happiness if I lose my sister mentally because I don’t know how you’re not all thinking about it. Sabrina is going to break. This is too much for her, heck it’s a lot for me and I will blame each one of you for all of it!” I say.
“Hey!” Mother calls out.
“Oh don’t get me started mother dearest. You gave us mommy issues woman. Manipulating dad in to being your mate and leaving us with him for years pretending to be dead. I grew up thinking you were dead you psycho! Yes, you’re to blame too for all the vampire shit we were faced with, yeah the shit that still haunts me now but today is not about me. Don’t forget how it’s all your fault Ethia wanted us all dead, I mean the enemies!! I did not have enough time to be a teenager because I had to fight half uncles from taking us and creating little army babies and then to the sneaky moon goddess who hunted us down like fucken lightning. Goddess I need a glass of something just talking about all this shit.” I say as I walk towards my brother’s in room bar.
Pouring myself a shot of vodka and sitting by the bar.
“Come on Josey…” Hunter tries to calm me down.
“And then there’s big ol’ Hunter. Strongest man ever! Just walks through the door and surprises Sabrina with the daddy news… yes, we have not forgotten. Also the news of choosing to raise your son while your daughter is raised by other people. Yes yes, you had no idea your mate abandoned Brina. I mean, were you never curious? Just a little visit to the pack as whatever you wanted to be to see how she was faring? The magical popping in and out could never be done then? How have you not come watch her first shift? What about when we were in human territory playing fragile little girls and trying out for cheer squad? No? Nothing? I’ll fill you in…. While you were playing dad to your little ungrateful son over there, she had to watch and listen to her mate choose our fucken babysitter as his chosen mate. The audacity! That was so humiliating and you know who stuck by her? My father! A fucking earthling raised that strong little white wolf in to what she is today and no matter how you were all absent in her life, here she is risking it all for you! CJ almost killed his chances at being Percy’s beta for his sister and you know what your little moon goddess daughter did? She healed. Without any of you and now she can’t even grieve Percy because her selfish brother demands his mate be brought back to life.” I rant.
I take another two shots before facing my family again, who just watch on as I release all my pent up feelings.
“What is it that the men in the first family do exactly? Like what is your job in this realm besides telling people you are part of the first family? Because it’s starting to look like Sabrina is running ship. Oh oh!!! Remember when Aiden’s family killed Arianna? Yeah I remember that.. all too well actually. I remember my little brother, Cj handling the matter of losing his mate like a true champ, never blaming Sabrina for her mates role in the death of his mate. Goddess, the amount of shit we put her through! She has to deal with all of us and then Aiden and then this realm and then earth! How she keeps it together day by day should shock us all but it is clearly I, just me that remains appalled daily. I need to get away from this toxic mess actually before I think of feasting on one of you to get a taste of that royal blood.” I say, taking the vodka bottle with me as I walk out. Stopping midway to throw in a few words..
“Or I could stay and carry on. You could all use a dose of reality right now. You have not raised that girl, nor I. She is putting everything on the line to save a love story that isn’t even her own. It us selfish of us to ask this of her, to gamble on lives like this for our own gain when we know she will suffer later. Anthony, how will you do it? Hide away from Sabrina so the guilt doesn’t eat at you whenever you see her? When she walks down these halls in sadness and you walk around showing off your new mate?” I ask my big brother.
It was clear my words did not have the effect I was hoping for, I have been in his shoes. One thing him and I have inherited from dear mother is our selfishness.
How we would rather have the people around us suffer so we could be happy. How I berated my sister when I first met my twin mates and not forgetting the vampire king who still haunts my dreams at night or any time of the day really.
I stop at the door to give them one last look, hoping this somber look will be sending them in to mad guilt.
“I hope you all suffer for this.” I say and walk away. If nobody was going to stop Sabrina, I would. My sister can’t keep suffering just to make sure we are happy, that’s not right.
This is not the life for anyone.