Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Thirty-Four

"So you are my mother?" How could she be sure of anything? Emily looked so much like Martha, a prettier version, and not so prissy and stern-looking. She wasn't.

Riyad caressed her back, keeping her calm, taking a deep breath, while Emily tucked hair behind her ear, holding herself rigid. "That is correct." She informed Callie. There was no running into each other's arms, finding each other. It felt strained and tension crackled the air between them, licking her lips, searching out Riyad.

"Please sit down, refreshment is on the way." Riyad eased Callie down on the sofa at his side. Emily remained standing. "Emily?" he challenged, so took a seat, some distance away, sitting on the edge, hand locked together on her lap.

Refreshments brought up and placed on a table between them, where Riyad dismissed them, saying they would look after themselves. A deafening silence fell between them that was awkward. Her fingers curled around Riyad's hand, glancing up. With his eyes, he told her to start.

"Who's my father!" blurted out.

"Not what I would have started with," Riyad noted with a wary smile.

Moaning, she lowered her head, palming it with her hand, not meaning to be so direct, jerking to her feet and began pacing the room, clutching at her arms. "Why?" Stopping she spun around and faced the woman. "You gave me away, why would you do that?!"

"Calysta," Emily started also rising to her feet.

"It's Callie!" she snapped, then sucked in a sharp breath. Emily shook, clutching at her arms. "Sorry, I'm called Callie." Strong arms wrapped around her, out of nowhere, turning to bury her face into his chest. "Only you're allowed to call me that," she whispered, closing her eyes. She had no idea what to expect, but this wasn't who she was.

"You are correct, it's Callie," Emily offered. Callie peered across, still in the safety of Riyad's hold, calming her down just by his touch. His caressing clever hands, rolling through her like the sea beneath their feet. "Shall I pour out some tea?"

"That is a good idea," Riyad agreed, easing Callie back to the sofa where she was handed a freshly poured cup of tea, with a thank you and held in her hands, absorbing the heat into her cold hands, bringing up her feet at her side taking a sip. She had to calm down, keep her emotions out of it.

"Perhaps you can start from the beginning, Emily," Riyad suggested.

Placing down her cup, Emily stabbed a hand through her hair, releasing a long breath, eyes lowered. "I wish it was that easy. It isn't easy for me to talk about, however, you do have a right to the truth."

"Yes, she does. Did you stay with me because of Callie?" Riyad asked.

Emily blanched. "In the end, there was no other choice."

"You stayed hidden away because of me!"

Appalled, Callie looked away. It seemed her life taking place had destroyed so many lives. How can she live with that? Emily stiffened while Riyad took her into his arms and held her tightly, giving her strength as he always did.

"No matter what you think, it is not true. None of this is your fault, Callie. Whatever we are hiding from is from within us, even me."

"She didn't want me," she wailed in pain.

"Beloved, if that was true, she would not have had you."

Startled, Callie's eyes shot up at him from his protected cocooned arms and form, a clenched hand pressed against her lips. She soaked in his warmth. No matter what he had kept her, reassured her, none of it mattered to him and showed her in every way possible.