Truth: A Valkyrie Saga Book 3

Chapter 24 - Heartbreak

I hadn't really ever warmed to the idea of having children. I had found early on that I was too self-centered to ever maintain a successful relationship. I always got bored and felt that the man needed too much attention. Love was a distraction that I didn't understand why so many people were obsessed with. I would much rather spend my time and energy on myself than any other person. Simple logic told me that I would feel the same way about any offspring that I may have. This is why no one was more surprised than I was when I formed a deep bond with my child. I had endeavored to become pregnant at Valerie's orders and had thought that the only thing I would ever feel towards my daughter would be a sense of duty. But something changed as I felt her grow inside of me. When I held her completely vulnerable form in my arms and she looked up at me with trusting green eyes, I felt something I had never experienced before.

I only ever loved one person other than myself. Even though I fought against it, I loved my daughter. I loved Sierra and she was ripped away from me. Sixteen long years later and that love hadn't diminished. I had to find a way back to her.

-Constance Belanger

We all circled through the kitchen where Renata had dishes upon dishes of food laid out for us and sat down to eat. For a while, everyone was too busy eating to talk. Or maybe we were all trying to put off the inevitable. I doubted that I was the only one that realized that our lives were about to change. There was no way for us to continue living as we had been. Just too much had happened and we needed to protect ourselves from both the Northern Hidden and the Collins Royal Line.

Nahuel was the first to break through the silence barrier and said in a matter-of-fact voice, "Pala has been following the human-bound Valkyries for years. She is blessed with Teleportation and Speed, therefore is a perfect person to watch the many different factions of Royals and looking for any sign that they are close to discovering Awenasa. She knows the human-bound valkyries best, so I turned to her when you asked for more information about the Southern King, Eli Norwood."

I felt myself tense at the mention of his name and the food I had managed to eat churned in my stomach. I couldn't help but wonder if he was dead now, or if Valerie had taken him. If they had, was it possible that my biological mother was torturing him? Would he be subjected to the same treatment that had destroyed my father? Was I to blame for that fact? Was it now my responsibility to try to save him from such a fate?

"I knew from her reports that Eli was not a good person, but honestly I don't pay that much attention to the human-bound Royals unless I think that they are taking a heightened interest in us. Eli's brother, Hernan Collins, is the one that I know the most about because he is the one most interested in finding us. Eli is more concerned with the power games played within the human realm and thus, less important to me. But Pala has detailed knowledge and notes of everyone she watches," Nahuel explained and I nodded my head. All of that made sense.

Then Nahuel stopped talking and turned to look at Pala, who seemed extremely anxious. Her shoulders were tense and her gaze kept darting around as if she wasn't used to people actually paying her any attention was feeling stressed about the sudden spotlight Nahuel was forcing her into. I completely understood. Having spent an inordinate amount of time in the void, I understood how easy it was to watch without being seen. When the guys had discovered me and people had started paying attention to me at school, I had felt the same way.

I reached out and wrapped the fabric of reality around her shoulders so that she became significantly less visible. The guys were all used to me doing this and knew that she was still there but they were also decent and kind people. They would have been picking up on her nervousness just as I had. Everyone diverted their eyes towards their plates while I gave Pala an encouraging smile. She finally focused on me and let out a deep breath before she started to talk.