Bitter Revenge

Chapter 43

"Respectfully, what the hell were you thinking Fi?" Cris rubbed her temple in a circle to ward off a headache. I was sitting in front of her at Devil's Corner just a couple hours after my... yeah. "I was thinking that the man I've been hunting for decades was finally right in front of me. Hell, he's lucky I didn't kill him on the spot." I muttered that last part, mostly just petty that my revenge turned... bitter. "Fi, don't be like that or I'll smack the nonsense out of you. Guilty or not, that man is your mate's father." I growled and crossed my arms, sneering at her comment. "I don't give a damn if he was her father or her brother. That man murdered my sister in cold blood. And I'm supposed to play footsies with him?!"

Cris rolled her eyes, clearly swarmed with work but clearly didn't have the heart to kick me out in the middle of my distress. "Fi I get it, he fucked you over. But was beating him unconscious really necessary? Was having your revenge more important to you than your mate?" At that, she looked at me with heavy side-eye while I deflated. "No. It wasn't. The look on her face..." I frowned deeply, seeing how cold but angry she was. Cris gave me a small grin, a cruel demon. "That's good to hear. Give her time, Fi. Let her come to you on her own terms." I sagged against my chair and sighed deeply, nodding slightly despite my dislike of the plan.

Spoiler alert, I didn't make it through the night. I decided I'd go to the Royal Woods to at least ensure I didn't make a huge mess of everything. This is the moment where I would typically realize that I don't actually know how to get there on my own, but Stella drove me and Harley there for the whole peace offering thing. Plus, I can smell Stella's scent. The strength of a mate. I followed it on my black Honda CB Unicorn 150, for just about an hour in the middle of the night. When I got close, I hid my bike in some bushes, then trekked the rest of the way by foot. I followed her scent all the way to that two-story house, taking in the sight before making my way in quietly. I searched for her father, and surprisingly found him in a mancave of a bedroom. He was fast asleep, his face heavily bruised but no longer bloody.

I sighed and looked around for a piece of paper and pen, maybe I'll just leave him a note. I think I'll give him a heart attack if I wake him up now. I sat in that office and wrote a trillion notes. After two hours and a brightening sky, I finally finished the notes that I deemed good enough. I left one next to his bed, taking a close look at his relaxed face. I was angry, furious even. He killed my sister. I don't give a damn if it was a mistake and he thought it was my mother, it was a damn big mistake and it changed my entire life. But then again, look at how my life has turned out. I have a family that cares about me, I found my mate, I work under my best friend, and I'm free from my parents.

Violet has long been dead, maybe I should finally let her rest. The thought alone hurt my heart. I was suggesting leaving my sister to rest in the past and accept that I'll live the rest of my life with only her memories. I sighed and decided to steel my determination, then turned and left the house. Instead of leaving completely, I decided to hone my attention on Harley's scent and follow it. I found a simple house much like Stella's, except this one had a white picket fence. I knocked on the door this time, hopefully loud enough to wake her. Luckily, her mess of hair greeted me at the door.

Her eyes widened at the sight of me and she quickly pulled me into her house, shutting the door quickly. "What are you doing here?! Stella would happily burn you on sight! Also, are you fucking crazy?! What were you thinking?!" I sighed and held my hands up in surrender, a folded paper in my left hand. I handed it to her quietly, exhausted to my core already. "Look I get it, I fucked up. I already got the speech. I just wanted to stop by to give you this and apologize, not only to Stella but to you as well." She gave me a look filled with confusion, "Me? Why?" I huffed a breath and hung my head. "You entrusted me to be the symbol of peace between vampires and the Royal Coven, and I went off on Mr. King as a thank you. I also hurt Stella when I promised you I wouldn't do that. I'll make it right." She stood silently and when I met her eyes, I just saw a small grin. "I know you will."

After that, I drove back to Devil's Corner with the rising sun behind me. I hoped Mr. King would read the letter and accept my invitation. I sighed, the mist whisking behind me. Relationships are difficult. But it'll be worth it.