A Soulmate's Story

Chapter 28

Regina paced in the hidden rooms of her vault, her magic swirling softly around her fingers in a nervous habit. She could feel the weight of everything pressing down on her—the accusations, the betrayal, and now the danger Raven was in by staying with her.

Raven sat on one of the old stone benches, watching her mother with concerned eyes. She hated seeing Regina like this, so torn and uncertain. This wasn't the powerful, confident woman who could command a room with just a glance. This was her mother—afraid, not for herself, but for her.

"You shouldn't be here," Regina finally said, her voice strained as she turned to face her daughter. "It's too dangerous. You'd be safer with Navia."

Raven crossed her arms, her jaw set in defiance. "Why not? I'm your daughter. Where else would I be?"

Regina sighed, her shoulders dropping. "You will be safer with Navia. I don't know what's going to happen if they find me here. Things are out of control, and I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of me."

Raven stood, stepping closer to her mother. "So we'll make sure they don't find you. But stop trying to push me away, Mom. Navia is supposed to be my aunt, not my second mom!"

The words hit Regina hard, and she flinched, guilt flashing in her eyes. She had spent so much time trying to protect Raven by keeping her at arm's length, believing it was for the best. But in doing so, she had let Navia step in, filling the gap that Regina had created.

"Navia loves you like her own," Regina said, her voice soft but firm. "Just like I love Nia. She's been there for you when I couldn't be."

Raven shook her head, tears of frustration building in her eyes. "She might love me, but she's not you." Her voice cracked, and she quickly wiped at her face, not wanting to show how much it hurt. "I don't want to be safe if it means being away from you. I'm always going to choose you, Mom."

Regina felt her heart tighten at Raven's words. She hadn't realized just how much her daughter had been carrying, how much she had been trying to shield her from all of this. But Raven was right—pushing her away hadn't made her any safer. It had only made her feel abandoned.

"Raven," Regina started, her voice thick with emotion as she reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face, "I love you more than anything in this world. That's why I don't want you caught in the crossfire. You saw what they tried to do earlier. They don't believe me, and if things get worse..."

Raven grabbed her mother's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Then we'll fight it together. Stop acting like you have to do everything alone. You raised me to be strong, didn't you? Let me help you. I want to be here with you, not running off to be hidden away."

Regina's eyes filled with unshed tears as she pulled Raven into a tight embrace, resting her chin on her daughter's head. "I don't deserve you," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

"Yes, you do," Raven murmured against her mother's shoulder. "You've always been there for me, even when you didn't think you were. Now let me be here for you."

For a moment, they just held each other, the weight of everything around them fading away in the warmth of their embrace. It wasn't often that Regina let herself be vulnerable like this, but with Raven, she didn't have to hide.

"You know," Raven said after a long pause, pulling back slightly but still holding her mother's hand, "if you try to make me leave, I'll just come back. I'm pretty stubborn, just like you."

Regina let out a small laugh, the sound a mix of amusement and exasperation. "I wonder where you get that from."

Raven grinned, wiping the last of her tears away. "Must be genetic."