Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 35 She Is Dead

“Bastien,” Mom follows me, dogged even amidst her grief. She catches my shoulders, wrapping her arms around me before I can stop her. “I’m so sorry.” She keens. “She was inside.”

“No!” I say again, my voice a dull roar in my own ears, “You’re wrong. She can’t – she can’t be. I would know if she was dead, would feel it!” I insist.

My mother buries her face in my neck, her tears hot and wet against my skin. “I know.” She laments, “I know sweetheart.” Her small hands rub circles over the rigid muscles of my back. “But she’s gone.”

“How do you know?” I struggle to push her off me without hurting her, “Is there a body? Show me her body?”

Mom’s arms clamp down around me more tightly, squeezing me with her supernatural strength. “They already took it.” She whimpers. “It’s at the morgue,”

The phone line opens with a fuzzy click, dissolving into a strange, droning roar punctuated by splintering wood and hollow crackling. “Bas-en.” Selene’s terrified voice cuts out as she attempts to cry my name, “I eed. Th-re’s… el… Pl-elp!”

I listen to the voicemail over and over again on the way to the coroner’s office, trying to decipher any clear words or message from the jumbled sounds. Unfortunately no matter how many times I play the recording, I can’t make anything out.

I don’t want to believe it. I can hear the fire in the background, and I’ve seen what’s left of the cabin, but I cannot fathom that Selene might be dead. She was clearly in trouble, but that doesn’t mean she’s gone. After all, her phone cut out – if it ran out of battery she could be trying to find help this very moment and simply unable to call me again.

She isn’t dead. Axel says for the thousandth time. I would know.

How did this even happen? How did the fire start? And if Selene really was in the cabin when it began, why couldn’t she get out?

clenching and unclenching compulsively as the

the back of my mind wonders. And why did she reject me, if not for failing her when she needed me

mother’s hand closes over mine, squeezing gently. I return her affection, but I refuse to look at her. I can’t bear to see her guilt and pain. I can’t bear to hear her

leave the

holding Arabella at the cabin.” She explains hoarsely, “It seemed like the only place they could pin to Selene. Garrick’s house never

hand. “Why didn’t you

side nicer than being locked up with a bunch of enforcers.” Despite her words, there is no venom in her tone. “I didn’t think I never imagined…” She

there to keep you safe.” I groan, “To prevent

keep her in custody!” Mom exclaims. “That was a cover!” I explode, “Somebody is trying to destroy this family any way they can. I lied to the enforcers to appease them,

know that?” She cries. “You accused Selene of

I refute hotly, “I let them question her, that’s all! I know she

were against her, that’s why

I demand, “It’s my

not!” She objects immediately. “I didn’t mean that, Bastien. If anything

The only person responsible is

the past

car for a long moment, until my mother returns her comforting touch to my arm. “Bastien.” She broaches genth, the salty scent of her tears filling the small space. “I don’t want it to be true either, but the longer you deny it, the more painful it will be to deal with “She cautions. “You

the doctor says otherwise, we have to assume this is another trick.” The car rounds the corner and the hospital comes into view, its

kane proclaims

firmly.