God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2)(81)

“Anni, honey, listen to me. Love isn’t a crush or an infatuation. Love is when you go through life together, face your fears together, and at times, even hate each other in the process. It’s not love if it hasn’t been tested.”

I get up, forcing her to release my hair, and face her. “That doesn’t apply to everyone. And what are you insinuating, Mom? Does this mean you won’t help me convince Papa? Jeremy said he’d leave me alone if Papa accepts Creighton, and I need your help to make him see reason.”

She takes my hand in hers. “I think we should give it a bit more time before we bring it up to your father.”

“I don’t have more time. We’re going back tomorrow, and I can’t have Jeremy locking me up for sport. I’m so done with that.”

“Honey…”

“You said you’d help me.” My chin quivers. “You promised to be on my side in this world that treats women like second-rate citizens. I knew I could do it, because I have you. How could you turn your back on me?”

“It’s not that I’m turning my back…we just can’t be rash.”

A tear slides down my cheek and I wipe it away. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Papa or Jeremy said those words, because I know they don’t really trust me to be responsible for my own life, but it kills me that you don’t trust me either. I never expected this from you.”

“Anni…there’s so much you don’t know.”

“Then tell me. Don’t just keep me in the dark and ask me to accept situations I don’t understand.”

“I will, but as I said, I need time, baby. I’m just asking you—imploring you, begging you—to cut off ties with this Creighton.”

“Mom!”

“I’ve never asked anything of you, Anni. I only wanted you to grow up into the bright, cheerful, and absolutely beautiful young lady you are. I didn’t stop you from ballet even though I’m uncomfortable with it, I didn’t stop you from traveling to the other side of the world, although I was scared for your safety, but I’m begging you to let him go.”

“I can’t…do that. I love him.”

“You haven’t been together for long. Those feelings will eventually disappear.”

“You can’t possibly be serious?”

She stands up, releases a long breath, and whispers, “I’m trying to protect you.”

“By hurting me? You’re cutting me open by demanding I stop seeing the only person who’s not only embraced me for who I am but who’s also encouraged me to grow into myself.”

She strokes my hair back, a sad expression covering her face. “It’ll all get better with time. I promise.”

Then she steps out the door, leaving me with pain, sadness, and, most importantly, confusion.

What the hell just happened?





When I wake up after a restless sleep, the first thing I do is check my messages.

My chest immediately deflates when I find no text from Creighton.

Maybe he’s mad that the one-day deadline is over and I still haven’t made good on my promise to fix things.

So I type another one.

Annika: Morning! It’s morning here, so it must be around midday there? I’m going to find an opportunity to talk to Papa about us. I was hoping Mom would be my ally, but I guess that’s out after she weirdly opposed to our relationship last night. This will be the first time I’ve gone up against Papa head-to-head. Wish me luck! I miss you. I want to kiss you.

I wait for a few minutes in case he reads both my texts and finally replies, but there’s nothing.

Maybe he lost his phone.

I stroke the necklace he gave me, then text the girls’ group chat.

Annika: Morning! Did you get together with the guys this weekend?

Cecily: With Remi and Bran, yeah.

Annika: How about the others?

Cecily: What others? Eli and Lan don’t hang out with us.

Glyndon: She means Creigh, silly. And no, Anni. He didn’t come along.

My fingers tighten around the phone and I frown.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s spent all his time sleeping, but ever since we got together, he doesn’t sleep as much.

I was hopeful—and probably delusional—enough to think he probably preferred my company over sleep.

My screen lights up with another text.

Ava: Creigh was inseparable from He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Looked like they were up to no good.

Cecily: And how do you know that? Have you developed stalker tendencies?

Ava: Bitch, please. I only caught a glimpse of it when I was borrowing something from Bran.

Glyndon: Borrowing something from Bran, huh? *giggling GIF*

Cecily: Leave her be. She said she caught a glimpse. More like glimpses.

Glyndon: Maybe in compromising positions.

Ava: I’m blocking you two.

Ava: Not really, but I might.

My frown deepens, but I choose to remain calm as I change my clothes and then go down the stairs. I keep obsessing over my phone, checking the unread texts over and over.

Just because Creighton is spending time with Eli doesn’t mean he wouldn’t reply.

The more I think about it, the less it makes sense.

I find Mom and Jeremy having breakfast in the garden and whispering among each other.