78. Leo's Childhood Trauma

**Leonard**

He froze but didn't stop her although she came on to him unexpectedly. Instead, he closed his eyes and let her lead him while he followed her motioned. She stopped kissing him and pulled back. Serene didn't give him a reason for it, and he didn't ask. If all she wanted from comfort, then he would give it to her.

"I kissed Judar before going into town," she said. The admittance was unexpected. Since when did that guy have an interest in Serene? Since when did she start liking him?

"You mean, like, today?" Leo asked.

She nodded.

"We did more than kissed but we never had sex," Serene muttered. "I don't want to hide it from you, that's why I'm telling you now."

"I'm not sure I get it. Do you love him?"

"No, I don't. I never did."

"But then why did you..." He paused.

"It just felt right at the moment. I already told him I had no interest to be with him."

"At all?"

Serene didn't reply, choosing only to stare at his chest. Leo frowned in frustration. "You wanted to sleep with him." He didn't say it as a question as he figured he had already figured it out. Serene nodded, then asked, "Is that bad?"

Considering that he caused no harm to her and she was going to do it willingly, it wasn't wrong in Leo's mind. But he knew the type of man Judar Smoke was, and how easy it was for him to switch from a good, warm-hearted guy to a complete asshole in under a minute. But he couldn't tell Serene that without exposing a piece of himself. Sure, he could have used the past relationship between Emily and Judar as an example, but that would mean telling her business without her permission. So, it seemed as if he had no choice.

Leo rested his hand on her waist. When she didn't pull away or protest, he held it and pulled her closer to him. So close their noses would touch if either of them moved. "Let me tell you something about Judar." Serene looked into his eyes. "It's something I hate to talk about, but I care about you and don't want to see you make the same mistake I did. I'm trusting you, so please... don't look down on me."

Serene nodded. After taking a deep breath, he begun.

"There was a boy who was, not very bright."

"That boy was you," Serene said, smiling. Leo chuckled. "That boy was me."

"When I was young it was kind of hard to make friends. I wasn't allowed to go out much unless it was to hangout with other kids who came to visit the palace. Kids like you." He observed as pink stained her cheeks. "But that was before everything happened to your family."

"Since then my mother began much stricter and Henry started training me to inherit the throne. My social life as a kid almost became nonexistent. Until Judar came into the mix.

At first he seemed like a cool guy. He was thirteen and I was nine at that point. He didn't have to stick to a strict regimen, he could come and go as he pleases. He told me about a whole lot of things going on in the world, even a few things I shouldn't have known at that age.

I followed him like a little puppy, licking up every single word he said. He was my first long term friend in a long time. He tolerated me so I thought he liked me too. It made me feel happy he was willing to spend time with me when he could be doing other, much cooler things. It made me feel special.

At time point in my life I knew about my... oddness. Children that were born to vampire parents weren't as active in the sun, so most of them were homeschooled out of fear of something happening to them. I on the other hand grew stronger in the sunlight, so much that I could nearly keep up with the guard during training. They knew what I was then. They knew I was a freak.

My mom on the other hands reminded me that I was an important person meant to do great things for my people. Judar said he didn't care so I thought it was great having people who supported me. Little did I know one of them was lying.

I remember that he asked me to come out and play with him in the garden. I followed along until we arrived at the area to the east where there were more trees in the ground than flowers. He instructed me to climb down into a forgotten cellar in the ground, saying he had a surprise for me.

I'm not sure that I would stop myself if I was able to go back in time. If I did, then I would have continued thinking he was my friend like an idiot.

Inside was a chained up rogue in the corner. I was scared as hell. I tried to get Judar's help, but the look he gave me said it all.

He wasn't my friend. He felt nothing but contempt for me and annoyance that I was alive. By bringing me there he had hoped that I would die and my death would be blamed on the rogues. He told me so himself. Seeing Judar shut the door and lock me in despite my cries hurt me more than the feel of that creature's teeth digging into my skin."

Serene's eyes widened and her hands shot up to her face. Leo brought a finger to his lips to stop her from speaking.

"What Judar failed to realize since he didn't live here, was that I was getting stronger day by day. Literally. However, compared to that ravenous rogue I was like a nice piece of meat with good blood that it couldn't let go of. I got a good hit in and ran up the steps with it coming after me. I hit the door over and over again. It could have been luck or something else, but my instinct kicked in, and I gathered all the energy I had stored from the sunlight and implemented it into my arms. That's how I managed to burst through the door and escape. The rogue ended up getting burnt and ducked back inside for cover. Blood pours down my arms and scratches covered my legs. I passed out on the spot. After that event, I was never able to see life the same way again."

Contrary to his expectations, Serene reached up and pulled his head down until his forehead touched hers. "I am so sorry... I never knew such a thing happened to you or else I wouldn't have even..."

Leo caressed her cheek. "Yeah it was a long time ago. Don't beat yourself up about it. That's why I'm here for you now. And always will be."