Chapter 98 HEY, LOR
CHAOS.
I sat in my car, engine idling, while I stared at the massive house in front of me.
The palace.
I’d put off coming here for as long as I could without pushing my luck. Any longer, and my father would’ve sent a convoy to drag me here.
Still, I wasn’t in a rush. I let the minutes tick by, but I eventually killed the engine, and stepped out.
The moment I walked inside the building, I was met with a swarm of staff, all smiles and polite greetings. I nodded back, muttering a few words here and there, trying to keep to be nice even though I wasn’t in the mood.
The house felt the same as always. Too big, too quiet, and somehow still suffocating. Ignoring everything else, I headed straight upstairs to my mom’s room.
She was the same. But today, she was asleep. I stood there for a moment, just watching her, before stepping closer. Gently, I pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
When I left the room, one of the staff stopped me in the hallway to let me know dinner would be served shortly. Instead of wandering around the house, I made my way to the dining room.
When dinner was served, I didn’t bother waiting for my father. I started eating, cutting into the steak. But then I heard the door creak open before the sharp sound of his footsteps filled the room.
My father didn’t sit down right away.
Instead, he stopped behind me,and in his cold and familiar voice, he asked, “Have you forgotten your manners? Starting without me is rather mannerless.”
I didn’t look up, neither did I reply.
I just shoved another bite into my mouth without looking at him.
He sighed heavily, clearly not surprised but annoyed still. The air grew thicker as he waved off the staff, dismissing them. They hurried out of the dining area and soon, it was just the two of us.
My father finally sat down across from me, hands clasped together like he was about to deliver one of his grand speeches.
The only thing I might have liked about the man was that he was always straight to the point.“You’re almost twenty, Cormac. You’re not a child anymore.”
I paused mid-bite, fork near my mouth.
I knew where this was going.
“You have responsibilities now,” he continued, ignoring my reaction. “And it’s high time you thought about settling down. You need to get a mate andthink about starting afamily. You can’t be worrying about those things once you’ve stepped into real power.”
I put my fork down, slowly, before cleaning my mouth with a napkin.
“If you’re too...preoccupied to make the effort,” he continued. “I could always scoutone for you.Alas, we both know you won’t approve of what I choose.”
Who you choose, asshole.
A wife wasn’t a fucking object.
That did it and I dropped the napkin on the table. “I can handle it,” I said tightly, trying to control my rising temper.
I ignored him until dinner was over and when it all ended, I pushed my chair back abruptly, the legs scraping against the floor. Without thinking, I stood and turned to leave.
“And where are you going?” my father asked sharply.
I paused at the doorway, glancing over my shoulder. “To seeLorelai before I leave.”
I noted how he didn’t say anything else,and I threw him a quick glance to see he had his head bowed slightly.
Yeah.
Lorelai’s name always did that to him. It was the only thing that could break through the tight walls a man like Killian Graves had built around himself.
“You’re not staying the night?” his voice came softer now.
“No,” I said shortly, not waiting for a response before walking out.
The drive was quiet and when pulled up to my destination, I turned off the car and sat there for a moment, staring out the window.
This was the one place I both dreaded and loved coming to.
I finally stepped out of the car and surveyed the area, my eyes roaming over the neatly arranged rows of stones. Each one had a name, proving a loss.
I walked over to the far section, away from the rest. The royal family’s section.
I stopped in front of a headstone, gaze dropping to the greening concrete, where the lettering was engraved: LORELAI GRAVES (2006–2022).
I stared at it, feeling my chest tighten, the pain of loss feeling fresh like it was yesterday.
I let out a shaky breath, running my fingers over the rough edge of the stone.
“Hey,Lor,” I murmured,picturing her face.
After a while, I sank onto the grass, not caring if it stained my clothes.
I never brought flowers. Lorelai used to hate them.
“Can you believe it, Lor?” I muttered to the air, like I was waiting for her to respond. “Life’s a joke. I keep trying to move forward, but it’s like I’m stuck in this damn cycle. Nothing changes. Just the same shit over and over again.”
I let out a bitter laugh as my eyes remained fixed on her name. "Merrielynn’s alive,” I smiled. “She showed up. Out of nowhere… I wasn’t even prepared for it, Lor. She’s at Pinnthorpe, of all places. I didn’t think I’d ever see her again, but here she is. And that’s not even the crazy part.” I sniffed. “After all this time, she still doesn’t remember me. She doesn’t remember anyone from before the accident.”
I shook my head, chuckling. ”You know, I thought maybe if I kept her at arm’s length, pushed her away, it’d make it easier.”
I glared at the grass, “I found out we’re mates, Lor. Can you fucking believe that? After... everything, she truly does belong with me. Fate...brought us back together and she doesn’t even remember who I am."
I ran a hand through my hair, looking around as I imagined Merielynn’s face. “I don’t even know if I want her memories back. I don’t know what’s worse—her not remembering me, or...” I trailed off. “What do I do if she remembers? She’s gonna feel so guilty and––” I squeezed my eyes shut, not finishing the thought.
Just talking about all of this tugged at a part of my heart which I preferred to keep buried.
“Then there’s Val.” My sigh was heavy. “He’s struggling. Struggling to move on. Struggling to forget. It’s like seeing Merrielynn all the time seems to open his wounds over and over again. It’s like all his anger is wrapped up against her. And... I don’t think it’s fair.”
I stopped talking as my mind went to the thing I was mostly worried about.
I looked back down at the stone and swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. “What do I do, Lor? What if Dad finds out she’s around?” I dropped my head into my hands, “I’ve been trying to protect Merrielynn but she’s been asking so many fucking questions. What if I can’t protect her against him?”
I sighed, the sadness choking me.
A moment passed in silence, then, a soft, tired smile tugged at my lips,“I miss you, Lor. Every damn day.”
I stared out at the distance for a while, remembering how much emptier the world felt when I lost my sister.
Finally, I stood up, brushing the grass off my clothes,“Don’t miss me too much,” I said, “I’ll be back.”
And then I got in my car and got the fuck out of my childhood home.