Chapter 74 Practice
ZORA
It's been days since I started practicing how to use my powers.
I'm past the basic healing stage now and focusing on the main thing since Ryker has nothing to do with a wound.
Marissa has been a huge help.
Grace barely appears since I threatened her, and she always kept her distance away from me.
I also don't know what Marissa did, but she can see Grace now, apparently.
I walked into the living room, and the servants, as usual, ignored me.
I froze at the entrance when I saw the scene unfolding in front of me.
I've been so busy with my training that I forgot about my children.
Yet, nothing prepared me for the scent in front of me.
Ryker was on the floor, facing the ceiling and reading a book to Leah, who, by the way, was messing with Ryker's hair.
Tyler, who usually acts mature than his age, had a drawing book on Ryker stomach, drawing!!
Since when did all these happen??
How in the world is he with my children? And he's not cold?
I returned my gaze to him, he looks so different. His gaze softened and even twinkled.
He almost, –almost looked normal.
"Mum!" Leah blurted out before I could stop her when she noticed me.
Ryker smirked, his eyes turning cold the instant they found mine.
Oh well, I guess I'm the odd one out.
Grace was right after all. Maybe I do bring out the worst in people.
I fidgetted on my feet and waved awkwardly.
Who would have thought the cold-hearted Ryker would be surprisingly good with children.
"Do you want to join us?" Leah asked, not leaving Ryker's side.
Even Tyler only glanced up to acknowledge me and then returned back to what he was doing.
"No." I gave her a small smile, "It's fine. Mummy had other things to do."
I took a step back. Maybe I should let them have this moment. It's only fair that I allow him to bond with his children just this time.
"I'm sure daddy doesn't mind!" Leah urged.
I froze.
Daddy?
Did I hear that right? She said daddy?
"Daddy?" I echoed out.
"Yes!" Leah beamed, "Daddy doesn't mind if mummy joins us."
Tyler scoffed, "Why are you so eager to call him daddy. Mummy hasn't confirmed it."
Leah returned her gaze to me, "Is it true, mummy? That daddy brought is here so we can be one happy family?"
Tyler rolled his eyes and stopped drawing, "Is he really our dad? And is it true we are special?"
My heart dropped even further.
Oh freaking hell. I'm going to murder Ryker myself.
"Tyler, Leah, can you excuse us and let me talk to this man for a minute."
"The children can stay, I'm sure they would be happy to hear your response."
I fixed Tyler a stare.
He grabbed protesting Leah and left the living room, leaving just me and Ryker.
I was angry, I couldn't control myself..
The silver threads were out, feeding on my anger and pulsing with need.
They surged towards Ryker, wrapping around him.
The bond was squirming with anger, fighting to take control before I hurt our 'mate'
Ryker raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing? I asked to break my curse, heal, not tickle me with whatever you're doing?"
My jaw dropped, all that anger and rage, and all it's doing is tickle him??
"What was that all about? Daddy?"
He shrugged, "Isn't it right they call me that? I'm their father, after all."
"Says who?" I fired
He grinned, "I had a rather very interesting chat with your best friend."
Courtney!!
"What did you do to her?"
"Nothing but an enlightening chat." He nodded towards an envelope on the table.
"Go have a look,"
"If you drafted up some kind of contract for me to give up my children, I suggest you give up. When I heal, whatever is wrong with you and I leave, I am taking my children with me."
"Okay..."
"Okay?" I frowned at him, picking up the envelope, "just like that, okay?"
"I made a promise to you already. I keep my word."
"Just like how you promised to let me go after I healed your mother?" I ripped the envelope open.
His eyes darkened, "You killed my mother."
I took out the paper.
It was DNA result showing ninety-nine percent paternity.
I flung the paper away.
The connard even had the paternity test done at the hospital I gave birth to my children in.
"Results can be forged," I snapped.
Even I knew that was lame.
"You're forgetting I can listen to your thoughts."
I folded my arms, what he said earlier, just clicking in my head, "I didn't kill your mother."
"Is that what you tell yourself to sleep better at night?"
I chuckled dryly, "Do you know what your mother's last words were?"
His eyes were fully dark.
This was dangerous, riling him up, but I'm done past caring.
I never told him anyway so he wouldn't blame himself or feel guilt. Besides, he wouldn’t have believed me then. Maybe it was time he knew.
"She said, and I quote, ' Please heal my son instead, help me save him from himself, please.'
His fists were clenched, and I continued either way.
"She made me promise. She didn't care about herself. Even if I had powers, then she was ready to die to make sure you're saved."
His hands curled around my throat, holding me few feet in the air, his claw digging into my neck.
"Don't lie to me!!"
"You can read my mind, listen to my thoughts. Check yourself. Does it seem like I'm lying?"
He threw me away, his lips curled up in a twisted smile.
I winced in pain as I landed roughly.
"You're learning well, meiga. You know just how to hit the spot and be brutal."
I coughed, clawing at my throat.
Even though he wasn't close to me, I could still feel his hands around my throat.
I smiled bitterly, "I learned from the best after all,"
"Where's Agatha? She should be able to confirm my truth since she was always everywhere."
"You didn’t like her, I sent her away," he said coldly and left the room, taking all the air with him.
What's this clawing at my chest, guilt?
I stood and did perhaps the stupidest thing.
I went after him.
"Ryker!" I called out at his retreating figure.
He didn't answer.
"Ryker Sébastien Esmond!!"
He stopped.
We were in front of his room.
He turned and raised an eyebrow, "Do you have more to say?"
"I shouldn’t have said that, at least not in the way I did, I'm s-"
"Don't." He cut me off, "Don't apologize to me."
"I.... uhh..." What do I say again? What can I say?"
"If you have nothing more to say, have a nice day, Zora."
That sounded weird.
I can't remember the last time he called me Zora.
I would have preferred meiga.
Zora sounded so foreign, like it wasn't my name.
"I'm doing well in my training?"
"Good for you. We'll be rid of each other soon." He opened his door.
"Can you tell me about it?" I blurted out.
Gosh, I sound so desperate.
He frowned, "Tell you about what?"
"How you became a beast. The whole story surrounding it"
"Why would I do that? It has nothing to do with you."
I just want to talk to you some more, feel less guilty.
"So I can know where to focus on more." I replied
He closed the door and leaned against the doorframe, staring at me, "I don't know what you are up to, but for your sake, I hope you need the story for your training."
I nodded, giving him all my attention.
"My father and sister were ambushed and killed by the son of another Alpha's pack just to make a statement and earn the title of being the most revered pack."
"So what did you do?" I asked in a small voice.
He held my stare, "What do you think?"
"You killed the perpetrator and hung his head on a pike? Still, that doesn’t explain how you're cursed."
I mean, it's only fair. Why was the world so cruel to him.
"Oh.... meiga. " He smiled, "You're so innocent and clueless, that's not revenge."
"I killed all of them and burned the pack to the ground. No house was left unturned."
My eyes grew wide as saucers, "The entire pack?"
"All two thousand six hundred and eighty five of them. It was a small pack."
"Alone?"
He grinned, "I made the Alpha and his family watch the wreck I brought to their pack before I killed them, leaving only the Alpha. He ran mad."
"Soooo..." I pressed.
"The witches concluded that I went too far, so they cursed me." He scoffed, "Now, I kill my own people and almost killed my daughter."
I'm surprised, though. I was in this pack, yet I knew nothing.
"Do you regret it? If given another chance, would you have done things differently?"
His eyes blinked back into focus.
I knew his answer even before he said it.
"No," He smiled, "I don't. If given the choice I'll do the same thing all over again. The only thing I would do is have a foolproof plan against the witches when they come."
Uh.......
What would a sane person say?
He killed an entire population to avenge his sister and brother without batting an eye, and he doesn't regret it.
"What's it going to be meiga? Not break the curse because of the atrocity of my crime?"
"My freedom is at stake, besides," I gave him a small smile.
Maybe we are both sick in the brain. Maybe that's why there's this bond tying us together.
"I understand you." I answered, "Because I would have done the exact same thing. Probably not in that magnitude, but I wouldn't stop at his family."
His eyes were clouded.
He didn't say anything. Instead, he turned on his heels and entered his room.
I stood still, my mind reeling with a lot of questions. He killed a lot of people.
Just how much is his body count.
I turned on my heels and went back to my room.
Marissa was waiting, arranging whatever she was in the room.
"What took you so long? I thought you were just going to check on your children."
I nodded, "I was....but.... Marissa?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know what happened to Ryker's father?"
"Not really. You should ask Wesley, he might know."
"Yeah, sure. One more thing."
"Yeah?"
"I know it's long due. Can you find out about Lucas’s body? If he's buried, I'd like to pay him a visit. If not, I'd like to give him a proper burial."