Robert translocated into the cabin and found Cora and Kindra sitting in the living room by a fire. They didn’t notice him right away.
Kindra wiped at her eyes, staring into the flames. “Morrigan ripped away the last of the shreds of Gerard’s influence, and now I see my whole life in a different light. I’ve been a pawn from the very beginning. First to my parents, then to Gerard. Why was I such a fool?”
Robert held perfectly still, hoping to learn something more about Kindra. Knowing what she allowed to happen while Gerard was taking over, he couldn’t understand her, or why she let the things happen.
Cora let out a breath. “We’re stuck with our present. Question is, can you move on? Without Mark or Gerard?”
“Going to have to,” Kindra answered. “I may not want to, but I don’t see another choice here.”
“There’s not. Mark is a new man, and he’s happy with his mate. Besides, I can’t see you settling for a werewolf, even if he is the man you married.”
“Don’t remind me. He made it clear that doesn’t matter now.”
“You did stab him.”
“I know. The memory keeps playing back and I can’t figure out why I did what I did. And now I’m destined to be alone.”
“Not necessarily. And maybe now that you’re free of the bullshit, you can find the one who was always meant for you. Because honestly, I don’t think that was Anders, even when he was a kid.”
“You’re only saying that because you were in love with him too.”
“I was not!” Cora blurted out, her eyes narrowing.
She had been, even if she wasn’t now. The expression on her face said it all. She was in denial. Did she even realize it? More importantly, what did she truly feel now?
“You did. I know you did. You were mad because I got him first.”
Cora pushed out a breath. “Fine, I had a crush on him, but I wouldn’t say I was in love with him. Or that it was anything more than puppy love.” She nudged Kindra. “And now, he’s kind of scary with his intensity.”
Kindra chuckled. “I think I’m more drawn to him this way than I had been. Not that it matters. He doesn’t look at me the same way, and why would he?”
“That’s all on you,” Cora answered.
“Yeah, I let Gerard into my head. It wasn’t Mark’s fault. It was mine.”
Robert moved forward and crouched beside them. “It was only partially your fault, Kindra. You had no way to counter him. None at all.”
“I do now. Morrigan helped me protect myself from him. Later, she said she would help protect me from even someone like you.”
He nodded. “She’s smart. Waiting until this ordeal is over.”
“I want to help stop them. They already destroyed my home, destroyed my marriage. And now, they’re destroying my coven.”
“We won’t let them win. Edenton is my home, and where my son and partners reside, as well as my friends and family. I will not let a damned thing happen to anyone I care about.”
Preston chuckled. “You know he means business if he starts swearing, even if it’s just damned.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Why is that?” Valen asked from the kitchen.
“Because he rarely resorts to curse words.” Preston rolled his eyes. “And it’s funny because he loves two people who swear often.”
Robert shook his head. “That hardly matters. What does is that we’re going to make sure Gerard and the rest of the doppelgangers are dead, and stop their cycle before the next phase.”
“Just tell me what I can do to help,” Kindra pleaded. “How do I end all of this? It’s my fault anyway.”
“Not completely. Your parents set this in motion. You were just a bargaining chip. And I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”
“How do you know?”
“I was in your head already, Kindra. I found things you probably didn’t even realize were there.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
He sighed. “Before you let Morrigan teach you how to block me, I can help you uncover how your parents guided you into the position you are in now. Only, you finally found the strength to break free as you started to change. Which leads me to believe there was dark magic involved to keep you pliant to their will.”
Kindra shot to her feet. “How can you say that about my parents? They only wanted the best for me.”
“They wanted you in a seat of power so they could benefit from it. They pushed you toward Mark—I mean Anders. Did you ever even look at another man?”
She blinked, then wiped at her eyes. “How do you know that?”
“I’m sorry, I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.” Robert moved in front of her. “I can take you through the memories, show you the parts you didn’t latch onto, but that might leave you feeling hopeless. I think waiting until after is the better choice, while you’re willing to see this through.”
“No matter what happens, I’m going to see it through for my son. I have to.”
“Which earns my respect.”
“How is Mark’s mate? I’m guessing he’s not here because something happened with her.”
“She needed him,” was all Robert answered. It would probably take him the rest of his life to scrub that image out of his head. He only saw enough to know that Badb was not just a baby. She was a miniature woman, and he was having a hard time wrapping his head around what he’d seen.
Valen asked, “She’s in labor, isn’t she?”
Robert shook his head, at a loss for words. He didn’t know the details, but she was out of labor by the looks of things. It had to have happened fast. Mark grabbed him and said he had to go. They were there a second later. He didn’t waste time.
“I still don’t understand how a werewolf is having a baby,” muttered Kindra.
“It’s a little more complicated,” explained Robert. “What matters is that someone who knows them will help us stop them for good. Even if we can’t get to them.”
Valen rubbed at his face. “Mom, why didn’t you tell me more about what was happening?”
“I just found out. I didn’t know it all when I saw you a couple days ago. And it seems like a century has passed. I honestly hope we’re putting our faith into the right people.”
Holding up both hands, Valen shook his head. “The other option will destroy who we are if we go along with them. At this point, even if this was the wrong side, I choose it. I don’t want to become some soul sucking asshole who only thinks of himself and never the people he harms.”
She gulped, then nodded. “I’m sorry. You can’t blame me for worrying about what these people are going to do with us after they deal with the little people.”
Robert offered a smile. “Find you a new place to make a community.”
“Not in Edenton?” she asked.
“You want a coven, correct? You want to be part of that still? If so, Edenton may not be your best choice. The witches there won’t take kindly to someone shoving the idea of a coven down their throat.”
“I don’t know that I belong with them after the way I betrayed my own people.” She let out a sound. “I did, I can’t deny that. I’m not sure that there is anything I can do to make up for the foolish mistakes.”
“We should start over, though I doubt being too close to Mark is going to be good for you,” Cora said.
Tears filled the woman’s eyes. Robert could feel her pain from where he stood.
He cleared his throat. “We will figure something out. I’m sure you both want to be near Valen now. And Mark is a good man, he would never try to keep you from your son, but he will want to get to know him now.”
“He is still Anders in all the ways that count,” Kindra said.
“I’m sure he is,” Robert answered. “Unless you need me, I’ll be taking Preston so we can figure out a few things. I’ve left our cards on the counter. If you need us before we contact you, let us know.”
“Thank you, Robert,” Valen said. “Really, it’s good to know we can trust the Council and the people of Edenton.”
He nodded. “My hope is that one day all of these false barriers will fall between Others. There is no reason for us to be so prejudiced. The only exceptions are those harming others to make their way. This is why the doppelgangers must be stopped. They destroy not only their victims but whole communities.”
“Never thought I’d hear a mage utter those words,” Cora admitted. “I’m glad I’m wrong. We’ll call if we need something, but I believe we’ll be fine.”
* * * *
Valen watched his mother for a few more moments before opening his mouth. “Why would you ever think Gerard would be a better path? Is your head that twisted around right now?”
“You don’t understand, Valen. It’s not so simple. What the mages offer sounds good, but we had it good.”
“No, no, I really didn’t. Mom, you were good to me, but he never was. I wanted to please him, make him proud of me, but you know what?”
“What?” she whispered, tears in her eyes.
“I’m glad I didn’t. Now that I know he’s worse than a parasite, things make a lot more sense. Why you were so damned weak, following along with his plans that made no damned sense. And watching you want to please him made me want to do the same, and that was a damned mistake.”
“I’m sorry, Valen. I wish I had been stronger. I wish I understood. I wish my parents didn’t keep pushing me into the decisions I made.”
“I know.” He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. “Just stop acting like he might be the better choice, because he’s not. Maybe for you, but not for me. But remember, the doppelgangers are going to die, and I plan to help that happen.”
She nodded. “It’s the only way you’ll be safe. You are my primary concern here.”
“You need to start fighting for yourself too,” Valen stated.
Cora nodded. “As long as you remember you can’t have Mark. He’s not your Anders.”
“I know. Stop reminding me. I’m not a damned moron, not completely.” Kindra paced away. “What I did to him keeps playing through my head. He may forgive me, but he will never trust me again, and why should he.”
“He might,” Valen said. “But I doubt he’d love you. I mean, he seems pretty happy with Gina, and from what I’ve seen, they are perfect for each other. Of course, I didn’t know him before all this, so I don’t know.”
“He is,” Cora added. “Now, let’s eat. Maybe we can figure out a way to stop them that doesn’t endanger Mark again.”