Free Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 1 (Afterlife saga Book 7) by Stephanie Hudson Page B

I told him as it was the truth because it felt as if I was about to hear a confession…his confession. I didn’t know if I could do this now as nothing could prepare me for what he could possibly say and after all this time apart, well let’s just say that in moments like this your mind can be your own worst enemy. But instead of stopping this, like maybe I should have done, I knew it was one of those now or never gigs and this was my only now. So I placed a hand on his shoulder trying to stop it from shaking.
    “I should have told you this a while ago but…” He paused and suddenly I couldn’t stand it. It was as though now I had made the decision to see this through and hear him out I just wanted it done with. So I pushed, 
    “But?” His eyes met mine and he said honestly,
    “I couldn’t find the words or a time I ever wanted to try and find them.”
    “You didn’t want to tell me?” I tried not to wince as the hurt seeped in that there was something he was keeping from me and judging by his reluctance, it had been for a while.
    “No, never.” I let him go and took a step back putting some distance between us. I had been right… it was a now or never time. 
    He sat up and I folded my arms waiting for what I knew must be something huge and I could only hope not as heart-breaking as I most feared.
    “Why?” I had to ask him but quickly wished that I hadn’t when receiving his answer.
    “Because I know you.”
    “Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?” I couldn’t believe that he had said that to me. I could feel my heart pounding out a beat of defeat and I could barely hold it together. Did he really mean that he couldn’t trust my reaction to what he was about to say? And if that was the case then it was something even worse than I could ever have imagined.
    “Not as bad as it will once you know what I have kept from you,” he admitted. I sucked in a sharp breath of bewilderment, taking another step back away from him. I even shook my head slightly as if trying to rid myself of the dark cloud that was starting to surround me. I had to take a minute before forcing myself to say, 
    “Tell me.” This time it was my order and there was nothing soft about it. He took a deep breath and I was startled when I heard the door click as the lock slid into place. My head snapped towards the door and then back to Draven for answers, who just shrugged his shoulders.
    “Why did you lock the door, Draven?” I demanded in a surprisingly eerie calm voice.
    “To stop you from what it is you do best when hearing something you don’t want to.” This made me angry. How dare he!
    “Are you saying I run away all the time?”
    “Keira, not long ago you ran from a room full of people for reasons you would prefer to keep to yourself.” I hated that he was right and could hold that over me.
    “I am no fool and it is not hard to spot the difference,” he added and I looked away, hating that what started out a perfect moment was turning into this and all for what? Because of Ranka’s return or because of a fleeting moment I was human enough to wish for a child by the man I loved? I was unsure what exactly had started this but I could take no more, so I snapped.
    “Draven just tell me!”
    “I am sorry Keira but the Oracle told me…”
    “AAAHHHH!” I screamed as the door burst from its hinges and I turned just as it flew through the air, smashing through the room and destroying anything in its path. Suddenly I was behind Draven, being protected by his large frame, ready for the fight he obviously was expecting.
    “HOW DARE YOU!” Draven roared as a figure emerged through the broken door frame, stepping over the broken stone he caused. 
    “Seth?” I uttered his name in astonishment as soon as he came into view. 
    “Where is she!?”
    “Pure Blood.” Draven’s demon snarled.
    “Christ, not this again.” I said not fully understanding why…or did I? I was quickly being overwhelmed by the