Chapter 2

Xander didn't return until late at night, bringing our son, Leo, with him.

He saw me sitting quietly in the darkened hall, and a flash of guilt flickered in his eyes.

"I brought you a birthday gift."

I opened my eyes and looked at the box briefly before looking away.

"Just leave it there."

Xander frowned, clearly confused by my icy reaction.

"Are you still throwing a tantrum? Just because we weren't here for your birthday yesterday?"

Before I could answer, he rubbed his temples with irritation.

"Sera, you know Eva's condition. Her life is on the line. Did you expect me to throw a party while she's dying? Don't you think you're being a bit heartless?"

"You're her sister, yet you haven't asked about her once. Do you have any idea how much that hurts your parents?"

Listening to his blatant accusations, I felt like laughing.

Eva had used the same excuses for years.

Was it possible they were really this blind?

The Umbra-Kin were born from the shadows.

A little dark energy from the forest was actually a supplement for us, not a poison.

She was perfectly fine every other day of the year.

But every time my birthday rolled around, she suddenly had a life-threatening relapse.

Did they really not see the pattern?

I wanted to scream, but the words died in my throat.

There was no point.

Seeing my silence, Xander's expression darkened even further.

He opened his mouth to say more, but Leo suddenly looked up.

The boy didn't speak out loud, but his childish, hateful thoughts drifted into my mind via our blood bond.

"Daddy, why is Mommy always so annoying? Aunt Eva is never like this. She's so sweet."

"Daddy, can you just marry Aunt Eva instead?"

Xander smiled down at him and sent a mental reply.

"We can't rush these things, Leo. You can't say that in front of her yet, okay?"

"Once she agrees to the Soul-Swap, everything else will fall into place."

I kept my eyes closed, but my fists tightened slightly.

These two didn't realize that women of the Umbra-Kin royalty leave a drop of essence in their mates and offspring.

As long as I willed it, I could hear every dark thought they had.

I used to ignore it, but after they abandoned me last year to chase after Eva, I started listening.

The more I heard, the colder my blood became.

I looked at the father and son sharing their "secret" looks and smiled thinly.

"I agree."

Since they loved Eva so much, I would give them exactly what they wanted.

My sudden voice made them both freeze.

Xander looked shocked. "You... what did you say, Sera?"

I put on an innocent face. "I said I agree. I think I should go visit Eva."

"It's about time you came to your senses."

Xander let out a sigh of relief.

He stepped forward and took my hand, his voice softening into that fake tenderness he used to manipulate me.

"I remember the High King gave you a Thousand-Year Ice Crystal a while ago. You aren't using it anyway. Since you want to apologize, why don't you give it to Eva?"

My eyes narrowed.

No wonder he bothered to come see me.

He was still hunting for treasures for his precious Eva.

"Fine. Go get it yourself."

My sudden generosity actually made him suspicious.

He hesitated for a moment. "Sera, why don't you come with us to see her right now?"

I shook my head immediately. "No. I have things to do."

"What could be more important than your sister's life?!"

Xander raised his voice, his eyes full of blame.

He was back to acting like I was a disobedient child.

I gave a self-deprecating laugh.

No matter the time or place, my husband, my parents, and my child always put Eva first.