Enduring Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #3)(36)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

Her expression appeared emotionless. “Blake didn’t act alone.”

“Someone else was with him.” I hated telling her a truth that might destroy her.

Just as I was about to explain, Kevin walked in and placed a hand on my shoulder. “The animals are fine.”

Emma ignored him. “Go on, Samantha. Please tell me.”

“It was Monty. He was there.”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “That’s not possible.”

“It was him. I did not see who drew blood, but—”

“You say the dream felt like a flashback. Where were you? How were you watching it?”

“I was looking at it from a distance somehow.”

“Like you were hiding?”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

“How clear is the dream?”

“Clear on the action but blurry everywhere else.”

Emma wrapped her arms around her middle. “That is not a flashback. It is impossible. You are only a year older than Kevin. You would have been an infant. You couldn’t possibly remember… but it is a true memory.”

“We don’t know that. You just said she would have been too young to remember.” Kevin kneeled at her side.

“We do…” She placed her hands in her lap. “That does not mean he killed him. It does not mean he helped Blake. There has to be an explanation.”

Kevin put a hand on her shoulder. “I know, but why didn’t he tell us, or at least you.”

“I need to talk to Theodore.”

The mention of Theodore surprised me. “You think your other brother had something to do with it, too?”

“No. But he was always with Blake…”

“Should I get him?” I asked.

“No. Please stay to talk.”

“I’ll go look, Mom.” Kevin hesitated for a moment before walking off.

Emma watched him go then turned back to me. “Clearly, my mind went right to Monty’s presence, but I will explain why you had the dream.”

I already had an idea. “It is my dad. You said I have part of him in me.”

“Yes. The Source chose to give you some of his memories. But that meant he was there that day.”

I gasped. “You do not mean that he was involved, too?”

She shook her head. “No, but he witnessed it. Blake must have found out.”

“My parents were killed within months of you leaving…”

“Exactly. Blake knew your father witnessed it.”

Theodore, Emma’s older brother, took a seat across from her at the table. “Emma? You wanted to speak with me?” He looked a lot like Monty, just older. Like all Guardians, his aging had slowed, but he looked closer to forty than Monty’s thirty.

Kevin sat next to me. He took my hand, and I soaked up the strength he had to offer.

“The day… the day my Gerard… the day he died.” Emma stopped. Even close to twenty years later, the emotion was raw. “Where were you? Where was Monty?”

“What do you mean? I was at the castle.”

“And Monty?”

Theodore shifted in his seat nervously. “I do not know. He disappeared for a while. I assumed he was out roaming as usual. You know how he did that sometimes.”

“Would it be impossible to believe he was with Blake?” Emma crossed her legs.

“What? What are you suggesting? Monty was the one who supported you the most after what happened.”

“Because you didn’t believe me.”

“Emma, I have apologized as heartfelt as—”

“I know. That is not the point. Monty supported me because he knew my feeling was right. He knew Blake killed my Gerard.”

“Why would you think that? What would give you that idea?”

“I know it. That is enough.”

I sighed with relief. I did not want anyone else knowing about the dream or the accusation it contained.

A look of understanding crossed Theodore’s face. “Blake wanted a safety net. He wanted a witness, someone to tell people that he had been made the new Gerard.”

“But he wasn’t. Blake was never my Gerard. I never felt anything for him. I would have known if he were meant to be my Gerard.”

Theodore nodded. “And his sword never turned blue.”

“But Monty didn’t back him up, right?” Kevin jumped in.

“No, he didn’t. And then Blake threatened to have Monty jailed. Monty was the one who told me to run. He said we had no time.”

Theodore stood and started pacing. “Blake said he had proof he did not do it.” He let out a small gasp. “Blake was going to pin it on Monty if you still did not believe the skirmish story. He would have sentenced him to death and taken his place next to you.”

“Or he would have offered me a choice. Blake liked offering choices.” Emma seemed lost in thought.

“It sounds like you knew him well.” I had not meant to let the words slip out. I was too tired to filter properly.

“I did.” Emma’s face hardened. “But that is not something we will discuss. Monty knew what was coming. He went with Blake because he wanted his acceptance. Theodore and Blake always left him out.”

Theodore groaned lightly. “Because he was younger. It was only natural.”

“If he’d only told me…. what a weight to bear for so many years.” Tears slid down Emma’s face again.

I held back any further comments. I felt as though I was listening in on a conversation I had no right to, even if I was the one who had dreamed the scene.

Emma looked pensive. “There had to be a reason we were supposed to discover the truth. The Source always has a plan.”

“How did you find out?” Theodore asked.

“It does not matter. But it all had a purpose.”

“You.” I pointed at Emma. “It was you.”

“What do you mean?” Theodore asked.

“Aside from the Onyx and scroll, we still need to get to Blake. We know his weakness.”

“It’s me. I’m his weakness,” Emma said passionately. She understood where my thoughts were going.

Theodore sat up straighter. “He was always in love with you.”

Kevin mumbled something.

“What?” Emma asked her son.

He cleared his throat. “But he locked you up for years. He might love you, but he’s crazy.”

“But he’s still going to pay attention to what I do.”

Theodore stopped in front of her. “You cannot mean to put yourself in danger, Emma.”