Chapter 8: Don’t Cry
Selene descended the stairs, her heart still unsettled, but Soren was nowhere to be seen.
She almost stopped to question his absence, but Lazarus Quinn was her priority.
Without another thought, she climbed into Caspian’s jeep, the army green vehicle roaring to life as it sped toward the military hospital.
During the drive, she frantically dialed her grandfather’s number, each unanswered ring tightening the grip of fear around her chest.
“Pick up, Grandpa… please, just pick up…”
But there was no answer.
Her breathing hitched, panic threatening to overtake her.
Then—
A hand covered hers.
Steady. Warm. Reassuring.
Selene looked over in surprise.
Caspian was driving with one hand, his gaze fixed ahead, but his grip on her fingers was firm, grounding her.
His features, so often etched with hardness, were unusually gentle.
She watched him for a long moment, her emotions wavering.
How many times had she fallen for this Kai Lysandere feeling?
His ability to calm her, to hold her together when she was about to break.
“Selene, don’t cry.“
His deep voice cut through the silence, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She instinctively touched her face, startled to find it dry.
A flicker of defiance sparked in her eyes. “I’m not crying.“
Caspian glanced at her briefly, as if assessing the truth of her words.
“You’re about to,” he muttered. “I’m just giving you a heads-up.”
A Loss That Came Too Soon
Caspian’s jeep pulled into the military compound, stopping just short of the hospital entrance.
Selene jumped out immediately, not waiting for him to park.
Her steps quickened as she neared Lazarus’s room.
But before she could reach the door—
The sound of crying met her ears.
A wave of dread slammed into her, nearly making her knees buckle.
She gripped the wall, forcing herself to stand.
“Ms. Carter—“
A familiar voice pulled her from the haze.
Elowen Seraphine, her grandfather’s long-time maid, hurried over, her face wet with tears.
Selene’s own eyes burned immediately. No. No, no, no.
“Elowen…” Selene’s voice shook. “Grandpa’s okay, right? He’s waiting for me, right?”
Elowen’s lip trembled. She grasped Selene’s arm tightly, as if trying to anchor her.
“Ms. Carter, your grandfather… he—”
Elowen couldn’t finish.
The grief in her expression was enough.
Selene whirled toward the door, her heart pounding.
She had to see him. She had to—
But before she could move—
The door opened.
And standing there was Zephyr Calloway.
Her father.
His face was unreadable, but the second his eyes landed on her, disappointment flickered across his features.
“Why are you so late?” His voice was cold, unforgiving. “Were you out fooling around again?”
Selene froze.
Any other day, she would have snapped back. Argued. Fought.
But not today.
She shook her head, trying to push past him.
But Zephyr blocked her path.
“Too late.” His voice was flat, emotionless.
Her stomach dropped.
“He’s gone.”
The words hit like a gunshot to the chest.
Zephyr’s gaze was like steel. “He left without getting to see you one last time—though I doubt he even wanted to see you at all. You’ve been too reckless, too disappointing.”
Selene’s mind reeled.
No. No, that’s not possible.
Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms so hard she felt them cut skin.
“What are you talking about?!” she hissed. “How could Grandpa—”
She stopped herself.
Zephyr had always resented her. Their relationship had been nothing but strained silence and icy glares.
If not for Lazarus, she and Zephyr wouldn’t have spoken at all.
She turned to Elowen, desperate for denial. For any kind of hope.
But Elowen’s face only confirmed the awful truth.
Lazarus was gone.
“I want to see him!” Selene tried to push past Zephyr, but before she could—
More voices joined in.
Her aunts.
And with them, every fake smile they had ever worn finally disappeared.
Their true colors came roaring to the surface.
“What are you trying to do, Selene?” one sneered.
“Your recklessness was tolerable before,” another spat. “But you ignored your grandfather’s illness for days! He loved you, and you weren’t even there!”
“And we all know where you were last night, don’t we?”
A cruel, sharp laugh.
“At a bar, with two men, staying out past midnight. You were drinking and sleeping around while your grandfather was in the emergency room!”
“Such an ungrateful brat!“
Each word stabbed into her like a knife.
They weren’t just accusing her.
They were blaming her.
For Lazarus’s death.
Selene’s breath came fast and shallow as her gaze swept across their faces.
And then—her father.
“Zephyr.”
Her voice was dangerously calm.
“Grandpa was in the emergency room yesterday? Why didn’t anyone tell me?“
Her father’s eyes hardened.
“You ungrateful girl!” His voice was furious as he jabbed a finger toward her. “If it weren’t for your misbehavior, would Dad have fallen ill in the first place?! He was so disappointed in you!”
“Elowen called you yesterday! She tried to get you to come home, but you ignored her calls! Dad was waiting for you, all day!“
Selene stilled.
Elowen had called her?
No. No, she would have—
Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone, scrolling frantically through her call log.
But there was nothing.
No missed calls. No voicemails.
Nothing.
Her eyes snapped back up to Zephyr, her chest heaving with rage.
“You’re lying.“
“You didn’t want me to see him.”
“You’re not allowed to see him,” one of her aunts cut in, their voice cold.
“Let him rest in peace, Selene.”
“This is all your fault.“
Those final words broke her.
The entire room had turned against her.
Their hatred, their jealousy, all laid bare now that Lazarus was gone.
But Selene—Selene would not break in front of them.
She wiped her eyes, straightened her back, and lifted her chin.
The way Lazarus had taught her to.
Her voice, when she spoke, was icy steel.
“What did you do to Grandpa?“
She scanned their faces, searching for even the slightest crack in their facade.
Because something wasn’t right.
And she was going to find out what it was.
