Chapter 61
Valencia’s POV
Red eyes met mine. They were peach blossom eyes filled with a flicker of fear. The boy’s voice was soft and hesitant as he spoke.
“Would you like tea or coffee, Mrs. Steele?”
The guilt that swirled in my chest was immediate and sharp. He wasn’t at fault for my clumsiness, I was the one who dropped the cup, yet here he stood, apologétic and cautious,
I studied him more closely. His silver hair was neatly combed and tied back into an intricate fishtail braid, but he looked so young–maybe sixteen, seventeen at most. This must’ve been two years before he was brought to the Wolfe mansion. Back then, I hadn’t given much thought to his origins. I didn’t know what led him to Celeste’s ownership, but now, seeing him like this, the dots connected in ways that made my stomach churn
He was just a kid. I felt guilt remembering the times I had sneered at him for making mistakes. But now, looking at him work, there was no way he had made ‘mistakes‘ unless he had been ordered by someone.
“Tea is good. Thank you,” I forced a smile, hoping to ease his apprehension.
As he moved forward, the soft tinkling of the chains around his ankles made my stomach twist. The sight of those shackles now brought bile to my throat. Before I hadn’t thought about this much. L
Even though it was the 20th century, slavery in our world wasn’t uncommon, especially for humans or those deemed “lesser.” More often than not, it wasn’t even their debt they were repaying. Parents sold them. Traffickers kidnapped them. Most died long before their so–called freedom could be earned
Like Seven had. He hadn’t even turned twenty back then.
A surge of fear gripped me as I glanced at Castor. What if that sort of thing happened to my child? I could tell he was getting agitated. He could feel my fear and anxiety so I took deep breaths trying to sooth him.
When the boy stepped closer, pouring the tea with careful precision, I noticed bruises peeking out from beneath his collar My breath hitched and I froze.
My shields dropped without me realizing it. My fear must’ve bled through the bond, because Dante’s sudden flare of anger made me glance at him. He was glaring at the boy, his jaw tight and his body tense,
1 had a feeling he might have misunderstood something
Before Dante’s anger could escalate, I quickly set the chamomile tea down and blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Seven, could you get me some lemon?”
The boy blinked, confusion momentarily replacing the fear in his gaze. “Seven?”
Fuck.
Then I realized my mistake. I shouldn’t have known his name yet. And anyways “Seven had been his name in the Wolfe mansion. Not here. Not now. I didn’t know his name yet. I froze, caught in my own slip–up.
Shit.
Before I could scramble for an explanation, Dante’s voice cut through the air, low and simmering with anger. “Didn’t you hear her? She asked for something
1/3
Chapter 61
The boy flinched, a visible sliver running through him. He nodded quickly and left the room without another word, the soft jingling of his chains echoing behind him.
I stared down at my tea, Dante’s gaze boring into me. The silence stretched until he finally spoke, his voice sharp. “Seven? Do you know him?”
I bit my lip, scrambling for an answer. “I don’t. He just–he reminded me of someone I used to know. That’s all”
Dante’s frown deepened, but his anger seemed to simmer down though not entirely.
The boy returned a few minutes later, carefully placing a plate of sliced lemon on the table.
“Thank you.” I said, squeezing a slice into my tea. “And… sorry for before. I mixed you up with someone.” I paused, then asked hesitantly. “May I know your name?”
His gaze flickered nervously between me and Dante before he shook his head “Please don’t apologize. My name is D- Daniel,” he stammered.
“That’s a nice name,” I said softly. “Thank you, Daniel.”
He bowed quickly, his movements stiff and hurried, before leaving the room.
I exhaled deeply, tension still clinging to my chest. Before I could fully collect my thoughts, the door opened again, and Marcelene entered with Caius right behind her.
Caius’s expression was dark, his eyes flicking toward Dante. Without a word, the two of them exchanged a glance and stepped out of the room together.
Marcy sighed loudly, flopping into the chair Dante had vacated. She grabbed my wrist, her brows furrowed in mock exasperation. “Sweetheart, at the rate you’re going, I don’t think you’ll last six more years.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Honestly? I think this is still better than my previous life.”
Her lips quirked into a rare smile, but it quickly faded into a frown. “So… what exactly happened?”
1 hesitated. I trusted Marcy, but every piece of truth I’d given her had only fueled her hatred for the Steele pack. Caius didn’t seem like a bad person. He cared for her, and the Steele family was offering her mother the best medical treatment money could buy. A part of me hoped she’d give him a chance.
But I wouldn’t say that out loud. Marcy was like a scared wild cat right now.
Instead, I told her about the bond–how my connection to Castor had gone silent and how the overwhelming void had triggered my breakdown. I didn’t mention the absence of Dantes
Marcy listened intently, her expression darkening with each word. “And Raiden knew this would happen?” she asked her voice sharp,
“I don’t think so,” I said, though even I wasn’t sure how much Raiden had anticipated. “But he warned that any separation would… affect me.”
Marcy scowled, muttering something under her breath.
T
The truth was, I didn’t fully understand what was happening to me. The connection I had with Castor was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. At the wedding, the separation had caused mild bleeding. But this time, it had been excruciating.
I couldn’t help but wonder: How much worse could it get?
