Chapter 6

*Seth* “Let me talk to her first,” Molly says, but it’s really more of a question. “No,” I tell her simply, crossing my arms as we wait for her to come up the drive. “Seth,” she says softly, placing her small hand on my arm. “You’re upset. You may say something you don’t mean. Or scare the pups.” “No, Molly,” I tell her, not willing to budge on this. I know damn well that she was trying to intercept my mom to warn her before she got here. I’d had Austin link me as soon as they crossed the property line, though. “Did you link her?” Molly shakes her head, a sad look on her face. No, Seth. I didn't, but,” she begins but I cut her off, holding up my hand. I feel a pang of guilt in my chest for being so short with my love. “Molly, when you got your memories I sat back and let you do what you needed. I need you to do that for me, now. Please, just take Andrew and Cora inside when Mom arrives.” She nods in agreement, slipping her hand inside my arm and leaning her head against my bicep. “I love you,” she says softly, making the guilt in my chest grow larger. “I love you, Molly. More than you can ever know,” I say, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. I sent Austin and my grandmother back inside a moment ago, wanting to keep everyone out of this. Austin offered me the privacy of his office should I need it, but I don’t know if I can make it inside before I explode. The large SUV pulls up and parks and before I can even see them, I can smell him. “Dad’s here,” I say, though it’s really more of a growl. “They knew I would be furious. They knew I’d find out.” Molly just squeezes my arm tightly. “The kids, Seth.” “I know,” I tell her, my eyes staring at the car. “Get them inside. I’ll bring in their s**t later.” “Alright,” she whispers, releasing my arm and stepping towards the car, leaving me there alone as I asked. The back door opens and my dad steps out, a grim look on his face as he holds an arm out to Molly for a hug. She accepts it, shaking her head at whatever he’s said to her. She smiles as her eyes land on one of the kids and I feel my heart melt the slightest bit. She loves those pups, we both do, but there’s just something so special about how she is with them. Molly takes Andrew onto her hip and walks to the other side of the car, returning with a kid on each hip and she walks back up to me. I can’t help but smile slightly at the pups, Cora smiling brightly and waving at me. “Hey, baby girl,” I say, holding my hand out to her and she wraps her tiny hand around my finger. My special girl. Molly looks up at me, a peaceful look on her face. “Take a deep breath,” she says softly. “Listen to them. I don’t know what happened, but you and I both know I’d burn down the entire kingdom to keep our kids safe. Your parents love you that much, too.” I wiggle my hand free from my daughter’s tiny grasp and cup Molly’s face, leaning in to kiss her. “I know,” I whisper against her lips, placing my forehead on hers. “I know.” I feel Cora lean her head on my arm and it makes me smile. She’s so much like her mother. Molly walks inside with the kids and I turn back to the car to see both of my parents standing there, hand in hand. Any amount of public affection is a rarity from them, so this has to be genuine. My mother must be terrified. I stomp up to them, looking my dad straight in the eyes, glancing down at my mother. “What else have you lied to me about,” I grind out through gritted teeth. “Seth, you’re the king now,” my dad says cautiously. “You have to understand that, sometimes, we have to make tough choices.” “You told me my grandmother was dead, and she’s very much not,” I say, feeling the fury rise up again in me. I take a deep breath, trying to push it back down. I’m very aware that my mate is pregnant and can feel every emotion I feel so I do everything I can for her and the son she hasn’t birthed yet. “You could have, at the absolute least, told me BEFORE I arrived. Molly is pregnant and she can feel EVERYTHING from me. Do you know how hard it’s been to try to stay relatively calm for her sake?” “I’m sorry, son,” my mom whispers. “I honestly hadn’t considered Molly. Your bond is so, so unique. I… I’m…” She doesn’t finish her words as tears flow down her cheeks. “You’re sorry?” I snap. Finishing her sentence for her. “No,” she says, looking up. Dad reaches his arm across and pushes her back, moving in front of her protectively. “I’m not sorry for what I did, for what I ordered, but I’m sorry that I lied about your grandmother.” “YOUR order?” I ask, feeling even more confused that I was before. I had been sure it was from my dad, or even HIS dad. My grandfather loved to issue an order. She nods and Dad eases over so I can see her better, their hands still connected behind him. The way my dad is acting is so rare and I can’t make out what to think of it, but his movements are so familiar. They’re exactly what I’d do for Molly. “Seth, I can’t give you the answers that you need,” she says quietly. “Everything that I did was to protect my friend. To protect Celeste. I made the choice at a time when I had just moved to the palace and was so alone. I couldn’t lose her so in an offer to her, I ordered my family to never speak of something. My mother hasn’t really spoken to me since, and Austin has been so rare. Celeste didn’t know the extent of it until I told her last night.” I sigh, pushing my hand through my hair. “I assume Randall will be joining her?” Dad nods slowly to me. “You and Molly need to speak with them. Alone. Celeste is wrecked. There are things she did before she met Randall that she never wanted anyone to know about, especially her children. Don’t mention this to Molly, but she was used and it almost destroyed her chance with Randall. My father stepped in, but if he hadn’t, they likely would not be together.”