Babel Novel
Chapter 34
Chapter 34
I tense wondering if my lands are under attack as I’m standing
here.
It’s a distinct possibility.
If I was in their shoes, I wouldn’t wait for a more powerful adversary to show up on my doorstep, I’d
take the fight to them and use the element of surprise.
It’s how I’d leveled the playing field with the Roberts Pack a decade ago.
That strategy was the only thing that kept us alive and let us broker the peace in the first place.
“You’ve overplayed your hand,” Liam says. “Furthermore, the actions you took against my father are in
direct violation of the peace treaty.” From NôvelDrama.Org.
“Are you forgetting that he harassed my wife and demanded that she steal money from her own pack to
send to him? That’s on Roberts. Not on me.”
“I’m not going to debate with you,” Liam says.
Adam nods. “At the end of the day, you know this is best for Leah. You can fight and yell all you want,
but you’re the same monster that locked her away for a week with no food. You don’t
deserve her. You never did.
“Give us a minute,” a soft voice says.
We all turn to the hospital bed.
Leah’s eyes are open.
“Adam, Liam, can you give me a few minutes with Aaron please?”
Liam nods. “I think it’s better if we stay here, sister.”
She winces as if in pain. “Maybe you can get me something from the cafeteria? I’m hungry.”
Neither male moves.
“It’s okay,” Leah reassures them. “He isn’t going to hurt me while I’m here. There are too many
witnesses.”
Wow. That’s some damning thing to say.
“You’re my wife. I’m not going to hurt you. Period.”
She co cks her head and it’s obvious she disagrees. Her expression all but says that I have hurt her.
Repeatedly.
“Please,” she addresses Adam and Liam. “Give me a few
minutes.”
They ultimately nod and respect her wishes.
I wait for her kin to leave the room. When the door closes I cross to her bedside. I feel compelled to
reiterate: “I’m not going to
hurt you,
Leah.”
She closes her eyes. “Not all inflictions can be seen.”
“How much did you hear?” I ask her.
“All of it.”
I wait.
She doesn’t speak.
I give it another minute. “And…?” I prompt.
“And what? You’re the reason my father is dead. He kil led himself as a direct result of the treachery
you orchestrated. I’m done, Aaron. Finished.”
“You made a vow in those Council cha mbers-”
“That vow…the one I made in the Council Meeting was to save my father. My father is dead. And we
made vows prior-to love, honor and cherish. You’ve never done any of those things.”
Tears leak from the corners of her eyes.
It physically pains me to see them.
“Tell me the truth, Aaron. Did you pledge yourself to Jessica
before you knew me?”