Andreas was frozen in place, unable to even move a muscle. His eyes had to be betraying him. There was no other explanation for what he was seeing. Casian reappearing made more sense to him. But there was no way he could believe that Lana was alive. He had held her lifeless body. Felt her death as if a part of his very soul had been ripped from him. Yet, she was standing before him now, holding Izzy in her arms, staring at Casian like he had made some grave miscalculation.

“I guess you were wrong,” Lana said, a hint on disappointment in her otherwise accusatory tone. That was what finally snapped Andreas out of his stupefied state. And what had him finally noticing the arms that were draped possessively over one of his own. He didn’t think he could hate the mermaid more than he did in that exact moment.

He shrugged Leita off of him, earning one of her deadly stares. It did nothing to him, his attention focused entirely on the girl who couldn’t be real.

Izzy pulled away from Lana and her eyes traveled over to where Andreas was standing, Leita almost attached to his hip, and frowned. Her blue gaze drew Lana’s eyes to her and she was quick to respond. “Don’t worry, he hates her.”

Lana’s eyes widened, and Andreas could feel the malice radiating from Leita. Lana brushed a strand of blond hair from Izzy’s eyes, a sad smile on her lips. She chose to ignore Izzy’s comment entirely. “I’ve missed you. A little surprised to see you here.”

“We thought you were dead!” Izzy said and hugged Lana again. Andreas had never envied anyone more than in that moment. He wanted nothing more than to throw his arms around Lana and convince himself that she was real and not merely an image concocted from his mind. Perhaps he had finally gone crazy. That was the only logical explanation for all of this.

“Reunions are always quite touching, but there while we are all here, there is something quite urgent that we need to discuss,” Raphael said, scratching his head awkwardly. Instant rage pooled through Andreas in the moment he recognized the sorcerer. Before, Raphael had blended into the crowd, the shock of Casian and Lana’s presence distracting Andreas from his. Raphael barely blinked before Andreas appeared before him, a hand on his neck, cutting off his air supply.

Raphael was choking, trying and failing to fight Andreas off. But there was nothing he could do. Andreas’ rage overwhelmed him, his eyes shining a brilliant gold. “You. This is all your fault.” Andreas’ voice dropped low to a dangerous timbre. It chilled everyone in the room.

“Andreas, stop.” He stilled, hearing the only voice that could ever coax him into doing anything. Without releasing Raphael, he turned to her.

“I had stopped when you asked me to spare the life of Izzy’s brother, and I had stopped myself from killing your parents for what they did to you because I know if you could you would have asked me to, but him? I’m afraid I cannot spare his life. He went too far.” It was almost as if Andreas could feel Lana stiffen at the coldness of his words. He wanted to give in to her request, but he couldn’t let Raphael get away with what he had done.

Kalen was at his side in a second, placing his hand on Andreas’ arm. “No one here blames you for wanting to kill him, least of all me, but I implore you to wait. He claims to have important information that we need to hear. We should at least hear him out before his life is ended. Hell, I’d even help you kill him.”

Andreas narrowed his eyes on Kalen, still not releasing Raphael whose face had started turning blue. He suddenly noticed a girl with purple flecked eyes covering her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were doing the begging. He focused his attention on her. “You do not want me to kill him?” he asked, his tone softening almost insignificantly.

She shook her head. “Please, don’t kill him. Please.” Her voice was soft and shaking. Andreas recognized that fear. He had felt it but weeks ago for Lana. He stared back at Raphael.

“I’m really starting to lose my edge by just throwing out second chances like I have a conscience of something. But be warned, even one wrong look from you and I will end you. And trust me, I will enjoy it. Do you understand?” Raphael cowered and nodded his head frantically. Andreas tossed him against the wall.

The girl ran over to him, checking to make sure he was alright and Andreas sensed the tension in Kalen. He glared at him. “You cannot be serious.” Andreas took a deep breath to calm himself, and Casian appeared at his other side, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Perhaps we should all rest before we discuss matters. I’m sure we are all tired from traveling in this is all quite a lot to take in.”

“Where will we rest?” A girl with bright red hair asked, her arms crossed over her chest. Everyone looked at Andreas expectantly, all except Lana who was still holding on to the younger girl.

“What do I look like, an inn keeper? I don’t even like most of you.” His eyes were narrowed slits, but back to their original dark blue.

Casian cocked his head to the side. “Just one night? I’d even make sure the rest of them paid.”

“None of you are rich enough to afford this place.”

Kalen raised his eyebrows. “Allowing people to stay here has never bothered you before.”

“Now you see, that is where you are mistaken. Allowing you, Izzy and Lana to stay here has never bothered me before. Apart from Casian, I couldn’t care less what happened to the rest of you.”

“Aww, I’m touched,” Casian said with a bright smile that only earned another glare from Andreas.

Izzy unlatched herself from Lana and walked all the way over stopping right in front of him. “Please? Please let them stay for just one night? You can kick them out tomorrow, but they came all this way. And I’m getting sick of only having Leita as company. She has a foul personality.”

Andreas’ mood lightened as the girl addressed him, and a slight smile played on his lips before he addressed her. “You really do think that if you ask please that I will just magically succumb to your every whim, don’t you?”

She nodded. “It’s because you like me.”

“Not that much.”

She made her eyes very big, pleading with him some more. Andreas briefly caught Lana staring at them, an expression of amazement on her face. Ignoring Izzy, he turned to her. He had barely even addressed her since seeing her, and all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms. Izzy had finally separated herself from Lana; now was his chance. But he found that he couldn’t move. His breath was stolen and all she did was stand there, her brown eyes staring at him, holding a million unasked questions on the depths of them.

Leita broke the trance he was under, walking up right behind Lana, snaking her fingers over her shoulder, grabbing a stand of hair, examining the edges. Lana stiffened, a look of both fear and determination crossing her expression. The red head moved closer to her. “So this is Lana, hmm?”

Lana grabbed Leita’s hand, seeming to burn a hole through the fish with the intensity in her now molten eyes. Andreas recognized the slight blue sheen that was threatening to come out. “That would be me. Who’s asking?” A very small smile appeared on Andreas’ lips.

Leita easily pulled her hand free, her cold eyes darkly amused. “You act brave, but I can smell the fear on you, little girl. I’m not someone you want to get angry.” Her voice was nearing a hiss.

“No, Leita, I’m not someone you want to get angry,” Andreas said, the tangible darkness starting to caress his legs in response to Leita’s veiled threat. Lana’s eyes widened as she noticed it.

Leita scrutinized Lana from top to bottom. “I honestly don’t see what the fuzz is about. I’m going to a swim.” She waved at everyone nonchalantly as she headed out the door. Andreas relaxed a little when she was finally out of sight.

“Interesting company you keep these days,” Lana remarked.

“Past company has been better,” Andreas replied, his voice very soft, almost vulnerable.

Casian jumped in front of Andreas, blocking his view of Lana. Andreas scowled and seriously considered punching Casian. “Hate to interrupt, old friend. But there is one little issue that has yet to be discussed before you can have your little lover’s quarrel. Sleeping arrangements for all members present at the moment? If you won’t cave to sweet Izzy’s please, would you cave to mine? Please?” Casian drawled, fluttering his eyes. Andreas was in too serious a mood to find him even remotely funny.

“Coming back from the dead doesn’t make you suddenly capable of changing my mind, Casian.” A very slight smile tugged at the corner of Andreas’ mouth.

“How about a favor then? You do owe me,” Casian reminded him. Andreas cursed under his breath. He owed Casian a lot, more than he could even begin to make up for. He opened his mouth to contradict Casian, but decided against it.

“Very well. They can stay here, as a favor I owe to you. But any one of them does something to piss me off, and it’s your head I’ll have.”

Casian smirked. “That’s not very threatening.”

“You overestimate our friendship.”

Casian punched Andreas on the shoulder. “Nope. I know you are glad to see me, you have just gotten very good at hiding it. And besides, even if you do turn out bat-shit crazy, I have my own little ace up my sleeve. So no worries. Will you be showing people to their rooms?”

“No. Kalen will. He’s as familiar with this house as I am.”

“Very well,” Kalen said. “I guess, you all should follow me then.”

One by one everyone trickled out of the room until only Andreas, Lana, Casian and Izzy remained. Casian went over to Izzy, kneeling before her. “I’m betting you know this house really well too. You probably know where the best room are too. Help me choose mine?”

Izzy rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid. You don’t really need my help.”

Casian feigned shock. “Of course I do. I’ve been dead for ten years. I am utterly clueless when it comes to choosing a comfortable room.”

“And I’m not clueless. I know you want me to leave with you so Lana and Andreas can have time to talk alone.”

Casian raised one finger, his mouth opening with a retort he wished he had, but was struck speechless.

Andreas turned to them. “You’ll get used to it.”

Izzy started dragging Casian away and Andreas suppressed a laugh at his startled expression. “You are wasting time.”

Soon, they were gone and Andreas was left alone with Lana, who hasn’t moved since Leita left the manor. Andreas stepped toward her, but she raised one hand to halt his steps.

She shook her head, her breath coming in shallow gasps. “Don’t, just don’t.”

“I thought you were dead.” His voice broke, lacking all of its usual strength.

“And it took you two weeks to get over me and sleep with another woman? Gee, I feel so special. Was everything you told me a lie?”

Andreas pulled his hands through his hair in frustration. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to lose you?”

“No, but I almost knew what it was like to lose you! Or did you forget that you almost bled out in my arms just a day before I was captured?”

He sucked in a deep breath, directing his gaze to the ceiling. “I have not forgotten how you saved my life. That’s exactly why it… why it hurt so much to lose you. To know that I had been seconds… fucking seconds too late to save you!”

“So your natural reaction was to jump into the arms of another woman, after you claimed to want me?” Tears threatened in her eyes and Andreas mentally cursed himself for being the reason for them.

“I didn’t plan this. I didn’t plan any of this. Least of all losing you. These last few weeks have been hell for me!”

“Yes, and they’ve been a piece of cake for me. Do you have any idea what it’s like to burn alive? To feel so much pain that you wish for death? Only to find out that you are still alive and then reliving that pain every time you close your eyes?”

Andreas flinched. The tears that had threatened in her eyes now dripped down her cheeks. He wanted to wipe them away, but he doubted she’d let him. His jaw clenched, a sudden anger spiking in him. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to witness everyone you love die before you? Every. Fucking. Time? To be helpless to safe them? Seconds too late to do a fucking thing about it? And then reliving that nightmare even while you are awake? To have their ghosts haunt your every waking moment? To never have an escape?” Lana stepped back as if he had slapped her. He was making a real mess of things, but he wanted to make her understand.

Minutes of thick silence passed between them, their gazes locked. Neither made a move to close the impossible distance that had spread between them, and Andreas feared that nothing would ever be able to breach that gap.

“How can I know if I ever meant a damn thing to you when you had lied to me from the moment I stepped foot into this house? How do I know what is the truth and what is the lie? How do I trust you? You said you wanted me, yet two weeks after I died you have another girl in here wearing your shirt.” Andreas might’ve imagined it, but he could’ve sworn her eyes went up and down his still bare chest. “How much could I have meant to you if you moved on so quickly?”

“Casual sex is not the equivalent of moving on.”

 “You never see a girl more than once! A fact I had been made painfully aware of!”

Andreas pinched the bridge of his nose. “Leita is nothing more than a distraction. A tool that helped me to stop thinking. My every thought went to you, to how much I wish you would be here instead!”

Lana’s breath hitched, tears still rolling down her cheeks. “I can’t accept this. It’s not enough. I don’t trust you, Andreas.” His heart flipped in his chest when she said his name. There was no hatred in her voice, and that’s what hurt him the most. He was losing her, all because he had been stupid. He knew he should’ve done things differently when he first met her, never have treated her the way he did. But it was all too late now.

He carefully rebuild the mask he had been wearing since the day he had lost Dylan, shielding his emotions from Lana, and the rest of the world. “You are right. I have given you no reason to trust me. Your old room is still available should you want it.”

She was just about to say something, but he never gave her a chance to before flashing himself to his study, locking the door behind him so no one could enter. So no one could see him breaking down having lost her in a whole other meaning of the word.