Xavier smiles. “I knew you’d ask that question.” His grin slowly fades. “I must leave, but not before I say something, just once.” He steps up to Mom, gingerly setting his hand against her cheek. She leans into his touch. “I’ve been around a long time. I’ve seen mountains form, stars appear, oceans give birth to life. I’ve witnessed wars and weddings, mercy and hatred, greed and sacrifice. In all that time, I’ve never loved a woman.” His fingers curl, drawing her mouth toward his. Xavier’s lips brush hers once, gently. “Until you.”

Holy shit.

I knew there was a flirty spark between them, but this? Whoa. And the way Mom stares at him all slack-jawed and wide-eyed, it’s pretty clear she didn’t see this coming either.

Xavier lowers his hand, turns on his heel, and walks away.

Mom steps into his path, blocking his exit. Her eyes take on a steely look, the one I know means she won’t back down. “Where are you going?”

He stares past her and opens the front door. Mom sets her body firmly in the threshold. “Where, Xavier?”

“Let me go.” He stands tall and unflinching, every inch of him filled with stony resolve.

Mom searches his face, her eyes opening super-wide. “Wait a minute. Why wasn’t I killed in Armageddon’s War? Why was I–of all people–given a service?” She closes the door behind her and glares at Xavier.

“That’s not important, Camilla. All that matters is your safety.”

My mind whirls. Mom once said that someone made a great sacrifice to keep us safe. At the time, I was pretty sure that mystery someone was my father. Now here’s Xavier, doing something huge for Mom’s safety.

My skin erupts in gooseflesh. Could Xavier be my dad?

The gears of my mind stall out. Mom said my dad was Tim, and whatever other faults she has, she doesn’t lie. Hide the truth and strong-arm everyone else into doing the same thing? Sure. Outright lie? No. At least, that’s what I used to think.

Mom steps closer to Xavier, her bottom lip trembling. “What did you do, Xavier?” She grips his hands in her own. “WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

Xavier stares at their clasped hands, his eyes glistening. “I traded your life for mine. As of midnight tonight, Armageddon takes me to Hell.”

Mom sets her hand on her throat. Her breaths come in rough gasps. “When are you coming back?”

“I’m not, Camilla.”

“But the things they’ll do to you. You can’t go.” Her face hardens. “I never agreed to this. I won’t allow it. They can kill me instead.”