She indicated the flowers with a wave of her hand. “He didn’t walk out, cher. He was here when the devil unleashed his wrath on us. Acheron saved my life and those of many others. He brought food to us when we had nothing to eat and kept your home from being burned. Don’t judge him by one bad act when he has done so many good ones.”

Nick didn’t want to forgive Ash. Not after all that had happened. But in spite of his anger, he felt his heart softening at the knowledge that Ash had been here—that he hadn’t abandoned the city as Nick had thought. “Why are you calling me Ambrosius?”

“Because that is what you are now. Immortal.” She touched the bite mark on his neck. “My little Nicky is gone. Buried by emotions so great they mock the depth of the ocean. Can you tell me if my baby boy will ever come home again?”

Nick wanted to curse at her. He wanted to shout, but in the end he felt like a lost child who only craved his mother’s touch. A deep-seated sob escaped and before he could stop it, he did what he hadn’t done since the night he’d found his mother dead.

He cried. All he wanted was for the unrelenting pain inside him to cease. Just for one heartbeat. He wanted time to go back to the way it’d been before—when his mother had been alive and Ash had been his best friend.

But how could it?

Everything was destroyed and every day he hated more. Not just Acheron, but everything and everyone. There was no peace for him anymore. It was as if a part of him had died with his mother.

A part of himself he feared he’d never have again.

His heart.

Menyara pulled him into her arms and held him close. She didn’t speak. Still, her touch soothed him even more than words could.

She pressed her lips to the top of his head and gave a light kiss. “You were a good boy, Ambrosius. Cherise still believes in you and so do I. She wants you to let go of your anger. Be happy again.”

He pulled back with a curse at her words that reminded him of something his mother would say. “How can I let everything go while my mother is dead?”

“How can you not?” she insisted. “It was your mother’s time to leave this world. She is happier now that she can watch over you and—”

“Don’t say that to me,” he growled from between clenched teeth. “I hate it when people say that shit. She’s not happier dead. How could she be?”

Menyara pushed him toward the walkway. “Then go from this place and don’t taint her peace with your hatred. It doesn’t belong here. Your mother deserves better than that from you.”