Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series Read Free Page A

seriousness in her friend’s normally jovial eyes. They could not have this discussion -- not here, not now, not ever. It was better to deflect this to something more light-hearted.
    “You do realize that you don’t have the ability to entrance another vampire, so stop looking at me like that. Also, ‘live, Olivia’? You need a better line than that. It’s cute, in a nerdy sort of way.”
    Corinne could not maintain that serious look any longer. “You know, I thought it sounded pretty cool. We could make a t-shirt or something with that expression. How about, ‘Live, Livy’?”
    “You design it and I promise to wear it. Now, let’s get on that plane and enjoy our first class seats.”
    Olivia started to walk away, but Corinne stopped her. “Livy, why are we going to New York?”
    When Corinne was in her interrogation mode, there was no stopping the questions. She should have been a litigator.
    Olivia hated that Corinne was being so serious again, but she knew she owed it to her friend to answer her questions honestly, as honestly as she could. “As I told you yesterday, I need to see my boys. I didn’t mention at the time that Julian is living in an estate in upstate New York and Kaden recently moved in with him.”
    “Julian and Kaden are living together?” Corinne asked incredulously. Olivia could relate to her friend’s shock. She had the same reaction when she heard the news. Kaden and Julian were once extremely close, as only ten years separated them, but as they grew older, they became more distant with each other. The competition between them intensified. Both seemed to vie for attention, Kaden more desirous of his mother’s love and Julian more attached to his father.
    Their personalities were vastly different. Kaden was more aggressive, temperamental, and manipulative. Julian was the more sensitive, generous, and honest brother. Kaden was more like his father; Julian, like his mother -- and yet they each had the worse relationship with the parent whose personality they most resembled. Olivia never understood why the similarities between her and Julian led to more tension between them while his relationship with his father, whom he shared nothing in common with, flourished. Julian saw only the good in his father. His father, the master manipulator, made sure that his younger son saw him as the victim while Olivia was the oppressive wife. Kaden always knew the truth about his father and resented Julian’s blindness.
    “Well, it looks like Kaden sort of barged in and invited himself into Julian’s home. Julian was not pleased, but as the good younger brother he allowed Kaden to stay. Julian phoned a few days ago to complain about Kaden’s behavior. He is acting out and is involved with some dangerous things. He won’t listen to Julian and he’s afraid that Kaden is going to reveal himself and bring the wrath of the Council upon him. Julian was hoping I could talk to Kaden, but I know he won’t listen to me. Regardless, I have to try to reach him before it’s too late. I need to help my son.”
    “Livy, I know you want to help Kaden, but he’s so filled with rage. He’s done some heinous things and you have to face the fact that he may not be able to be redeemed. You can’t protect him forever. At some point, we all have to pay for our sins. Kaden is no exception.”
    “I have to try. He’s my son. All of this is my fault. I failed him as a mother and I have to try to help him before it’s too late.”
    “You didn’t fail him. You did the best you could with him under the circumstances. I could never have done what you did. I wouldn’t have been strong enough. You gave him more that most parents would have.”
    “It wasn’t enough. I couldn’t give him all the love and attention he needed. I couldn’t protect him. Kaden needed special care and I was too much of a mess to give it to him. I left him in the hands of his father, and his evil infected Kaden. I know there’s so much good