The Shadow Stealer (Silver Moon Saga Book 3) by Melissa Giorgio Page A

blood that coursed through her veins, she wasn’t a trained fighter. She didn’t even see the knife before it was too late.”
    “Stop,” I pleaded, shaking my head. “Just stop talking!”
    But Charles wasn’t finished. “This is why I brought you to HQ, Gabi. I thought I could—” His voice cracked, and he swallowed before continuing. “I thought I could use your powers—the powers of a Soul Healer—to bring her back to life after I killed her.”
    After I killed her.
    His words echoed in my head, over and over again despite my efforts to block them out. All this time I’d thought she left us because she no longer loved us, when, meanwhile, Charles had killed her.
    My family had been destroyed because of the actions of the man sitting across from me. And if Kain hadn’t found Mom’s picture, I never would have learned the truth.
    It was too much. I collapsed in my chair, unable to speak or think or even breathe.
    “This is why I never said anything,” Charles continued softly. “To either of you. I thought by lying to you, I could save you from the same anguish I’ve suffered through.”
    Philip, his face full of rage, grabbed his father by the front of his jacket and yanked him forward. “ You suffered? You killed our mother and you want us to feel bad for you? You selfish, lying bastard —”
    “Philip!” Kain raced over, followed closely by Rafe and the others. He tried unsuccessfully to pull Philip away. “Stop, Philip. Whatever he did, I’m sure he deserves this, but you’re making a scene—”
    “He killed her!” Philip shouted as he finally let go of Charles’s jacket. “He killed our mother!”
    A pathetic little whimper escaped from my lips as I sat there, staring at Charles, and everyone froze.
    “Oh, hell, are we forming a line to punch Charles in the face?” Evan asked from somewhere over my left shoulder. “Because all of a sudden I really want to.”
    Rafe knelt before me and placed his hands on the sides of my face, forcing me to look away from Charles. His green eyes were wide and fearful as they searched my face. “Gabi, what—”
    “Philip, please—” Charles pleaded. He reached for his son.
    “No. Don’t. ” Philip backed away from the table, pointing a trembling finger at his father. “I never want to see you again. Do you hear me? Just leave me the hell alone!” Philip stormed away, Kain chasing after him.
    Good , I thought. I’m glad he has Kain. I’m glad he’s not facing this alone. No one should be alone… My gaze traveled back to Charles, who was very much alone, I realized, now more than ever.
    Not that I cared.
    “I had to, Gabi.” Charles leaned forward, his brown eyes pleading with me to believe him. “She left me with no other choice. It was either her or me, and I couldn’t leave Philip alone in this world. I did what I did for him. It’s always been for him. Please, you must believe me.”
    Our eyes met, and I saw in his gaze that he wanted my forgiveness. Something inside of me hardened, even as my heart was breaking into a million pieces, and I knew I could never give him what he wanted.
    “Screw you,” I spat before allowing Rafe to lead me away.
     
    ***
     
    It felt like I was in the middle of a dream.
    No, not a dream. A nightmare.
    I barely remember what happened next. Rafe must have flagged down a taxi, because the next thing I knew, we were being driven someplace. We were huddled together, Rafe’s arm around me as I pressed my face into his chest, my teeth chattering loudly in the silence. Evan was sitting in front of us next to the cab driver, and Alex was to Rafe’s left, but no one spoke.
    In my head, Charles’s voice echoed. “She left me with no choice, Gabi.”
    He had no choice, and now my mom was dead.
    No. If I thought about it, I was going to lose it, right here, right now, in this yellow cab racing through the busy city. I didn’t want that. I wanted to go home, lock my door, and sob into my pillow for the next