บท 171: Chapter 171: Steam Union

I returned to find Max, Jiao and my son waiting for me with unhappy expressions. It didn't take words for them to get the point.

Another loss, another failure. Another blow. And no, I wasn't going to run away. But, damn it, this was getting old fast.

Max and Jiao left for the Stronghold while I whisked Gabriel into the veil and back to Wilding Springs. Gram and Sass paced the basement, coming to a halt as I exited the dark and bent to kiss my son. He looked up at me, anxious, upset.

"I'm sorry, Mom," he said.

"What happened?" Gram's stiff posture made her look older.

"Trill Zornov happened," I snarled. "And Zoe Helios. And Liander Belaisle." The more I talked, the more people I listed, the madder I got. Had I really let Zoe talk me out of chasing Belaisle? Just letting the foot of Creator go? What the hell was I thinking?

Sass's whiskers drooped. "What are you going to do?"