"What's going on?"
Andrew attempted to stand up, but heavily collapsed back in the same position.
"Are you hurt?" Ray hurried to his side and helped Andrew adjust his body more comfortably against the cushions.
"That's my mistake," Laila said apologetically, "your father actually came here to talk about something very important."
Ray stole a glance at Robyn. She looked as confused as he felt.
"Son," Ray looked back at his father, "you didn't tell me that someone had been targeting Robyn."
Baffled, he stared at Andrew for a long second.
"I was going to tell you—"
"No," Andrew held up a hand, seeming to feel better than before, "that wasn't something to hide from me. It all could have ended so tragically for you today. Do you think I wouldn't know? Nick told me everything."
Shame coloured his cheeks red. Perhaps it wasn't a matter to hide from his father. Why did he ever think he could handle it alone? If he had been a second late that evening, perhaps he would have lost Robyn once and for all today.
"Robyn," Laila said, "you could have at least shared it with me."
Ray couldn't lift his head to look at Laila. To some extent, she had trusted him to look after Robyn and he had nearly failed at it twice already.
"How? Mum, you don't know how complicated it is," Robyn said, "besides, it's all sorted now, isn't it Ray?"
Ray gathered the courage to look at his mate. He shook his head no, not feeling up to par yet to use his voice.
"What do you mean? Jasmine's gone. She was at the root of it all," said Robyn.
"She isn't the main threat," Andrew attempted to sit up again, and this time he was successful, "I mean, it makes our life easier to have her out of the picture, but she was never the main threat for you, Robyn."
Ray planted his feet on the ground firmly, feeling listless.
"It's Ulric. Whether Jasmine is alive or not, Ulric still wants you," Ray said.
Silence fell upon them again.
Suddenly, Robyn let out a cry of frustration.
"Why? I just don't understand why that's important!"
"You've not told her yet?" Andrew pinned Ray with another glare.
He looked across the room at his mate, guilt weighing heavy on his heart.
"You're not an ordinary human, Robyn," Andrew said, "you know it too. That's how you're alive today. It was extraordinary how you healed after the attack when you came for dinner that day. I went to see my old friend about it, and he confirmed my suspicions.
"It takes more than a human to fight a werewolf. And it definitely takes more than a human to be my son's mate," Andrew finished.
Without thinking about it, Ray got up and sat next to her. He took her hand in his, relieved that she didn't pull it away.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't know how or when to tell you, with how things were between us."
Robyn closed her eyes and stayed like that for a while. When she finally opened them again, it was as if a fire had been ignited inside them.
"So? What am I?"
Andrew shifted on the couch, "there was a legend I grew up with, about a fruit that gives you power and everlasting life. The very first of our kind were hungry for it, because although we live for many, many years, we aren't immortal. Now, you'd think it's a real fruit the legend speaks of, but no. It was a person.