#Chapter 157

Theodore’s POV The second Lillith finished telling me everything, I couldn’t have imagined facing my relatives that my father had kept from me. But when they came out to meet me, I saw my guilt reflected in all their eyes. I felt guilty for not protecting them from my father and brother, just as they felt guilty for not protecting me from the same people. Feeding that guilt by hiding from each other wouldn’t solve anything. I approached the man directly behind Lillith, who I assumed was my uncle. I inhaled sharply as I offered my hand to my mother’s brother. “I’m Theodore Nightshade, and it is an honor to meet all of you.” I struggled to keep the tears out of my eyes, then I stopped trying to. I had no reason to hide myself, my feelings, from these people. From my family. My uncle let his tears flow freely, too. He dismissively batted my hand away and wrapped me in a bear hug instead. The others followed after, aunts and uncles joining for the biggest group hug I’d ever