If he had been standing, he would have staggered backward. Niko looked scared for a moment, and then he sighed deeply, wearing a face of resignation.
"You weren't supposed to know." He looked away, and it didn't take second-guessing to know that there was sadness in his eyes. And rather obviously, regret. "We had come to terms with the fact that you would hate us for years."
"Because it was better that way, isn't it? Look at me, Niko." I held his chin, gently pulled his face toward me.
Such sorrow and longing in those pale-blue orbs. "Yes . . . it was. Mel didn't want you to be involved with him anymore, after finding out about his abilities. Ivan and I had to agree, it was too dangerous. Mel's power had been unpredictable at the time, he was scared. The three of us were. But we knew only one thing, we wanted to protect you."
