His brow creased. “Elior…?”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered quickly. “I’m just—Father’s been acting strange today.”
He tilted his head. “Strange how?”
“He keeps watching me.” I knotted my fingers together. “Everywhere I go, I can feel it. Like he’s waiting for me to slip up.”
Daddy’s jaw tightened in a way that made my chest warm with both fear and comfort. “You’re not slipping up—you won’t,” he said. “You’re just living your life. That’s not a crime.”
It wasn’t a crime out there, maybe.
But in here…
Here, it could be a death sentence.
I didn’t say that. I just nodded and breathed in his scent, the smell comforting in a way that should’ve felt sinful, but didn’t at all.
Just before I went to lean into him, my ears pricked, hearing footsteps approaching us.
Daddy must have heard it too, as his hand dropped from mine instantly. He stepped away, mask settling over his face so seamlessly it made my heart clench.
A second later, Brother Gabriel’s voice sounded from behind us. “Elior, Father Malachi requests your presence at his home.”
My stomach swooped. “Now?”
“Yes. He said immediately.”
Daddy kept his posture neutral, but something sharp flickered through his eyes—worry, anger, and something unspoken.
“I’ll be right there,” I told Gabriel.
He nodded, looking between me and Daddy—Jace, I mean—with an odd coldness in his gaze, then turned and walked away.
For a moment, it was silent, but then, Jace stepped closer—not touching, but close enough that I felt surrounded by him.“Be careful,” he murmured. “Whatever this is, don’t let him get inside your head. I’ll wait for you, cherub.”
“Okay,” I whispered shakily.
Jace’s brows furrowed in concern. “Is there something more that you’re not telling me? You look terrified, baby.”
“No, I just… I think I’m just being a little paranoid. I’m sure it’ll be fine, Daddy. Father used to call on me frequently for many things.”
Jace didn’t look convinced. Not even a little.
His mouth pressed into a thin line, and that muscle in his jaw ticked the way it did when he was resisting the urge to grab me and pull me into him.
“Maybe he used to call on you frequently,” he said slowly, “but things aren’t the same right now. You feel that, don’t you?”
I swallowed. Hard.
Because yes—I did. I felt it in the marrow of my bones.
“I’ll be okay,” I said again, softer this time, as if lowering my voice might make it true.
He stepped closer, gaze flicking toward the path Gabriel had taken. Then he tilted his head down just enough that his words brushed against my ear.
“If he says anything that scares you, you leave and come find me. Promise me that, cherub.” The intensity in his voice made my breath catch.
“I will,” I whispered. “I promise.”
