He nods. “We can live thousands of years. I was thoroughly scandalized when Parxon told me Sorcha was only twenty-five when they met.” He softly giggles. “I was imagining her as a child. Then I met her, and he revealed humans age so much faster. That she was, comparatively, a little older than us, possibly a quarter of her life already.”
Stunned, I’m trying to process that. “I’m half…whatever.”
“Half jotnun Alpha, yes. And half human.”
The implications are sinking in. “That means…”
“You should far outlive the average human, yes.”
That’s why I look so young.
Good genes, indeed.“Why didn’t Dad…mark you?”
“Where you come from, it is, relatively speaking, easy for babies to be born. Here, it is difficult for a pregnancy to be achieved, and there must be a soul-deep connection between the couple for it to happen. While the ruling class tries to deny this is true, I’ve seen the secret studies your father and others have done. He knew that my greatest desire has always been to become a parent.”
He strokes my hair again. “Not that I don’t love you, because I do, Mazbushka. But your father and I knew we had no choice but to mate, thanks to our families. So, we agreed to pretend he marked me. That way, we would not be permanently tethered to each other.”
“That’s…sad.”
He shrugs. “But he was right.”
“I have…” I finally look around the room and remember things I haven’t thought about in years. Memories I thought happened in Cardiff.
Not…here.
“I have so many questions,” I whisper.
“I know, love.” He untangles himself from me. “You will feel better after a bath and breakfast.” He playfully smiles. “Matshush-keks. You have not had them in years, right? Your old favorite?”
I remember those, like a cross between pancakes and blintzes. “I love you.”
His eyes go bright as tears fill them again, and he cradles my face in his hands. “I love yousomuch, my sweet little angel.” He kisses my forehead, lingering, then hugs me. “Come.” He stands and holds out a hand to me. “I will set up the large bath for you, and then you will come downstairs, so I may cook for you.”
Wiping my tears away, I nod and take his hand. I’m worried about Dexter, but for the first time since I thought Dad died…
I finally feel like I’ve comehome.
Except if I can’t figure out how to get back to Dexter, to Earth…
This might really end up being my permanent home.
Alone.
The thought of never seeing Dexter againliterallyhurts, like a dagger rammed straight through my heart.
Did I just exchange soothing my inner child’s aching, lonely soul for an even worse pain?
37
Eilidh
The only wayI’m going to survive this without losing my mind is to do what I’ve always done and focus on placing one foot in front of the other, taking things one day at a time.
Right now, that means a bath.
Oh, mygod. This bathtub, an ornate copper thing large enough for three people.
Holy cow, it’shuge.
