“Eighteen months.”
I choked. “He’s responsible for her care for a year and a half? Is she a princess or something?”
Cernunnos’s eyes flashed. “Again, I am not ready to answer your question.”
“She’s important.”
“Would it matter?”
“The answer would explain some things.” Cernunnos was maddening when he got cryptic—an annoying trait all fae had because information was king in their realm.
Arguably, the same could be said for our realm, so getting mad felt pointless.
“She’s important to me.”
“And to everyone else?”
“Evie,” Cernunnos warned.
“Why did you involve Caelan?”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you truly love the Shifter Lord?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course I do.”
“And if he kept a secret from you? A big one?”
My eyes narrowed. Was my father trying to stir the pot? Or was he trying to help me? “I suppose it depends on what the secret was and why he kept the information from me.”
“And if it affected your future? Your family? Your potential rule?”
“Why would Caelan do something like that?”
Cernunnos’s eyes whirled with power. “Why indeed?”
Something about this wasn’t sitting right with me. “Unless he was forced to by an extremely powerful king who had leverage on him.”
My father’s teeth flashed. “Would you keep a secret like that from him?”
“I did. For months.”
“But you weren’t in love with him while you kept that secret. Would you do it now?”
I thought about it. My Chimera blood was the reason I was so hesitant to get involved with Caelan in the first place. I knew it wasn’t something I could hide from him if we became seriously involved. I wouldn’t even sleep with him before he knew. The truth made me uncomfortable, and I struggled with the word.
“No,” I admitted. “I wouldn’t. Though I’m no saint. I’ve kept small things from him.” Though they never stayed hidden for long.
“You told him a secret that could ruin your life and potentially get you killed because you love him. Ask yourself if he’s willing to do the same.”
I stared at my father for a long moment. “I thought you liked Caelan.”
“Daughter, I am the Fae King. I do not merelylikeanyone. There are too many factions out there trying to destabilize my rule. Trusting anyone is a delicate dance, one I am still trying to perfect all these years later.”
“So you don’t like him?”
Cernunnos smiled. “I wish for you to be with someone who bares his soul to you. Who does not keep things from you. Who supports you in your endeavors and doesn’t hesitate to lift you up when you are down. You are destined to be queen, Evangeline. I wish for you to be with a king.”
I swallowed hard. “And you don’t think Caelan is king material.”
