A guilt-trip. Low blow.
The desire to rage beat inside my chest, fed by the abyss within. I wanted to spit on his words and then verbally skewer him for thinking he could dictate my life after decades of absence.
But I couldn’t. Not with that question hovering in the air between us.
My grandfather swung his feet from the low hanging branch of the oak tree he’d settled on while Brin and I were arguing. Alches acted surprisingly cat-like, draped on the branch next to him, his tongue lolling out of his mouth, his eyes narrowed into slits as he panted.
“Are you sure this is about her and her becoming and not the vendetta you have against Muiredach?” my grandfather drawled.
I latched onto the faint bit of hope he was offering. “What is he talking about?”
Brin’s expression remained unchanged. “There’s no reason it can’t be both.”
My grandfather snorted and gave him a look.
“She’s already drawn Muiredach’s notice. If he gets his hands on her, he’ll warp her power to suit his purposes. I may not be much of a father, but I have no wish to see that happen to my only daughter. Noctessa is the safest place for her.”
“It’s not your choice,” I argued.
A headache was developing at the base of my skull.
“What did you think? That you’d show up after all these years and I’d immediately fall in line?” I asked sarcastically. “News flash—I don’t need your help. I’ve been taking care of myself just fine all this time.”
“Your boy-toy seemed to think otherwise, given his determination in tracking me down,” Brin pointed out.
“And I’ll be taking that up with him later.”
For now, I had to figure out a way back to Vegas before things really hit the fan.
“You can’t go back there. I won’t allow it.”
“You won’tallowit?” My laugh was bitter. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“You may not like it, but I’m your father. I have no desire to see my only child broken by what Muiredach will do to you if he gets his hands on you.”
Brin was lucky I had experience dealing with autocratic assholes. If this had been a few years ago, I might have attempted bodily harm against him.
“You’re right. I don’t like it. What is your problem with him anyway? Why are you so certain he’d try to harm me?”
Brin’s features were hard and set, his lips pressed tightly together. His intention to remain silent clear.
My grandfather shook his head. “You are both so stubborn.”
Brin sent his father an arch look. “As if you aren’t.”
My grandfather grinned, a sly tilt of the lips. “This reminds me of some of our arguments back in the day.”
“Hardly. She hasn’t tried to kill me yet.”
I glared. “Just wait. The evening is young.”
A roar of laughter came from my grandfather as he threw his head back. “Explain it to her nicely. Maybe she will be reasonable.”
Brin’s sigh was filled with a lifetime’s worth of frustration. There was resignation in his gaze when he finally looked at me. “Muiredach slaughtered the original royal family of the Summer Lands and used his power to enthrall the realm’s guardian. As you know from Noctessa, a realm must have a ruler or it closes itself off. Somehow Muiredach managed to circumvent that. Likely through a magic breaker much like you.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
Now I knew why everyone was so set on making sure no one ever found out about my power.
