“We have a lot of catching up to do when this spectacle is all over.” I waved my hand around at all the frozen people, many with ridiculous expressions stuck on their faces. Cassie would be murderous if she realized how she looked right now. I wouldn’t mention it.
“I look forward to it,” he groaned.
“Me too.”
I regrettably left his side, and my father offered me his hand. I stared at it, reluctant to take it. Our relationship had always been complicated, but now it felt more like a labyrinth of wounds. It was going to take a lot of sessions with Hestia to find our way out of this maze.
“I am sorry, daughter. So deeply sorry.”
He dropped his hand.
But something inside me wanted to throw him a bone. He was my father, after all. So I strung my arm through his, and it was the first time I felt a true connection with him. Maybe because there were no longer any secrets betweenus. It hadn’t been only me shutting him out. He had closed a part of himself off too. A part he was deeply ashamed of. I could feel that now.
Father smiled, gratitude filling his features as he gently rested his hand over mine. He led us toward the edge of the forest, tucking his wings back to hide them. Like dyeing his hair, he did it to make me feel comfortable. For all his faults, he did love me, in his own way. How had I never seen that?
Before speaking, he paused, his gaze sweeping over me.
“The light inside you is back. You look more like your mother than ever.” His voice cracked with emotion.
“Did she know about the prophecy?”
“Most of it. I was too cowardly to tell her that if I gave up my godhood, I could stay with you both. She would never have asked me to, but I regret every day that I didn’t. I lived a half-life without you in it.”
“Why did you intervene? You couldn’t wait?” My voice broke. “My nana would have taken me after the accident.”
“I should have let her,” he admitted, “but your mother begged me to take you. She said you needed me, and I couldn’t bear to leave you again.”
I blinked, stunned. “What? You spoke to her after the accident?”
“Just briefly,” he cried. “I arrived before the emergency personnel. I held her in my arms one last time, and her final wish was that I care for you. She made me swear I would.”
My throat tightened, the world tilting. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“You never seemed to want to talk about that night, and I knew you resented me. I didn’t want you to resent your mother too. And I hated myself for intervening in your fate.But I so desperately wanted to know you. I’d already missed so much.”
“So where does this leave us?” I asked.
He drew a breath, his eyes searching mine. “I hope you’ll consider resuming your position at the Bureau. Perhaps we could start with a working relationship and see where it leads. I don’t expect forgiveness, but I would love the chance to be part of your life. And I think you could teach your father a thing or two about love.”
Funny, when this quest first began, all I’d wanted was to retreat to the immortal world and hide. I’d wanted to return to the Bureau, to protect mortals from love. But now . . . I wasn’t so sure. I still wanted to help people—but truly help them. I needed to figure out how. How could I be the best goddess of love I could be?
I knew that a relationship with Roman meant facing the real world—the press, and my past in a very public way.
“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “I’ll think about it. But . . . if I did accept your offer, I’d want a raise. And a better office for Cassie.” I smirked.
“I will give you anything you wish,” Father replied.
“Well, I’ll let you know. I’m probably going to be a little busy with Roman for a while.”
“Rightly so.” He gave a subdued grin. “I am glad you found each other. You will do great things together for the world. You will bring it hope like it has not seen in many years.”
“No pressure,” I said dryly. But even as I joked, I felt the truth in his words. Roman and I were meant for this.
“Daughter,” Father whispered. “I know you may not believe this, but I love you. And I am sorry I didn’t give up theworld for you when I had the chance. You and your mother were more than worthy. It was me who wasn’t.”
I swallowed hard, my heart aching.But I found a man who was willing to. And that’s all that really matters.
I didn’t know what else to say to my father except, “I should probably get back to Roman. We have an episode to finish. And I’m sure there will be some hell to pay for this.”
