“No. We can’t go back right now. There’s a battle going on, and we can’t just walk into it.” He took my chin in his hand. “And we need to talk.”
Aiko cleared his throat. “I could use a nap. Is there somewhere…?”
Roran nodded and motioned him to the hall. “Do you need blood? I’m sure we can find some way to help with that.”
He coughed, and I grimaced. “No. Not right now. Just sleep.”
Closing the door behind Aiko after showing him which room he could have, Roran asked me quietly, “Do we need a guard?”
“No. You never will. He’s utterly incorruptible.”
Roran cocked his head and took my hand. We walked in silence to another hall, and then down that to a double door at the end.
The room wasRoran and Rilen.It felt like themfrom the door to the little kitchen area it was warm, comfortable and familiar. The fireplace held a low, warm flame, and I walked to it to warm my hands. The days, this far north, were growing cold. We’d been lucky on the boat. It had only been cool.
“Are you hungry?” Roran asked.
I shook my head. “No.”
Another moment of silence stretched between us. He moved to stand next to me.
How was I going to explain… everything.
“Kimber—”
“Savion is my father.”
Roran grabbed my shoulders and spun me to him. “What?”
“Savion, the mad king of the vampires, is my father.”
“How is that possible?”
A nonchalant shrug rolled off me. “I have no idea. The prophecy we thought belonged to my mother? Willow? It was Savion’s—my mother stole it.”
“Your mother was seven hundred, not…” He stopped and stared into my eyes. “Willow wasn’t the one who stole it.”
I shook my head. “Celine Stormbreaker.”
“Your nanny…”
“Savion raped her. Before the Spine rose. General Odom got her away from Savion before he found out she was pregnant.”
It was crazy to hear it all put together.
I was the vampire king’s daughter.
Roran didn’t seem to be reacting to what I had said. He stared at me, blank and unaffected. He blinked once, twice, three times.
“Kimber…”
My heart seized. This was where he left me.
This was where I lost the men I loved.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded slowly. “Yes. I am. He had an episode of pure madness and tore my throat out. He forced his blood on me and stole mine. We—Aiko, Odom and I—think that triggered an… awakening.”
