“You are nothing more than my pawn,” her father said.
The words hit hard. She had been raised by him to believe that they were true, that she was nothing without him, that she was only there to amplify his own power.
But she had learned differently in the past year.
She had learned that she was strong enough on her own, and that she had a power inside of her that was worth more than he had ever let her believe.
She knew that now, and she would never forget it again.
“You’re wrong,” she said, stepping forward to stand beside Roan, whether he wanted her to or not.
At least he didn’t step away from her.
“I am so much more than someone who is only meant to be your puppet. I would never dream of helping you hurt someone I care about, and I will never help you ever again. You may be my father, but I want nothing to do with you. I never wish to see you again.”
Her father pulled his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at her. “You’ll regret this,” he said.
Roan immediately pushed her behind him, stepping forward to take the brunt of her father’s wrath, but Abigail fought her way around him. He was not allowed to sacrifice himself for her.
“You taught me that the only thing I was useful for was amplifying other people,” she said firmly, “but I am more than that, and I’m not going to let you destroy this home that I have built for myself and the other people here. You do not have that power.”
If someone had asked her to describe how she could use her magic, she couldn’t have answered. It came from inside her. Her power didn’t show in a flashy ball of light like her father’s, or a potion like an herbwitch’s, or even come borrowed from a dragon egg.
It was a part of her, and when she wanted things to be something, they became it.
As she spoke the words, proclaiming this tavern to be her home and a safe place for all who entered it, she could feel it becoming true.
This was her magic, and it was more powerful than she could have ever imagined.
Her father turned a sickly yellow-green and stumbled back, his wand faltering as her magic made him unwelcome.
“This tavern is a safe space for all who enter it, and it will not become a place of fighting and hurt because of you. You need to leave and never come back,” Abigail said steadily, “or I will let Beastie repay you for hurting Roan.”
Beastie let out a fierce bark, and Abigail took special delight in watching the fear on her father’s face. “She’s already practically ripped someone’s arm off once before,” she added.
Her father’s eyes widened, and he put his wand back in his pocket. “You’re not worth it,” he said, snarling at her. “You never have been.”
He turned and fled.
Abigail was instantly surrounded by the men of the tavern as she stumbled backwards, beginning to tremble from the use of that much magic at one time.
Tanner and Conrad were the first to reach her. Tanner threw his arms around her and squeezed her tight until Conrad peeled him off. “Leave her alone, kid,” he warned.
Edgar, the grumpy old coot, was exuberantly patting her on the back, and Travis and Tom offered their congratulations and thanks…but that was it.
Where was Roan?
Abigail turned to find Roan a full three paces back, his arms crossed across his chest and an unsettling look on his face.
“I didn’t know,” she said simply. “If I had, I would have told you.”
Roan didn’t say anything, so she took a step forward. “I know you have no reason to believe me. I know that you must be scared he’ll come back again because of me, or he’ll somehow find a way to use me against you. You must think that I’m a terrible human being because he’s my father, and I promise I’m not.”
Her heart was in her throat as she took another slow step. His face hadn’t changed, and his eyes were studying her like he had never seen her before. “You are the best man I have ever known, Roan. You are strong and brave and kindhearted, and yes, you’re a little grumpy, but I know that you would never willingly hurt me.”
All the men in the tavern were watching, but she knew she had to say the rest or she’d never forgive herself. “No matter how much I want a future with you, if you can’t because of my father, I will understand, and I will go, and I will never come back, because you deserve to find happiness no matter who it’s with. I can only hope that the woman who steals your heart will know exactly how lucky she is.”
She closed the last step between them and looked up at Roan, her eyes pleading for him to understand. “I love you, Roan. So whatever is going through your head right now, Idesperately hope that it has something to do with the fact that you love me, too.”
