“So, Ashaya tells us you’re in security work. What type of security?”
Her father went straight to the important stuff, while Mum was likely chomping at the bit for more juicy details of how they met.
“It’s mostly confidential work,” Race said.
Ash knew the Guardians stayed under the radar. Humans could never learn that immortals existed—let alone that demons wandered among them, some even living on Earth, disguised as mortals.
Michael had given her permission to tell her parents the truth, as long as they kept it confidential or their memories would be erased. But Ash chose to wait, at least until she was certain they were ready to hear it.
She passed Race his black beverage, and his thumb brushed her skin as he took the cup—it soothed her a bit. Aware he didn’t care for sweet things, she plated a few savories, set them next to him, then took a sip of her tea?—
“How exactly is this going to work?” her father asked, and Ash nearly choked. “You work in Romania, Ash lives here in England.”
Heavens.Ash set her cup down carefully, nerves knotting so tightly she could barely breathe. “Oh, we’ve…we’ve been thinking about that…”
Calm down, heart-fire,Race’s voice drifted in her mind.Just ease them into what you have to say.
They’re normally quite understanding. Kind even…”Ash gripped her teacup to warm her chilled fingers.I mean, they adopted me after my birth mother died. No one wanted me. Female babies aren’t valued in parts of the Himalayas—especially ones with strange eyes. Still…She sipped her tea.I hope they don’t have a heart attack over this.
I won’t let them.A flood of warmth soothed her frantic thoughts.
With a deep breath, Ash set her cup down.
“Dad, Mum.” She half rose, then sank back into her chair. “There’s something else I must say first. Remember how my abilities?—”
“Ash—” both her parents said at once, their expressions tense with warning.
She smiled. “He knows. He got caught in one of my ‘little’ rainstorms back in the mountains. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is those abilities appeared because of who my ancestors are.”
“Darling, I know people from the Himalayas can be superstitious?—”
“Mum, let me explain, okay?” She pushed up the long sleeves of her t-shirt, so sure fire ants were crawling beneath her skin. “It’s something I learned while searching for Janika.”
While it wasn’t exactly true, it was one way to get her parents to listen. “Anyway, some of the locals refused to talk to me, being a woman and all that. One thing led to another…”
She met both their horrified gazes and scrunched her face. “I grew upset, and well, rain fell—just a tiny shower,” she said quickly. “They called me a witch. You can imagine how that went over, so I ran. That’s when I crashed into Race. He saved me.”
Finally, you admit it,he teased.
She dropped her hands under the table and tried to pinch his thigh, but his hard muscles had no give.No, I admit to nothing. This is for my parents’ peace of mind.
“Oh, sweetheart, I should have gone with you,” her father said, his face pale.
“It’s fine, honestly.” She cast him a warm smile. “Anyway, Race, er, came with me hiking and camping in the mountains, and we got to know each other—okay, I’m digressing.” Ash rubbed her palms on her jeans.Ugh. Stupid nerves. “What I wastrying to say about my ancestors… There’s a group of people who actively search for their descendants.”
“What do you mean ‘your ancestors’? Who?” Dad asked, skepticism edging his voice. “Like in Hindu mythology—Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati? Those are just stories.”
Ash sighed and rubbed her temple with one hand. “No, Dad, and not Hindu. I don’t think it’s mythology, not when I exist, and others like me do too.”
Her father was a scholar of ancient texts; she hoped he might understand, at least a little.
His gray brows drew together. “Ash?—”
“Charles, do let her explain,” Mum said gently, touching his arm.
Ash glanced at Race, who nodded. “This has to do with the Watchers, remember those biblical angels?”
Her father leaned back in his seat and folded his arms, his eyes narrowed.
