A bitter, humorless laugh escapes before I can stop it. I straighten, forcing myself to meet his eyes without fear. “Are you going to kill me now,Father?”
He flinches as though I’ve attacked him. His face—so much like my original face—shifts through emotions. Regret? Resignation? I force myself not to care about whatever is lurking beneath those eyes.
“Do you really think I would harm you? When I have time and again spared your life?”
I let out a sharp laugh. The sound is raw and feels like broken glass in my throat. “Spare me? You drove us from our home. We lived on the streets—”
“Laylis left without a word! I tried to find you. All I wanted was for you and your sister and mother to live in comfort. Why do you think I gave her that townhome to spend her days in luxury? You would’ve all been safely hidden under Naethor’s nose. No one would suspectthat a home owned by High Lord Moreus Ventall would hold anything but law-abiding individuals.” He takes another step forward.
I take a step back in equal measure; my magic simmers, ready to boil over. “It’s because of you that our mother died…after you did who knows what to her.”
“I loved her, and she loved me.” There’s no doubt or hesitation there. It’s the truth. Or at least the truth as far as he believes.
“She would’ve never loved the man hunting her—tasked with killing her.”
“Neither of us could believe it, either. But the heart has a wicked sense of humor. Perhaps something you might also know all too well.” He lowers his chin and gives me a knowing look, referencing Kaelis. I inhale slowly through my nose and scowl. “I never laid a hand on your mother in a manner that would bring her harm. Never touched her in any way without her permission—herasking.I certainly did not kill her.”
“But you stand by the woman who did!” The words rip from me before I can stop them. The rage I have only just cooled boils over once more. “You let her do it, and you remained with her after.”
“I only found out what she did recently, thanks to Alor. If you can believe it,shewas the one to expose Helena’s actions, with Emilia’s help. It was Emilia who came to me looking for the records, and I performed my own investigation.” He slowly lowers his hands, placing the cards back in his deck. “I spent years looking for you and Arina, and Laylis. Not knowing what happened to any of you. I spent years having people report to me on the Worldkeepers—keeping Naethor’s bloody, cursed hunt alive in the hopes it’d lead me to her or you.”
“Stop.” I look away. I can’t handle this.
“And when I found you, you were beyond my protection in almost every way.”Almost…except for when he didn’t turn me in last year, or called off Ravin before he could beat me to a pulp.
“Don’t act like you love us.”
“You were two children born of love and adoration; of course I did.”
“All I have known of you is that you are selfish and cruel.” My eyesmeet his again, and I shoot him daggers. “Even if you loved my mother—you damned her.It is because of you that my mother is dead, that my sister and I lived on the streets, and I willneverforgive you for it.”
He staggers, deflating some. His wounded eyes are genuine and something I would’ve never otherwise expected. What could he have imagined? That we’d live as some messed-up happy family?
Moreus opens his mouth again, but he can’t find the words in time. Another figure comes running over, straying from a pack of Stellis that emerged from the alleyway I went down minutes ago.
Alor’s hair is a silver-blond streak, and she stops between us, breathless. “Father? Professor?”
I give Moreus a brief, hard stare.
“I thought I had a lead, but she must’ve got away,” Moreus says. He would be able to lie with ease, he’s had a lot of practice. “I was just asking the professor if she saw anything.”
“Did you?” Alor turns to me. A Stellis medal has been pinned to her breast just below a captain’s badge, honors she’s already trying her best to live up to.
“I didn’t. I’m sorry.”
Alor curses under her breath. “I should return to my squadron, then. I’ll explain what’s happened later, Professor.”
“Good luck, I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” I speak to Alor, but my eyes dart to Moreus. He’s smart enough to get the warning.
I have your daughter with me. Don’t challenge me.Liam should be a signal to all my enemies that I will do what I must to defend myself and those I love.
Moreus regards me warily as Alor leaves. We keep our eyes locked, the night breeze the only thing shared between us.
In me is the weight of a thousand things left unsaid. But any other words would result in blows, or tears, or screams.
“Father?” Alor calls from halfway to the Stellis she was rejoining.
“Yourdaughteris waiting for you,” I say coldly.
