He took a seat on a dark leather sofa and gestured for me to sit beside him. I was done letting men tell me where to sit, so I chose a chair opposite him instead.
His lips curved into a faint smile. ‘Do you know why you’re here?’
I glared. ‘I’m still waiting on the welcome package.’
To my surprise, he laughed genuinely. ‘I like you. You remind me of myself, child.’
‘Am I here so you can reminisce, or will someone actually tell me why I was dragged here against my will?’ I kept my tone bright enough to hide the venom beneath it.
‘Well, introductions first. I’m Frideric Nightborn, Lord of the Isles of Shadow. And you, my dear, are my daughter.’
My eye twitched. Every coherent thought fled, leaving disbelief and a stampede of questions.
My lungs forgot how to work. ‘I don’t have a father.’
A low laugh rumbled in his chest. ‘I’m fairly sure your mother needed a man’s cooperation to whip you up.’
‘And why would I believe you’re that man? You could be lying. Why would you care after so long?’
Trust was in short supply these days.
Walking toward a cupboard, he retrieved a golden teapot and two cups. He poured tea for both of us and leaned back. ‘I only learned about you recently. I would have come for you sooner otherwise.’
‘And I’m supposed to believe that because… what?’ My temples throbbed. ‘We don’t even look alike, and our powers aren’t aligned. I have fire, not shadows.’
Studying me for a moment, helooked puzzled. ‘Yes, that part’s odd. But you are my blood—I can sense these things.’
I snorted. ‘Oh really? Where were your senses when I was born?’
He set his cup down and sighed, almost apologetic. ‘Shadows don’t work in Ortensia. I only sensed you when you entered Fogoya.’
Impossible. ‘Why wouldn’t they work in Ortensia?’
‘Your mother’s treachery. The witch hates me.’
He actually looked pleased about it, and for a moment, I almost smiled. My mother hated me too—maybe that was hereditary.
‘So hypothetically, let’s say I believe you,’ I started. ‘Why don’t I share your powers? You’d think I’d have at least a trace if I were related to you.’
The man clicked his tongue. ‘You likely have more than a trace, but you wouldn’t have known living in Ortensia.’
‘Nonsense,’ I snorted. ‘If that were true, it would’ve shown up in Fogoya.’
‘It has,’ he replied, eyes flicking to the small shape coiled at my neck. ‘Otherwise you wouldn’t have that creature around you.’
The shadow serpent.
It had followed me ever since the Cave City hike, sleeping soundly most of the time. As he spoke, I felt the faint brush of scales against my neck—lazy, deliberate. The creature almost hummed, as if agreeing with him.
‘It’s an animal,’ I said warily.
The lord laughed. ‘It’s a dead animal given a shadow form. It wouldn’t stay with you unless you were of shadow too.’
A dead animal in shadow form. Brilliant. ‘So you bring animals back to life?’
‘Does it look alive to you?’ he countered, amused.
‘Could you bring it back?’
