“Well, let’s get some food in you before it comes back,” he says as he braids my hair.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Braiding your hair. It will help keep the knots out, and it won’t get in your way,” he tells me. God, they’re amazing friends. They are the family I wish I had.
“Thanks,” I say, nearly at a whisper.
“That’s what you do for family,” he says. I have to question for a moment whether he can read my mind.
When we get downstairs, I join everyone on the couch, and Vaughn hands me a plate. This time it’s eggs, buttered grits with salt and pepper, and fruit. No toast. I am able to force myself to eat more today, but only because I have things to do. I have to plan and figure out what I am doing first, and how to get Soren back here safely without getting myself killed in the process.
About the time I am finishing my plate of food, a knock sounds at the front door. Every muscle in my body goes rigid, and Caine is already moving. Vaughn sets his coffee down, and Laurent closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“What?” I ask.
No one answers. The knock comes again, three slow, deliberate knocks. It’s not impatient or threatening. It’s like a reminder, but an understanding that we will answer.
“Caine?” I ask, but he doesn’t say anything. “Why are y’all acting like you are covering for a serial killer right now?”
“Well, technically…” Laurent starts.
“Don’t finish that,” Diego groans.
The third knock echoes through the house, and I just stare at all of them. “Seriously, who is it?”
“The biggest pain in the ass any of us have ever met,” Vaughn mutters as he walks to the door. I follow to see who is here. When the door opens, the man standing on the porch looks completely ordinary. Like someone you’d forget about the moment you met him. Dark hair. Tall. A little older.
Rage instantly boils inside of me. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I growl.
“Hey, Tal,” Dad says as he cautiously steps into the house. The guys straighten, but it’s not out of fear or protectiveness, but out of respect.
“You know him?” I turn and snap at the others. “He’s dead. I watched him die.”
“You also watched Soren die,” Vaughn reminds me. “We didn’t realize he was your father until yesterday.”
“You fucking sold me,” I snap at my father.
“I know…” he says, still cautious and maintaining a distance from me. It’s almost like they warned him that there is a good chance I’ll shoot him, because I’d fucking love it.
The burning agony returns so abruptly that it catches me off guard. I scream and collapse to my knees when the sharp, blistering pain stabs and twists in my belly. It’s so unbelievably horrific that I curl myself in as I scream in pain. Everyone comes to my side, except Dad. He keeps his distance, but says nothing. I try to force myself into taking long, deep breaths as the waves of pain debilitate me.
When the pain slowly starts to fade, Vaughn helps me to the couch as Diego assists me in taking a sip of water.
“He’s alive,” Dad says. “Soren. He’s alive.”
“I know that,” I snap. “I’m really not in the fucking mood for you. You fucking sold me.”
“I know, and I know you are confused. Scared. Sad. I know… But believe me, Talia, I did what I had to do to make sure you survived long enough to find Soren.”
“What the fuck is even going on right now?” I shout. “Will someone just give me some fucking answers and stop treating me like I am fragile?”
“I’m a hybrid,” Dad says. “And your mother is the same witch who created Soren and now has him held captive with Henry.”
“Wait,” I say, sitting up a bit. “Hold on. If… But… That would make me… But I’m not…”
“Slow down,” Dad says gently. “You are a hybrid witch. A human, a vampire, and a witch. Being a witch helps suppress your vampire side, so you do not have to feed. All of that combined is why your bond with Soren is so strong.”
“Y’all knew?” I ask Vaughn.
