Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Vemar asked, sitting down to his work. “I still have a house there. They can’t deny me admittance.”
“This was a political move,” Finley told him. “Our relationship is strained. We wanted to see just how strained.”
“While I was there, I had a chance to speak to a certain possible biological father,” Hannon continued.
Cold washed through me, memories of my mom when she spoke about my dad collecting near the surface. I couldn’t deny my curiosity—what he might be like, if we shared any traits. What she’d seen in him, what had attracted her and held on. Forgiveness and my aversion to do so.
Hannon smiled kindly. “You have Weston and a budding family here, Aurelia. You don’t need to trouble yourself with a man who isn’t worth the fancy boots he walks in.”
“I haven’t heard any of this.” Arleth put a hand to her hip as Finley sprinkled in some herb or other.
“Hannon debriefed us last night,” Finley said. “We were going to have a meeting about it today.”
“Now is as good a time as any,” Delaney said. “We’ve got plans tonight.”
Hannon glanced at me before looking at the ground. He sat in his usual seat in the back corner, crossing an ankle over his knee.
Finley looked over at him. “Go ahead and tell them.”
“At first he denied any involvement with anyone other than his mate. Cheap words. He’s known in that court for his wandering eye and having many mistresses. After some chatting and a mild threat or two, he started to be a lot more honest. He remembered your mom, Aurelia. He did a good job affecting sneers and disdain, but I had the sense he’d genuinely liked her. His memories were fond, even after all this time. His remorse at having sent her away was palpable. I highly doubt she was deceived in his regard for her.”
“So, it is him, then?” I asked, my gut tightening.
Hannon inclined his head. “There’s a likeness between you and him.”
I released the breath I’d been holding, unsure how to feel. Hearing about a person from the past, one I was assured I’d never meet or know any more about, and then learning that he was not only flesh and blood, but had talked about my mother and me with Hannon . . . It was a lot to process. The whole situation suddenly seemed . . . really real.
“Does he know I exist?” I asked in a small voice, wondering if maybe my mom hadn’t actually told him. Maybe she’d known she was a mistress and decided to take matters into her own hands rather than disrupt a court or make him choose. Maybe, if he hadn’t known, and learned he had another daughter, he might be remorseful he hadn’t known me, would be sick that I’d grown up like I had, wishing he’d known so he could’ve helped . . .
Hannon looked at Finley.
“He does now,” she said smugly. She wiped her hands on a towel and turned around. “Fuck that guy and that court.” She paused to look at us over her shoulder. “That’s between us, obviously.”
“Obviously,” Arleth murmured.
“Tell them, Hannon,” Finley pushed.
Hannon’s gaze was compassionate. He felt my emotions where the others couldn’t and was the only one who knew I wasn’t as unaffected about this as I’d previously claimed. Or even as I’d like to be, really.
“I told him you were out in the world.” He tilted his head, sorrow slipping into his eyes. I steeled myself for bad news. “He thought I was trying to bribe him until I mentioned that you are the true mate of Weston, the dragon king’s wolf beta.”
“Then he perked right up, that dickface,” Finley groused. “Didn’t care about you when you were just some kid he didn’t want. Oh, but a kid with a power level stronger than his? The true mate of the prized wolf of the magical world? He changed his tune, and quick.” She leveled a finger at me. “I’m not telling you what to do with your life, and you can have a relationship with him if you want, but I’m going to treat that fucker like the piece of shit he is.”
My heart sank as Vemar said, “Hear, hear.”
No, then. No silver lining to be had here.
I shouldered the disappointment for a moment and then pushed it away. I told myself this was better, actually. I never had to wonder how things might’ve been different if he’d known. I didn’t have to go back and question the truth of my mother’s information. I’d lost what I had with Granny and it had nearly broken me, but I would’ve died if I learned my mother had lied. No, this was for the best. I had my budding family here, as they’d said. I had all I needed without trying to reshape the past.