He wants to be there. He knows the risks, and it’d hurt him more leaving me to face them alone than tackling them with me.
All of my men feel the same way.
I don’t know if the original versions of my matches would have held on to their devotion if they’d known the truth about my glim… butthatdoesn’t matter anymore, does it? Aunt Daphne or fate or some other power brought me here instead, and this is the life I have.
And fucking fuaths, do I want to keep it.
Uncle Nik did teach me a few useful things, not the least of which is how much power I can wield. Maybe we don’t know why this murderous group is out to kill me or how many people they’ve roped into their schemes, but I’m not letting them get the better of me.
And if they harm any of the men I love, I’ll make them pay.
When I head downstairs, Dad comes into the front hall. The lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth look deeper than usual—or maybe it’s just the stark artificial lighting.
“Be careful out there,” he says. “Keep alert so nothing can take you by surprise.”
One side of my mouth kicks up into a wry smile. “I think that’s the whole point of the training.”
He touches my shoulder. “And I know you can handle yourself. How did you end up getting so strong, Sunshine?”
He says it lightly, but my stomach knots up all over again. Ms. Lupul’s influence runs through the words, nudging him to encourage me rather than dissuade me from going.
If she hadn’t gotten her claws into his head, he’d be telling me to stay home.
My smile tightens, but I manage to hold it in place. “You must have raised me well.”
Dad chuckles. “I don’t think I can take all the credit, but I appreciate the thought. I’ll stay up until you’re home.”
“You don’t need?—”
“No.” I catch a flicker of his true apprehension behind his warm eyes. “I do. I have some work to finish up anyway. And if you run into any trouble, call me right away.”
“Of course.”
With a heavy lump in my gut, I walk out to meet the chauffeured car waiting in the drive. Radiants only know how Dad will react to the news that should come out of tonight’s activities.
Maurice has just opened the sedan’s door for me when a different car comes cruising up from the street.
As the pale green Volvo parks just behind us, my lips part with shock. Where in the nine Norse realms has Aunt Daphne been?
She shimmies out of the car with a billow of her hair and a darting gesture toward me. “Ellie. Where are you going this late?”
My heart thumps hard in my chest. I wanted her to come back. I reached out to her.
But now there’s no time. I need to be at the park in half an hour, or Professor Jovak will start wondering why I haven’t arrived. He might realize something’s up and adjust his plans.
I dig my hands into the pockets of my hoodie, one ofwhich holds my phone and the other a slim metal flashlight like Captain Ross requested. “A session for that supplementary combat program. Did you… did you find out anything useful?”
A flicker of hope passes through me. Is it possible I won’t have to present myself as bait after all? That Daphne uncovered some thread we can use to hang Gwyn and her associates with instead?
But my aunt purses her lips. “Bits and pieces, nothing totally conclusive. It sounded as though I was needed here.”
Yesterday’s message. I thought I did need her. But it doesn’t sound as if she can offer anything helpful after all. She didn’t even blink at my mention of the combat seminars, so she clearly hasn’t uncovered anything shady about them.
She didn’t even bother to reply to me so I knew she was on her way.
I can’t stop my voice from coming out a bit stiff. “Maybe not. We can talk after I get back.”
I don’t know if it’s my tone or my expression, but that canny glint that always unnerves me flashes in Daphne’s eyes.
