Page 59 of A Fate In Moonstone

Desmire was her mate. He obviously knew who she married and had a child with. He must have been so hurt seeing me in Crystoria.

Then I remembered his big smile and proud face.

He didn’t hate me. If anything, I’d say he cared greatly about me.

“Over these years, Lachan has not been faithful, and I have not cared.”

Because she wasn’t either. That’s where this is going isn’t it? The great truth, the secret she’s kept from me all these years.

She’s been with her mate, Desmire. Sneaking around. That man she pulled into her room in Crystoria wasn’t my father, but her love.

My body froze as the truth slammed into me, even without her saying them.

“Desmire’s my true father, isn’t he?”

My world flipped upside down, and I’m fairly certain the walls were inching closer.

Her head dipped once. “Yes, but there’s more.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

I choked. “More than my father not being my actual father?”

Mother poured me a cup of tea to clear my throat.

“Yes, the most dangerous secret.” She handed me the cup, her fingers shaking enough I worried she’d spill the tea on the carpet.

She frowned and watched me drink.

“I still don’t think it wise to tell you. Between Celestine’s visions and knowing Desmire is your father is more than enough to handle.” She swallowed. “What if this breaks you in ways I can’t fix?” Her lip quivered and I wanted to hold her hand again, comfort her, and say that it would never happen. But her reveals so far have been intense. So much, the truth hadn’t fully registered.

King Lachan has always been my father. He wasn’t the best, but that didn’t make him bad.

I was an adult, I deserved the truth, and how I’d handle them. She needed to trust me to deal with the fallout in my own way.

“Tell me.”

She nodded, sipped more from her cup, and set it on the end table.

“I don’t know how to say this delicately. So, I’m going to come out with it,” she said, inhaled deeply, and didn’t release the breath for a few seconds. She truly did not want to say what came next at all.

“Lachan is the king’s given name, but he goes by another in secret.” Her face hardened and I worried she’d crush her teeth with the amount of clenching going on.

“Lachan is Verin.”

Excuse me?

Verin…

Verin…

“Like the evil Verin who has wanted control over Crysia for a long time?” I asked in one breath.

She nodded.

“Verin.”

“Yes.”