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“Have you spoken to him since he and Dad returned?”
“Of course not, but—”
“Then you can’t speak to his state of mind. Trust me, he wants revenge. On me, on Belle—” I paused as instinct stirred. “When did you last speak to Dad?”
“Yesterday—why?”
“It’s possible Clayton might well hold him ultimately responsible for the marriage and its consequences.”
I could almost see her frown. “What consequences?”
“Belle placed an anti-erection spell on him. According to what he said when we met, it still holds.”
“Belle did that?” Her disbelief echoed.
“She’s far more capable than any of you ever imagined, but that’s not the point. Check Dad. My instincts are saying he might be in trouble.”
“Clayton is hardly that foolish, but I’ll nevertheless do as you ask. Your psychic skills were always your one strength.”
“And here I was thinking you considered them a frightful anomaly and an affront to the Marlowe name.”
There was another of those long pauses. “It was never my intention to make you feel so unwanted, Elizabeth. You’re my daughter, and no matter what you think, I do love you.”
An apology of any sort was something I’d never expected, but I couldn’t help asking, “Then why did you never try to find me?”
“Because I was told you didn’t want to be found.”
“Who by?” But I knew, even as I asked the question. There was only one person who knew why we’d fled—Belle’s mom.
“Ava Sarr,” she confirmed. “And at least now I understand her comment to me when she was interviewed about your disappearance.”
“Which was?”
“Any mother who stands by and allows such abuse deserves to lose her daughter.” She hesitated. “I really am sorry, Elizabeth.”
“Apology accepted.” There was no point in harboring resentment. No point in holding on to bitterness and anger. I’d already wasted years of my life to it. It was well past time to move on. I glanced at my watch and saw it was close to six. Aiden would be here soon. He was my future, not the woman who gave birth to me. “I need to go. We’ll talk again soon.”
“I’d like that.”
With that, she hung up. I stared down at the phone and wondered if I’d ever hear from her again… and realized in that moment that I didn’t care either way.
Aiden had been right. Talking to her really had been the best thing I could have done.
“That,” I said with a sigh as I pushed my plate away, “was divine. Thank you.”
Aiden had suggested we go back to his place rather than a restaurant when he’d picked me up, and I’d readily agreed. After everything that had happened over the last few days, I really wanted some alone time with him. Especially given it might be the only chance we had for a little while. Clayton would be here soon—I felt that within every psychic inch of me—and we simply couldn’t afford to be caught alone. I might have the wild magic on my side, and Clayton might not be aware how deeply ingrained it was within me, but he did at least know I could weave it through spells. He’d find a means of countering it before he came here, of that I was sure.
“You cook for me often enough. It’s only fair that I return the favor.” A smile tugged at Aiden’s lips as he collected the plates and took them over to the sink. “Luckily for us both, I’m very good at making steak and chips.”
“Does that mean there’s no dessert?”
A wicked light flared in his eyes. “That depends on your definition of dessert.”
I raised my eyebrows even as desire began to unfurl. “I was talking about a sweet that is usually eaten after a main course.”
“Oh, so was I.”
Anticipation stirred. “Are we talking before coffee? Or after?”
