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But not to her. Even the thought makes me sick. I have to give her the truth without exposing the mission. There’s no other option. I have to keep her safe first and foremost.

“Your father,” I begin, choosing my words carefully, “is involved with some bad people.”

I wait for her response. She nods in resignation, like it’s something she already knew and was just waiting for verification.

It makes sense. I guess Dax is right, in a way. It’s not like she could live here and have no idea what her father is up to.

I sigh. It was a pipe dream, but I really hoped she was totally ignorant. If only to prove Daxen wrong and make this easier on all of us.

Yet another reason why I can’t tell him anything. I’m already fucked after tonight. I well and truly pushed my luck with him, and he won’t care if she says she’s not involved. It won’t matter to him where the line is drawn.

If he finds out that she knows anything, he’ll be even more confident that she’s a problem.

And problems get eliminated.

“He’s been meeting with someone,” Idril whispers. “I don’t like him. I met him once, and he’s…” she trails off, frowning like she’s searching for the words to explain.

But I know exactly what it feels like to be around one of the Severed.

“Wrong,” I finish for her, knowing I’m right.

Her eyes light up in recognition.

“Yes,” she nods urgently. “Father has always been… unkind. But since he started meeting with that man the last few months, he’s been…” she grimaces, staring at her hands.

She’s sitting cross-legged, her shirt hanging off one shoulder, and even now I can see her collarbone jutting under her skin.

Too thin. She’s far too thin.

Taking a deep breath, Idril straightens.

“He’s not a good man.”

Tears swim in her eyes, and my heart hurts for her. She knows what kind of man her father is, but she’s clearly been helpless up until now.

Now she’s got a decision to make. This is the moment she has to choose.

She can either tell someone who can put an end to his shit, or she can protect him and keep her mouth shut.

Her decision will determine how I handle things moving forward. If she chooses him, it won’t matter what I feel—Daxen and even Gav will never allow her anywhere close to any of us.

If she chooses him, I’ll have to take her and run.

Fuck, how did things escalate so quickly?

“Are you—are you going to stop him?” Her eyes are so fucking bright it’s hard to look away.

“That’s the plan.” I hold my breath, waiting for her response. I see the moment she hardens herself to the man she’s called Father for two decades. She lifts her chin, expression set in determination.

Pride shoots through my veins.

“Good,” she says. We both ignore the way her voice cracks on the word.

A tear slips down her cheek, and she angrily swipes it away. “I don’t know what he’s doing, or who the man is that’s been coming here, but if he’s dangerous to other people, then he needs to be stopped.”

My brave, sweet Omega. I should have known. Of course, she’d never choose him.

“Idril,” I hate putting her in the middle, but I know I have to do this. “Is there anything you can tell me? Anything you might know or might have heard?”