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Rowan shook her head, confused. What was he getting at?
“She sought me out to father her children. Enticed me from the woods, then rejected me.”
Rowan snorted. “She rejected you? Are you trying to say that you actually wanted us?”
His eyes narrowed, and his face darkened. “I wanted your mother and had no idea she’d been marked by the demon lord.”
Rowan exhaled, aware that it was nearly dark. She and Azaiel needed to patrol. “Why are you telling me this? It’s not like Kellen or I care.”
Darrick’s eyes narrowed, and she felt his anger. “Kellen will care one day when his legacies ascend. He’ll need me. He’ll need my protection.” Darrick exhaled. “Right now he’s vulnerable. He needs your protection. I can’t stop what’s coming. There are those who would tie my hands, but I can give you this . . .”
The fae held out his hand, and Rowan gazed upon a jeweled dagger. The hilt was inscribed with runes, and the power it held was impressive. It emanated outward, a soft glow of heat slithering along the sharp lines. “Take it,” he ordered.
Rowan glanced at Azaiel, but the Seraphim’s eyes were hooded, his mouth tense.
“What is it?”
“It’s a little extra power that I borrowed from my queen.”
She stared at it, not really sure what she should do. Her Nana had never trusted the fae, and yet . . .
“Just take it, Rowan. It may aid you in your endeavor tomorrow night.” At Rowan’s look of surprise her father snorted. “I know exactly what you’re planning, and I know how dangerous it will be.” His voice dropped. “I will do what I can to keep the demons at bay.” He arched a brow. “To aid in your quest. In exchange I only ask that you keep Kellen safe. Until he ascends I can’t bring him into my realm. I can’t even acknowledge him or my enemies will destroy him. Do you understand?”
Something twisted inside Rowan, a slice of pain she’d not been prepared for. “This is all about Kellen,” she whispered.
“Of course it is.” Darrick stood back, his expression unreadable. “What did you think it was about? You mean nothing to me, child, but your brother.” The fae nodded. “When he comes into his powers he will be a force to be reckoned with, and one day we will rule the between worlds together.”
His words hurt. After all this time, they still hurt. Azaiel grabbed her hand, and she leaned into him, eyes never leaving her father.
Darrick stepped back, his tall form slowly disappearing amongst the gray mist that encroached from the forest. And then he was gone.
“He’s one cold son of a bitch,” Azaiel said quietly. She felt his eyes upon her but couldn’t look at him. The dagger was heavy in her palm, and she clutched it tightly. For a few moments her gaze locked onto the empty space where Darrick had stood, then she carefully pulled away from Azaiel and nodded toward the trees.
“Time to head into Salem.” Her voice was light.
“Yes.?
?
“If anyone asks . . .” Her cheeks were pink, and she avoided his eyes.
Azaiel fell in beside her. “We were just talking.”
They started forward. “Strategizing about tomorrow night.”
“Going over all the details.”
They entered the silent darkness of the forest.
Rowan smiled wryly. “No one is going to believe that.”
Azaiel shook his head. “Nope. Not a chance.”
By the time they reached the bed-and-breakfast, Hannah, Nico, Priest, and Kellen had already left for town, along with most of the human hunters. A reported riot had broken out near one of the bars, involving demon and vampire mercenaries. Vicki, Abigail, and Terre were just leaving.
Vicki ignored Rowan though she graced Azaiel with a look that could kill. Terre stuck her tongue out at her twin and winked at Rowan as she climbed into Abigail’s beat-up jeep. The three of them sped into the night while Rowan and Azaiel quickly changed so they could join them.
Ten minutes later she was just about to hop onto the back of Azaiel’s Harley when her mother appeared, Mikhail at her side.
