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He speaks the truth. That is something Hark always did, I realize. He never lied to me.
I can feel the red of embarrassment color my cheeks. His fingers work the ends of my hair. Like he’s afraid of touching me. My palm comes to rest over his beating heart.
I pull my hair back to reveal the scar hidden away from sight. Exposing my secrets is freeing and deathly scary all at once. “Remember this? I don’t think I am as angelic as you want to think of me as. I didn’t tell you how I got it. I got this the night my father found out I was pregnant with your child. The rage he flew into nearly killed me. Less than half an inch to the right and I would have bled out in the same place you died. So no. I’m not innocent. I don’t think I ever was. At least not after you, anyway. And you keep saying your past is this big shadow lurking over your present but you never say anything more. I’m all out of secrets now so it’s your turn.”
My hair falls back into place and it’s like a shield. The second it hides the scar my heart is back to beating normally.
He ignores me and just stands there twirling the ends of my hair around his finger. Right when I think we’re done, he speaks.
“My father forced prostitutes on me when I was a child.”
His eyes unfocus and I can tell he’s drifting to the past. “He would make me to watch him rape those women telling me they loved it rough. I could see the pain in their eyes as he strangled them seeking his own pleasure.”
“Dragon, I’m so sorry,” I say in a quiet voice.
His smile is small and tight.
“He was to your father what the Druid is now. Until your father had him killed.”
“Oh, God. I had no idea. I’m sorry.”
Dragon’s brows draw together. “Don’t be. I’m not. He needed ending. I only wish your father had done it sooner. Maybe I would be a different person.” His laugh is humorless and sends pricks of chills rushing over my body.
Millions of questions pop into my head but I seal my lips and let him speak.
“He was a professional killer and tried every day to turn me into him.”
There’s more there but I don’t press him for all the details. They will come when he’s ready. But there is one question I’m burning to know.
“Where was your mother?”
“Powerless against him when she was alive.” I hear him exhale a sorrowful breath. “I guess he succeeded in a way. I’m a killer. Blood stains my hands.”
I take his face in my hands, heartstruck yet again by this man. “You are a protector and sometimes to do that you have to do what some of us cannot.”
I grit my teeth and set my jaw. “Are you listening to me? I need you to hear my words. You are not your father. If he was anything like the Druid, there is nothing in this world that will convenience meYOUare anything but caring and protective of those under your care. Even if it kills you.”
My words make his eyes glint. Only I can’t tell if it’s for the good or the bad. Does he believe me or consider my opinion nothing more than smoke in the wind?
“You’ve been my lover, my guardian angel. Now it’s time for us to be parents.”
His head moves up and down. “Make the call. We will figure everything else out as we go.”
I put the phone to my ear but it does the same thing. Rings and rings. “There’s no answer.” My stress level climbs to heart attack levels but I don’t show just how freaked out I am. It wouldn’t do either of us any good for me to go into worry momma mode.
“Is that normal?”
His gaze falls to the glitter lips on my shirt then bounces right back up to mine.
I lift my shoulder. “I mean, do you answer strange numbers? She is probably being cautious.”
He gives me his back and his head falls back. When he turns back around a few seconds later there’s a change in his expression and not for the better.
“Our daughter is in danger and we can’t find her. Damn it, Asena. Had you not lied to me we could have had her here days ago. Why did you lie?”
My spine of titanium starts to liquefy under his heated glare.
Fuckhim.
