AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’ve removed their memories of me,” I said.
“It’s temporary,” he agreed. “I needed to stop what they were doing. Once you’re twenty-one and all the spells end, their spell will end too.”
I nodded, and tears flooded my eyes. My parents were alive.
“They put your life in too much danger and I couldn’t risk it anymore. You're going to the dark king when you are twenty-one because of the chain of events my brother put in place.”
“You’re blaming my father,” I said as I glanced at Clay and then flicked open the pendant at the same time.
“I am,” he said. “Your mother wasn’t innocent, though.”
I blinked hard and stared at the pictures inside the locket. I smiled seeing the pictures, one of me with mum and one of mum and dad...
I glanced up at Clay and back to the picture. “Why are you in the locket and not my father?” My hand slammed over my mouth. “Oh...”
Clay visibly gulped.
“Oh… You told Kane everything?” I asked. I thought it was a dream. But now I knew it wasn’t. I now knew I heard it all.
Clay nodded, and I rose from my seat and strode around the room. “It all makes sense, the blood bond at the ceremony and I think I’ve just told Kane to do exactly what my mother did to you. That Aria is more important than me and protect her if I’m ever in danger.”
“Aria, it’s a beautiful name and suits her,” he said and hesitated as tears sprang into his eyes. “But no, that’s not the same as what your mother did. She left with you. I didn’t ask her to leave me,” Clay said. “But she wanted to protect you and she believed if everyone assumed you were Dan’s daughter, they wouldn’t be such a fuss over you.”
“And you, you gave me up so easily.” Tears laced my eyes.
“No Lacey, I didn’t, but I appreciated her concerns. She thought someone inside the kingdom would sell you out. In the end, we kept you a secret for a couple of years, then they adopted Lucas and tried to make it appear you were both adopted.”
“Everyone thinks I’m adopted?”
He shook his head. “The inner leaders knew who you really were since you were around five, that was thanks to your... Dan honing your magic. The rumours got out who you really were not long after, but we never confirmed them with anybody. But the last five years escalated wildly and, unfortunately, I gave Dan and Elizabeth a choice,” he said, staring deep into my eyes. I nodded. Waiting. “They disappeared and left you to live with me or they wouldn’t get to regret the day they didn’t.”
My eyes widened at Clay admitting he would have killed them off. “Where are they?” I asked.
“They don’t remember you. You can’t see them yet.”
I sighed as I thought of that; I knew what it meant. “Where are they?” I repeated, my voice low but firm.
“They live in a small cottage at the perimeter of my land.”
“Will they want the house back?” I said, though I cringed at my selfishness. I was becoming as hard as Clay, but I had a daughter now and I needed to know how to keep her safe.
“No, they’ve been more than looked after. The house is yours, unless you’d prefer to live here.”
I glanced around the office and shook my head.
“So, you’re my father,” I said. Clay nodded and looked more anxious than I’d ever seen him. “Makes sense. When my father was getting on my nerves and I’d come and visit you, I used to wish I lived here with you.”
Clay’s eyes glistened. “I’m sorry, Lacey, sorry that I didn’t fight harder for you, but I used to relish those days. Looking out of the window and hoping you were walking over the field to see me.”
I touched his hand. “It’s fine. Maybe a year ago I wouldn’t understand, but now I do. I couldn’t give up my daughter, but I don’t think you did. You were always there, always in my life. I never missed out on anything but calling you dad.”
“I’d be more than happy if you wanted to call me dad,” he said.
I smiled. “Do you want to walk with me? I need to see my daughter.”
He grinned and put his arm around my shoulder. We walked for the short way in pleasant silence.
“She looks exactly like you did,” he asked.
