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“Yeah. Though I always just thought he was an earth shifter. I wonder now, looking at Ade, if maybe he was lying and keeping secrets of his own.”
“I don’t mean this to be judgemental in any way, but doesn’t he deserve to get to know his daughter? Or at least Ade deserves a father. She seems pretty desperate for one,” Yas points out gently.
“Maybe. But how could I willingly let a monster back into our lives? What if he hurt Ade this time around and not just me? She doesn’t deserve that. And I’m pretty sure, knowing what her father was like, that if he is interested in Ade, it’ll only be because he wants to use her in some way. No doubt for her powers if he thinks she has control of all four elements.”
“Is that rare then?” I ask.
“Incredibly. Which is why I’m reluctant to return to France. I just don’t know what to do! And I’m sorry, all of you. I should have been honest about my abilities from the start, and Whit? I definitely shouldn’t have lied like that. It was the perfect opportunity to come clean and I took the coward’s way out. I’m just so used to hiding my powers to avoid detection that it came as naturally as breathing to deny it when you asked me. I’m sorry. I really do respect you more than that.”
On my part, there’s absolutely nothing to forgive. I can see that she’s genuinely sorry, and I can understand her behavior. After spending so long on her own, having to run and hide and protect Ade, it must be such an alien concept to have a network of people to confide in and trust. Really, we’re still strangers to one another, despite what the bond is telling us.
One look at Yas and I can tell he feels the same.
I glance at Whit.
He looks furious.
Ah, for fuck’s sake!
“Who’s Ade’s father?” he says through gritted teeth.
“Why?”
“Because I’ll kill him.”
“What? Why?!”
“You said he hurt you. Abusive, controlling.”
“It was a long time ago.”
“A leopard doesn’t change its spots. If it did, you wouldn’t mind him having a relationship with Ade.”
“True. But that doesn’t mean I need revenge for what he did when we were kids...or the stuff he did after whenever he found us. Honestly, I just want to put the whole thing behind us. I wish there were a way to keep him away, though, to stop him from ever finding us.”
“Leave it with me,” Whit growls.
“Without killing him!” Lumi adds sharply.
“Fine. I won’t kill him, but I will protect you and Ade. If you’ll give me a little time, I’ll sort this so that he can’t ever find you—”
“Thank you.”
“But, in return, I want you and Ade to stay here in Silver Springs and not go back to Val-d’isère.”
“But how will I manage Ade’s powers?”
“Together. We’ll all help. It sounds like Ade needs some reassurance and stability right now. So let’s give her that.”
Whit catches my eye and raises a brow. I nod. Yep, perfect timing.
“How?”
“Move in with us.”
“I–I can’t.”
“Why not?”
