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Xavier looks at me, completely dismissing my father. “I thought you said he was in your government and could help.”
“He is and he can, and you can stop talking about me like I’m not in the room with you. I can make some calls, but I can’t promise anything. It’s not as simple as you make it sound,” my dad tries to reason.
I knew this was going to be hard, but I didn’t expect it to bethishard. I should have expected it, though. It’s no secret that government is, at its core, slow.
“Dad,” I say, and he looks at me, frustration seeping out of him. “Xavier has offered to be a liaison between our two realms. A king is coming to you to try to keep his people safe. There has to be someone you can call or talk to try to make this work. There is a lot wrong in Solarem, and we’re trying to fix it.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with all the zombies, would it?” my mom asks from where she’s perched on the arm of the couch.
“It has everything to do with the zombies,” Essos confirms. “And the veil between the worlds being lifted. We’re working closely with the rest of the royal family to fix the situation and make both worlds safe, so my child—our child—can be born with nothing to fear.” Essos’s plea has me reaching for his hand and squeezing it.
“Will we get to meet them? The little one, I mean?” my dad asks, and I give him a smile.
“I would love that. For them to know both sets of grandparents,” I tell him, and damn it, my mother must be using some sort of new air freshener, because my eyes are watering again.
“Both sets?” Dad asks.
“Both. I got to meet my birth parents.”
“They’re safe from everything that’s going on, and well cared for,” Essos assures me, assures us all.
My dad nods. “I’ll make some calls, but first, tell me everything.”
So, I do. We spend several hours filling in my parents on what has happened, from the Calling to the truth about my existence as a goddess. We spare no detail, so they have the complete picture.
And when it comes time to leave, I find my heart breaking all over again.
After hugging my parents, I get on my knees before Spot. “I have a very important job for you, boy. I need you to keep them safe, and I need you to come get Xavier when my dad has a message to convey.”
Spot gets up and turns in a circle before sitting back down. I scratch behind his ears.
“Does he eat anything special?” my mom asks. I can already see her putting together a list in her mind of what she needs for him.
“He prefers human souls, the fresher the better,” Xavier says.
“He’s kidding,” Cat rushes to explain before my mom passes out again. “They eat normal dog food and love bacon.”
Essos gives me a look, censure in his eyes. “I wonder where they picked up their love of bacon?”
“Truly a mystery,” I agree. I hug my parents again. “This isn’t goodbye, I promise.”
I hate that it took dying for me to realize that loving Phil and Melinda didn’t mean I didn’t love my birth parents any less. Love is not a pie with a finite amount for any one person; it grows larger with each person you take into it. Someday, I’ll express that to them, but for now, this will have to do. It might make visitation strange, but I’m glad that our child will have not one, but two sets of grandparents who will love them beyond measure.
I just hope that my father is able to convince the President to come to the table.
CHAPTER11
I’m sitting outside, enjoying the sun after visiting my parents, when Helene appears at the foot of my lounge chair. I have another book in my hands, and I’m hoping it contains something about the Underworld that I don’t already know.
“You’re in my sun,” I tell her, glancing in her direction. The look on her face has me shutting my book and setting it to the side. “What is it?”
“Where is Essos?” She seems truly shaken for the first time in her life. There was horror when her father was killed, but underneath that was anger. Right now, she just looks terrified.
I shouldn’t be surprised when Finn and Dion appear beside her. Finn looks at Helene and then to me, and I mark how pale they are too.
“Did you tell her yet?” Finn asks Helene.
“Tell me what?”
