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“He’s my father, Leo.”
Wendel’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “His name isn’t Leo.” He glanced at me. “Your father? God, I don’t know how I could have been so blind. I should have seen the resemblance the moment we met.”
My hands twisted the sheets. “Who is he?”
“We both know the answer to that. Tell me the truth. Why did he send you?”
“He didn’t send me. I’ve never met him!”
“Was this part of an elaborate plan to seduce me and lure me back?” He curled his lip in a sneer. “I must say, I’m impressed. You almost had me convinced.”
My jaw dropped at his arrogance. “What’swrongwith you?”
“Many things.”
“Wendel, I swear I have never met my father. I don’t even know who he is, or why you are so fucking afraid of him.”
“Afraid?” His eyes glittered. “You would be a fool not to fear him yourself.”
“Whoishe?” The words exploded from me.
“Thorsten.” His face froze into a mask. “Your father is Thorsten Magnusson, the Grandmaster of the Order of the Asphodel.”
His answer hit me like a slap. I sank back onto the mattress. My stomach writhed with uncertainty and disbelief.
“The Grandmaster?” I repeated. “Your leader?”
“Yes.” Bitterness saturated Wendel’s voice. “My master, my tormentor.”
The blood drained from my face. “No,” I whispered.
“You fooled me, I admit. I can’t believe I fucked you.”
Rage roared to life inside me like a wildfire. I grabbed my scattered clothes from the floor and began tugging them on roughly. “I can’t believe I fuckedyou. You’re nothing more than a pretty boy with a fucked-up past.”
Wendel jerked away from me like I had physically struck him. “You don’t know me.”
“You’re a bastard.” I glared at him while struggling with my boots.
“I’m flattered.”
“Don’t congratulate yourself. Whatever the Order of the Asphodel did to you, they broke any sense of decency you had.”
Loathing burned in Wendel’s eyes. The intensity of it took my breath away.
“Ardis.” His voice cracked on my name. “Of course I’m broken. They pushed me past my limits. I could blame them for everything I have become, but that would be a lie. I have done unforgivable things for them.”
“Why the fuck did you vow loyalty to me?” My vision blurred.
“Because you saved my life.”
Tears escaped from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. They betrayed my emotions when I didn’t want him to see me cry. I grabbed my sword. My fingers shaking, I fumbled to buckle the scabbard to my belt.
I needed to get away from him.
“Ardis,” he said. “Wait.”
I reached for the door. “Don’t follow me.”
