Page 62 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

"That’s not him. I’ve met him. You’re lying. Lea, they’re lying to you." Her dad tried to stand, but was immediately pushed back down by Gray’s shadows.

Lea cringed as she heard his elbow crack against the arm of the chair. "A little more gentle, please?" she asked Gray. She was angry with her father, still felt abandoned and hurt, but she didn’t want him to be in pain.

"Oh, Vincent?" Erik said, bits of crackers flying from his mouth as he tried to speak. "Big, tattooed guy? Yeah, he’s with us. Any more questions,kidnapper?" Erik coughed. "Man, these are dry… Could I get some water?"

Janelle walked to Erik, handing him her water bladder. "Lots of threats against Lea’s dad for a guy raiding the pantry. You must not find him too much of a threat."

"Mmmhm." Erik swallowed down big gulps of water. "He won’t hurt her. I watched him raise her, if you’ll remember. But," Erik stared down the shadow-trapped man, "if you try to take her from us again, my confidence in you ends, and so does my generosity. Did I miss anything Gray?"

"If I let you free, will you behave accordingly and tell us why you’re here?" Gray asked, rather calmly for the situation.

"You’re planning on overthrowing your father? Stopping the Lonely Death?"

"It is not a plan. It is a reality. Answer my question." Gray snapped.

"And who will lead in his stead? You?"

"Me. And your daughter." Gray wrapped an arm around Lea’s middle, tucking her against his side tightly.

"And you trust him, Bug?" Henry's tone went soft.

"With my life. With this kingdom. I trust him with everything I am."

Lea’s father hung his head and tried to steady his breath. He pressed his lips together, inhaling slowly. "Then I guess I owe you an apology." He bravely met Gray’s eyes. "No more magic. There are things I need to tell you all. To protect Lea."

Gray released him from his shadow’s hold. "That is one thing we can agree upon." Reaching forward without letting go of Lea, Gray grabbed a sturdy wooden chair and sat down, pulling Lea into his lap. Lea’s cheeks warmed. She’d never so much as hugged Thomas in front of her father before, and now here she sat on the Night Prince’s lap.

"Mine," Gray rasped in her ear as Erik plopped onto a soft, deep green couch, Janelle settling beside him as Emma moved to the floor in front of the fireplace. Noah leaned against the wall just behind Henry, his eyes never leaving him as his hand remained on his sword. Lea felt a pulse of pride from Gray, and without a doubt, she knew Gray was thankful that Noah was focusing on protecting her.

"What was so important you had to kidnap my mate rather than come to speak to us during daylight?" Gray asked pointedly.

"It has to do with Mom. Doesn’t it?" Lea placed her head on Gray’s shoulder, grabbing his hand to ground herself.

"What did you see, Bug?" her father asked gently. "The stars guided you here. They were pointing you right toward this cottage, the garden with the moonflowers. I saw them. I had to bring you here, to this place. The garden. What did it show you?"

"How did you know I would see anything?" Lea’s mouth went dry.

"I learned of this place long ago. When I saw the stars pointing you in this direction, I knew the goddess would show you something. What was it?" Her father’s eyebrows were lowered, his jaw tight and his eyes bright. He knew more than he was letting on… Who else would have known of this place? And further, who would have known that this is where she would learn the truth?

Lea pushed down her doubts. It didn’t matter how he knew. Erik was right. Her father may have abandoned her, but he wouldneverhurt her. "Queen Emmaline. Her murder. And then mom was there. But that was hundreds of years ago. You’re human. It’s not possible that Mom—" Lea couldn’t finish the thought as pressure built in her chest, the tightness so intense it made her breaths come in shallow bursts.

Her father’s face fell, and he stood to come to soothe Lea, but Gray pulled her closer and stopped him with a deadly look. "Whatever you’ve kept from her, you will tell her. Now," he ordered sharply.

"Your mother and I… Well I think you know by now that we have magic." He sat back down and placed his head in his hands, taking a deep breath. "We’re also Fae."

"But I’m not," Lea whispered. A wave of disbelief crashed over her. And yet, through that disbelief, was a shred of relief. She’d known she was different. She’d had her suspicions.

"I’m sorry, Bug. We should have told you sooner." Henry’s voice was brimming with sincerity.

"Don’t say it. Please." Lea cut him off, wiping a tear from her cheek. She had wondered for months, ever since suspecting that her mother had possessed magic and didn’t tell her. The letter… the lack of resemblance… Lea was human, not Fae. She couldn't have come from Henry and Adelaide.

But that didn’t mean she could bear to hear it confirmed. She needed a moment to place a cast of shadows around her heart, to protect it from the truth that was about to shatter everything she’d ever known about herself.

Lea bit down on the bitter despair creeping up her throat before finally raising her chin. "I’m not yours. Am I?" The words physically hurt as they left her mouth, each syllable a razor’s cut against her vocal chords. "You’re not my birth parents."

Chapter 42

Adelaide: Twenty-Three Years Ago

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