Page 87 of Cursed Heirs

“I can using some high-level illusions.”

Pride shone in his eyes. “Let Edgar assist you. He’ll keep it quiet at my word.”

“First, I need to see to Alena, to spark the spell you infused her with, to begin the fight to free her from that madman. The idea of her being bound to him, especially in the ways it’s become clear she is… I can’t fucking stomach it. I’ve been trying to push it off, to focus on the war, on Xavier, on Talon, and on you, but it keeps rising up and threatening to undo me.”

“You love her.”

“I… can we not. Not now, Father.”

“Hmm. Your usual answer. I see you haven’t allowed things to progress there.”

“How can I with everything going on?”

“This isn’t about what’s happening around us. This is about you knowing if you admit it, you won’t be able to hold back in any way when it comes to her. Your passion and capability for love and adoration for another is such that you will be all in and unable to ever let go. And you fear that vulnerable part of you. At some point, though, you need to take a leap of faith.” He smiled sadly. “Otherwise you will miss out on something truly special, a love that can alter your life in the most amazing ways.”

“Wow, Father. This is… surprisingly heartfelt and romantic. Is this how you felt about Mom before things turned sour?”

“Her?” He scoffed. “No. Things turned sour fast there when I recognized her deception, her marrying me for proximity to power.”

“Why have you never mentioned this before?”

“Because you are her son. But you’re ready now. To know the truth—all the truths. It’s not her I’m talking about, but someone else whom you’re already familiar with.”

“Someone… current?”

“Yes.”

“Please don’t tell me it reallyisAbigail Rose.”

He screwed up his face. “Certainly not. It’s actually—”

The door flew open and Talon burst on in. “When I touched down, X told me that you have a way to bring Alena back to us,” he said, completely cutting through our conversation and bursting into my father’s room like it was fine to do so.

His usual blunt and brazen way of doing things—especially when he was worked up.

“Talon,” I admonished.

“Right, sorry.” He looked at my father. “Nice to see you again, Saryan. My bad for barging in, this is just too important to wait.” He came to me and laid his hand on my shoulder. “So? What’s the deal?”

I slid my hand to his cheek, stroking softly. “First, I need you to settle, or it won’t work.”

“Why? What is it? Does it involve me using the full force of my phoenix fire to fry that motherfucker, Constantine?”

My father and I exchanged a brief look.

Oh no.It was worrying that his mind had gone there. He was so on edge, his rage so close to breaching the surface.

This potential solution I had was needed more than ever.

And it needed to show some signs of success.

If it did, it would be enough to calm him and to hold that dangerous rage off, to deny Constantine the thing he wanted.

“No. It involves your mind.”

“My mind? Like a spell?”

“We’re going to access her subconscious.”

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