Page 45 of Fallen Heirs

“Excuse me?”

“You’re teaching her how to hunthim.”

“Listen, Ore—”

“It hasn’t been possible via magical means, so she’s asked you to school her in another way.”

“You’ve known this for a while, I assume? Your lack of surprise is a dead giveaway there. You knew it wasn’t just a skill she wanted to learn for the hell of it.”

“Yes.”

“Then why wait all this time to bring it up?”

“I’d hoped she would tire of it when she came up empty, when it proved fruitless, or when her anger waned a little as she worked through her grief.”

“It’s not just the grief of losing her mom because of that asshole, it’s what he did to her personally too, and what he did to us, the men she loves.”

“X, this is—”

“Look, if you’re that concerned, why haven’t you said anything to her?”

“Because she’ll think I’m trying to control her, like I had to do with the black magic sickness. You know how she is when it comes to her freedom.”

“So you think you can controlme,is that it?”

“I think I canreasonwith you.” He looked me over, frowning. “Or, I used to be able to.”

“I’m not beyond reason,” I assured him.

“Your guilt seems to be making you so.”

“Ore—”

“You said you’d help me, Xavier.”

“And I am. Directing all her pent-up energy, grief and rage into this, rather than something more destructive.”

“I beg to differ. You’re giving her the tools to do a lot of damage.”

“That’s not—”

“She wants vengeance and you’re giving it to her. It may be in small doses, but those will build up.”

“Andyoudon’t?”

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t want vengeance for what he’s done?”

He sucked in an uneven breath, even just that slight reaction giving himself away to me. “That doesn’t matter.”

I scoffed. “Wow, my dad has really worked wonders on you.”

“What does that mean?”

“You actually don’t see it?”

“Make your point,” he grunted, getting agitated. He liked to know everything and me suggesting there was something that had escaped his notice was no small thing for him.

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