Page 85 of Fallen Heirs

“What prompted the change?”

“Um… well… I guess, the shifting climate in the supernatural world, the—"

“We wanted to spend more time together,” my dad cut in.

So itwaslike that then.

I grinned. “I see. Interesting,” I said, eyeing my dad pointedly.

Vanessa’s cheeks heated and she walked to my dad and told him, “I’ll leave the two of you to it. If you need me, I’ll be upstairs.”

“Thank you, my darling,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.

She gave him that beaming look again, before nodding politely at me, then hurrying out of the lab.

“Well, well, well. What a spectacular turn of events this is.”

My dad rolled his eyes and crooked his finger at me. “Fine. Have at it with the questions.”

“She’s not buttoned up or reserved like your previous type.”

“One of the things I enjoy about her. She’s bubbly and bold, open and spirited.”

Wow,this was something else.

“You’veneverdated. Hell, you’ve been celibate since Mom. How did this highly unexpected development come about?”

He shifted his weight, emotion flaring as he revealed, “Before Abigail perished, her last wish for me was not to remain alone forever, to re-open my heart and find a way to love another again. Let’s just say that it hit home in a big way.”

“I can imagine.”

“I’d taken an interest in V for a few years, but she was my employee and I don’t mix business with pleasure. At least that was the excuse I told myself in order to bury any sentiment toward her. Until things shifted, until Abigail’s death put certain things into perspective, as the loss of someone close usually does.”

“And now she’s your apprentice.”

“She’s an impressively powerful sorceress who lacks some of the necessary refinement with her spells and some finesse. I needed someone I trusted to assist me with identifying all the magic of Abigail’s that had fallen due to her death, everything Ineeded to re-erect, as well as the spells that would be required of me for each. She’s been instrumental in that regard.”

“And it’s been nice working alongside someone you’ve taken a romantic interest in.”

“Yes. My bright spark through all the madness of late.”

“This is fantastic news, Dad.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he said, a little shyly.

I smiled, it was a world away from the all-powerful sorcerer everyone knew. It meant that this was no brief dalliance to him, and that he was smitten with her.

“Now, let’s get to work, shall we?” he said with a clear of his throat.

I followed him over to the table that his new love had set up for us.

Time to get to work indeed.

22

~Orpheus~

Xavier and Elliot were taking longer than I’d expected to figure out why Constantine had taken a sliver of the former’s magic and to what end, especially in regards to the monster claiming he could reverse the vampiric change for his sireling.

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