Page 118 of Fallen Heirs

“I’m fine, but thank you.”

“Yes, I can see that you are. Your control is impressive. Most vampires become ravenous in the presence of Dark Fae blood, much like angel blood. And you didn’t even call your magic to calm the vampire. You managed it without.”

Shit, I had, hadn’t I?

I really had made peace with it.

He gestured at the door to Ore’s room. “Is my son awake?”

“I woke him up, but he’s settling down again.”

“Nightmares?”

I nodded.

“I’ll see to him.”

He stepped up to the door, but pulled up short and turned back to me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He looked me up and down studiously. “Orpheus isn’t my heir just because of his magical prowess. He’s my son, my blood. Just like you are to Elliot.”

So that was where he was going with this. “It’s different. Because of being a hybrid, I can never match my dad’s power level, never even come close.”

“It may have escaped your notice, but it hasn’t been raw power that has enabled us to survive this war. It has been smarts, strategy, thinking outside the box. And also magical knowledge, something you possess a great deal of. You demonstrated your ability to put that into practice very recently when you temporarily bound your lifeforce to Elliot’s in order to spare him. You were able to apply that knowledge and perform a high-level spell at a moment’s notice. Not many magical beings can achieve that. It’s not something to merely be shrugged off. As for more potent magic required to power certain elements of the supernatural world, that duty could fall to Alena and Orpheus, rather than remain a duty ofExemplar.Things are in a state of transition, so this would the optimal time to realign things in a more conducive way. There would be no need as a result for you to possess the same level of power as your father in order to follow in his footsteps.”

He was good, I’d give him that.

I couldn’t help smiling. “Thank you.”

“Merely giving you your due, hybrid. Soon to be the only known hybrid. Again, not something to merely shrug off.”

He winked, then opened the door and headed into Orpheus’ room.

I turned away and stood there mulling over what he’d said, and actually really started to think about the possibility of following in my father’s footsteps after all.

Voices within reached me.

“Father, I thought you were engaged in a fucking marathon with Marlowe?”

“I was. Your upset called to me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I wished you’d come to me with this immediately after your encounter with your mother, but you retired to this room right away demanding space.”

“I was trying to process it, but then I fell asleep.”

“Because she almost killed you. Are you ready to address that now?”

“Thanks to X, yes, I am.”

“Good, then let me tell you a few things about the real Lenora Hart that will provide you with some solace.”

“Okay.”

I smiled at the good track their conversation was on, then I headed to the far end of the corridor to the room Alena was staying in.

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