Page 71 of Fallen Heirs

“In a completely painless way.”

“It’s still a violation.”

“An unfortunate necessity. It’s also for her own good. If I can create a failsafe, a way to control this ability of hers that’s striking terror—and anger—into the hearts of all dark magical beings currently, she will be safe. They won’t hunt her. And we can all rest a lot easier.”

It hit me then. “You’re doing this for me.”

He smiled. “Of course.”

“It’s definitely not your usual approach when it comes to dealing with a threat.”

“No. But she’s important to you. You’re in love with her. I won’t take that away from you. I know how rare it is to find that even in several lifetimes.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “You are myson.I will always go out of my way for you. Your wellbeing and happiness is paramount to me.” He grimaced. “And I’m sorry we spent the last three years estranged. We had such a wonderful relationship and now we’ve reunited I want to recapture that. I’ve missed it. I’ve missedyoudearly.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

I took some time then looking around, watching the magical scientists at work.

“Do you really think this is possible? Fashioning a failsafe?”

“I do. We just need more time. Alena will be safe here from those hunting her, evenExemplarwhich will want her locked down too, until we’re able to create such a thing. Her being here also buysyoutime with your project. Elliot won’t be expecting you atExemplarnow because the consensus is that you were the one who spirited Alena away from Electi Academy grounds earlier. He’ll believe you are hiding her, keeping her safe. It will also stop him from conducting a search for her, because he believes she’s with you and therefore in no danger.”

“But if you’re right andExemplarwants her locked down—”

“He’ll conduct a fake search for her to appease them. It’s what I would do under such circumstances. The alternative of going afteryouto really seek her out is definitely not in his best interests or that ofExemplar.It would make an enemy of you and, by extension, me, at a time when allies are vital with Constantine still out there.”

I took his words in, all of it, analyzing the complications, the many complications of it all.

Rationally, his strategy was sound, an optimal plan, really.

But rationality wasn’t all that was at play here.

My love for Alena was.

Ourlove for Alena.

It couldn’t be denied and because of it, her wellbeing trumped everything else.

She’d already suffered through so much with Constantine, with being forced to remain somewhere against her will, to do things against her will.

I’d sworn to myself that I’d never allow anything like that to happen again. More than that, that I’d do everything in mypower to ensure nothing of the sort would ever come to pass again.

My next words to my father were me staying true to that. “I can’t allow you to keep her here against her will. No matter what.”

“Then talk to her. Make her understand.”

“I won’tmake her understandanything. I’ll explain the situation to her without any bias attached andshe’llcome to her own understanding.”

“Orpheus—” he started to protest.

“That’s a compromise. Especially compared to what I’d originally planned to do, which was to blast my way out of here with her without a fucking word.”

Clearly he’d realized that too, because he only took a moment to nod along. “As you wish.”

He took us back to the room and let me go in alone, agreeing to give me time with her.

I shuddered as I felt my magic sucked away with the vacuum again.

Fortunately, that awfully unsettling sensation was offset by the sight of Alena shifting in the bed and rousing awake.

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