Page 80 of Fallen Heirs

“Wow, that’s… thank you.”

I didn’t really know what to say.

He was putting it all out there, so openly too. Making it clear that he didn’t just approve of my relationship with his son, but that he valued it too, and he supported it.

With everything I’d heard about the King of the Dark Fae, I really hadn’t expected this.

I mean, it had been a big enough deal that he’d compromised with this situation, then even agreed to train me too.

This, though? This was another level.

He chuckled at my reaction, telling me, “You’re modest and willing to learn. It’s a rare trait in one so powerful.”

“Especially one with celestial blood, yes?”

“Yes,” he admitted.

“I ran from this world for a long time, from my own heritage. The nature of it has always overwhelmed me, but your son taught me that fear is a useless emotion, only serving to hold back greatness. I was able to move past that, but there has been a steep learning curve and I know to become who I’m expected to be requires constant learning and being open to admitting that there is a lot I don’t know, that I could improve upon.”

“Who you’re expected to be? You’re referring to your mother’s legacy?”

“Her power level. Not so much her legacy, as I can’t see myself becoming a member, let alone, a leader ofExemplar. I thought right after her death that it was where I was supposed to be, to be her heir in that sense. But the way things are, and with self-reflection, it’s become clear that her path doesn’t suit me. It doesn’t fit.”

A knowing smile played on his lips. “You don’t wish to rule, you wish to protect.”

I started in surprise at him putting that together from me not even actually touching on it in any concrete terms. “Yeah. How did you—”

“The way in which you’ve responded to the situation of yourspecial abilitycoming to light. If it were Abigail, she would have transcended the worry and worked to cement her power, to make the supernatural world accept it, come hell or highwater. She wouldn’t have considered more power a detriment or something to be feared and she wouldn’t have accepted it as such either, despite cries from the supernatural world. Others possessing greater power, yes, but not her own. Because it was celestial borne. She believed she was above it, an exception, if you will.”

“She and I have had different experiences. I recently had Constantine wield me like a weapon and use my magic for his own ends through mind-controlling me. Not to mention, Ilikea little darkness and I don’t want to shy away from it or fear it, while all she did was fear it, and it hurt her.Don’t let fear and grief guide your life, like it has mine far too much.That’s what she said to me before she died that night.”

“We won’t allow it to come to that for you. Besides, you have a fantastic example in my son. He can walk the line between the dark and the light exceptionally well without allowing it to control his actions or weigh him down.”

“I know. He’s really remarkable. It’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with him.”

He smiled out at me.

As we made it outside to the gardens, I said, “I know my mom made mistakes, but she did try her best. She dedicated her life to her work.”

“I know she did and I’m truly sorry that she had to perish. Especially for the loss that it is to you.”

“Thank you.”

We continued walking, making our way through the gardens, headed to some heavy foliage—or what passed for foliage in the Dark Fae Realm. Black flowerless and leafless trees whose branches were winding and twisted and possessing a ton of spikes.

“You know, there is another reason why I went along with this so easily.”

He arched an eyebrow.

“What you did for me… siphoning the black magic out of me and taking it into yourself to spare me… you saved me. I don’t take that lightly. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome it and break Constantine’s mind control.”

“In time, you would have. You’re stronger than you realize. Alas, time was not on our side. And as I understand it, you spared me too when you refused to allow me to take it all.”

“I couldn’t exactly let you die for me, could I?”

“You can’t let anyone, can you?”

“No. No, I can’t.”

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