Page 57 of Blood and Roses

"He needs to hide his preference of you better, especially in front of the Seelie. You are safe in your cottage. I've put protections in place to make sure that no Seelie can cross its borders. It was the only thing that stopped Balthasar from going after you last night."

"Well, you can tell him I'm fine. Look, you just made it all better." She waved her hand about. "You really should get back to your people."

"You are my people too, Rosa. Don't forget that. I don't want anything to happen to you in the next few days, so please be very careful. If you see strange fae wandering around the property, steer clear and let Balthasar, Saul, or me handle it." He placed a hand on her shoulder in a fatherly gesture that made her chest ache with memory. "I hope once this is all over, you'll stay at Gwaed Lyn for a time, even if it's so I can give you the answers you've wanted all these years."

"Can you answer one now?"

"Of course," Eli said.

"What actually happened to my father?" Rosa watched the warmth leech out of his eyes.

"Someone tried to kill me while we were out hunting. One of the Vecchio clan that fancied himself a king. Your father got between us, and he was killed. It was a spontaneous human instinct to protect a friend."

"What happened afterward?" Rosa looked at her feet, her voice breaking.

"I killed the traitor, but the damage was already done. So in a moment of pure rage, I went to London, and I killed the whole clan. I drove them from Albion completely, and to this day, if any Vecchio tries to come here, I will be there to destroy them."

"I knew it wasn't an accident. Your vendetta against them is the reason you sent me away, isn't it?"

"Yes, I had to beg Cecily to do it. She lost both her husband and her child in the time span of a month. Don't judge her too harshly, Rosa. It was the hardest decision she ever had to make. She knew that you needed to be away from this place where you could be safe and free to grow and develop your own life and not be shaped by Gwaed Lyn."

"You both should've told me sooner. I've been so angry at her," she sniffed. "I thought she didn't want me around. That serving you was more important to her than raising me. I've blamed you, Eli. I blamed you for everything."

Eli pulled her close in an act of affection she didn't think he would ever show toward her. "I understand why you were angry, Rosa. Everything will be okay from now on. I'm sorry for all of the confusion and the lies over the years."

"Thanks for watching out for Cecily and me," she said stepping out of his embrace, "even when I was acting like a bitch."

"I will always look out for you. That's why I caution you gently towards my son. I lost him for many years over a human woman. I don't know if he could handle that kind of pain again."

"I won't ever hurt him, Eli. You have nothing to worry about…except for a house full of Gwaed Gam who like to fight with each other."

"It only needs to last another two days, and then all will be well and quiet again," he said as he straightened his tie and buttoned his jacket. "Watch out for the fae. All of them, not justCelyn. They are coming tonight, many of them more powerful than he is."

"Their charms don't appeal to me," she waved her hand at him, "especially after this."

"Well, Rosamund, if you are feeling better, I had best be on my way back to my guests. The ones that are awake are bound to be getting on Balthasar's nerves by now."

"Leave Saul to do the heavy lifting on the entertainment side. He seems to thrive off it."

"Yes, but I don't want him to start a clan war by thriving off one of their wives."

Rosa laughed before she could stop herself. "That sounds like Saul. Go. I will be able to find my way back."

"You have grown up to be an incredible woman, Rosa Wylt."

"Thanks Eli," she said as he opened the door for her, and she walked back into the cold tunnels.

For the restof the day, all Rosa could think about was what Eli had told her about her father and his need to warn her about falling in love with Balthasar.

Too late for that.Maybe it would take Balthasar to convince him that his feelings and hers were genuine.

That afternoon, she went back to the cottage to clear her head. She felt invisible eyes on her until she crossed into the garden and the presence lifted. Eli had said he had put protections on the house, but it was the first time she'd felt it.

Rosa looked at her hand. She had seen magic done.Realmagic. The world seemed a little bit more frightening than it had been a day ago.

Inside the cottage, someone had put a large box on her kitchen table. "What in the world?" She took the card out, thinking it must have been from Balthasar. She looked at the writing and felt a flicker of familiarity. It was the same as the letter that had summoned her home.

Dear Rosa,

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