Page 69 of Heirs of the Cursed

“For the looks of it, I think Sadira’s mother would applaud you.”

“Or drown me with her water powers to wipe out the competition.”

Darcia laughed heartily before feeling a strange nervousness entwine with her insides.

“I was wondering if you had a minute to talk to your old father,” he asked.

“I always have time for you.”

Gion took his daughter’s hands in his, caressing them tenderly. “You have been with me since you were a child, the greatest blessing the goddesses have bestowed on me.” He caressed her face lovingly, his own features contorting with repressed emotions. “When I found you, my life changed completely.”

“Father . . .”

“You’re my greatest pride, Darcia. From the first moment those eyes met mine, they promised to be with me. Despite all my mistakes and everything you’ve had to endure, I hope you know that there is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t do for you.”

“I know,” she said. “I know, and I understand.”

Her father offered her the ghost of a sad smile. One that conveyed an apology and something else entirely as he said, “Iwould love for things to be different, but I think it’s time we are honest to one another.”

Blink.

Heartbeat.

“What do you mean?”

“Dawnfall is no longer safe for you. The arrival of the Royal Army is proof of that,” Gion explained with weary eyes. “It’s only a matter of time before violence is unleashed on the city in search of the princesses. Goddesses forgive me, but I don’t want you to be a victim of their rampage.”

“Father . . .” she tried again.

“You can’t stay here any longer, my child. Not when your life hangs in the balance.”

Darcia swallowed nervously. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

She did understand, but she didn’t want to. Because her father was urging her to leave, to abandon him, when doing so could put his life in danger . . . When Conrad figured out what she’d done, there would be no one left to protect their father from him.

I can withstand every blow, every threat, she wanted to say.

Gion pulled a bag from his jacket and placed it in front of her, motioning for her to open it. She watched it with puzzled eyes as her hands descended to the strings that guarded its contents. A gasp of surprise escaped Darcia’s half-opened lips at the shimmering gold vramnias that laid inside. Two hundred coins that rattled her heart at the opportunity it offered.

Her freedom.

“It’s enough money to pay for a horse and go somewhere safe. You can leave with Caeli, if that’s what your heart dictates,” her father offered. “You have three weeks to arrange everything. Three weeks and your life will be yours to live it to the fullest.”

Bitter tears overwhelmed her eyes and fear paralyzed every muscle in her body. “No, I won’t do it.” She shook her head repeatedly. “I can’t leave you here.”

“Darcie,” he called out to her and took her face in his hands. “Enough.”

“No, I’mnotleaving you.” Darcia sobbed. “You’re the only family I have.”

“Listen to me. It wouldn’t be forever. You could find a home, do something you truly enjoy . . . Perhaps study at one of the dryadalis academies you were so mesmerized about as a child, beyond Mubarak Forest. You could marry Caeli,” her father told her with joy. “I’d come find you after taking care of Conrad. He can make a life for himself in other ways.”

“I don’t want him to make a life for himself some other way, because that would mean other people would have to pay the price for my freedom,” she said. “Innocent people. I wouldn’t be able to run away and be happy knowing that.”

Gion shook his head. “I don’t know who you get it from.”

“You, of course,” she whispered with a gentle smile on her face. “You raised me right.”

“Lisabetta would have loved you very much.”

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