Page 70 of The Botanist and the Beast

"Thank you," she said holding his arm. "Let's just watch him a little longer before we have to go."

The world blurred and they were back in their own time where they first started their conversation.

Theo stood there stunned. His heart banged in his chest and bile rose in his throat. Anger, confusion, and sadness tangled together.

"Are you my father?"

Chapter Forty-One

"Yes." Veil nodded.

"And Wynter is my mother?"

"You are the product of Wynter and I. The man that raised you is her brother, and the woman is his Chosen."

"But how is that possible?" His voice grew wobbly as he held back tears. "When did this happen? I don't understand."

"Wynter is an anomaly. That's what made me intrigued with her. There's never been a nymph of death and decay before or since. I didn't make her." He looked up at the sky. "I asked the stars if they made her since they act alone on rare occasions, but they claim they didn't. The only other creature that has appeared with no known origin is me. I watched her endlessly to try and understand how she came to be and why she was born to typical nymphs.

"Then one day, while lounging in a rose garden, she looked up and met my eyes. I thought I was mistaken but then she smiled and said hello. No other living thing had ever seen or spoken to me. I was hers from the moment I heard her voice. I don't know where she came from, but I know I was made for her."

"But how was I born? You're spirit. Do spirits reproduce?"

"While she was alive, we conceived you. Crafting life is what I do." He waved a hand, and a butterfly appeared and flew off. "But I had never created like the way my creations do until you. I had intimate relations with Wynter countless times, then one day she fell pregnant. It was a pleasant surprise to both of us.Watching her give birth to you made you both very precious to me. Both of you matter to me more than everything else I have ever made."

"If I'm so precious, why did I grow up without you both?" he snapped, harsher than he meant to. "Why did you give me away?"

"We thought you were simply a floral nymph, but it was immediately apparent you could also see me. You could also see other things children of the veil shouldn't. We didn't know what kind of nymph you were yet, but we knew if you were even remotely like Wynter, the king or someone else powerful would want you."

Veil frowned as he went on. "As you saw, the king was possessive, cruel, and persistent with her. He trapped her working of for him by promising to go after her brother if she didn't live her life in the castle. She didn't want you to go through the same or worse. So, she asked her brother to raise you in the human world where your powers would be muted indefinitely. He and Ophelia agreed without hesitation. The king agreed to not go looking for him as long as Wynter stayed working for him. It seemed to be the best choice since even when you only entered the wild's edges, your abilities always immediately reignited."

"Abilities?" he frowned. "I certainly don't remember having any nymph abilities until recently."

"There have been many signs."

"Like what?" Theo demanded.

"You are seen as highly attractive to humans like any child of the veil, and you sensed me whenever I decided to check in on you while collecting flowers. Those were small signs, though. The large ones appeared once you actually crashed into the belly of the wilds. You needed cattails for fire, and they sprouted simply because you called for them. And, of course, you found a kingdom that is invisible to all other children of the veil. I wouldadd that you've been the only one that's seen me, but you know that already."

"Adora saw it, too," Theo said, shaking his head. "She has no magic. I don't think that's a sign."

"Adora saw the kingdom when you held her hand," Veil corrected. "Had she not touched you, she wouldn't have seen it. You sisters are children of the veil and even they didn't see the kingdom until you walked them inside while you held their hands. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask them when I send you back."

Theo's mind spun as he tried to comb over his whole life.

"You can imagine a king would find a nymph that could see through enchantments very valuable. Ultimately, I don't fully understand your gift. Just like I don't understand Wynter's creation or your conception. My only theory is the stars had an accidental hand in both of you."

"Will I ever get to see Wynter?" Theo asked, though he was unsure if he even wanted to. "I see you. Why haven't I seen her?"

"She has complicated feelings about getting too close but she watches you on occasion. She hides herself from you. She tried to send birds to warn you about Adora's laced water. She also did her best to startle the horse to get your attention, and she woke you from your drugged slumber."

"She can see me outside the veil?"

"Wynter and I walk between worlds often. Like I said before, we are between life and death. In the corners of shadow and moonlight. We travel where we want."

"Is that why I feel a pull to go deeper into the veil all the time? Do I belong in the in between like you two?"

"That pull is Wynter's fault." Veil sighed and shook his head. "Curses have a cost for all those involved. Even the one who cast them must pay a toll. Chosens are picked for children of the veil when they are teens. The pull towards one another begins then.It's so quiet most don't notice it at first, but it grows until they find one another. It was time for the stars and I to decide who yours would be. The price Wynter paid was you. The moment she spoke the curse, she fused your fate with the king's son. You would be drawn back to the very place she tried to protect you from. If you fail to break her curse, you will lose Sebastian forever, and you will hate her. Your hatred would hurt her most of all." Theo looked away. "It seems the stars were right. I can feel your rage already."

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