Page 57 of Tyr

Her eyes flew open. She sent out a mental blast to pinpoint her father’s mental signature.“Papa?”

She couldn’t feel him anywhere.

“Celeste? Is that you?”

Tears flooded her eyes. She sent out another blast. The voice sounded like her father, but she still couldn’t locate him. “Papa. Where are you? I can’t find you. Why can’t I sense you?”

“I’m… at the house… It must be the wards your mother put on it. I was able to break a few of them, but not all.”

Her house? He was at the house? But why?

Celeste went cold. Had he gone after her mother for what she’d done, and things had gone wrong?

“Celeste?”

She pushed tears from her eyes.“I’m coming to get you.”

“No,”he said.“No, Celeste. I don’t want you to get hurt. You have to stay away.”

Not get hurt? She was the reason her father was being hurt. It was her fault. She was to blame. Guilt twisted in her gut. She never should have called to him. She should have handled things on her own. She should have been stronger.

“Can you walk?”She fought to formulate a plan.

“I…”Her father cried out.“My legs are shattered in too many places. I… can’t.”

Shattered legs would take at least five days to heal. At least a day before he might be able to bear weight on them enough to get away. Who knew what her mother would do to him before then. She had to get him.

“Papa, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

“It’s okay, Celeste. I’m just glad you aren’t here at home. Where are you right now? I haven’t been able to sense you at all.”

How wasn’t he able to find her in the Underworld? Did Tyr’s estate have some kind of wards on it as well?

“Why haven’t you called me? Why didn’t you call Tyr? It. It doesn’t matter. I’m coming.”

“No, Celeste. Whatever happens, don’t come here. Don’t—”Her father screamed, and the connection dropped.

“Papa? Papa? Dad!”No answer. Tears dripped from her eyes. If the connection dropped, it meant either he was unconscious or… She didn’t want to think about that. She couldn’t think about that. She had to get to him.

Celeste stumbled to her feet and cracked open the door to the bathroom. She couldn’t see Tyr where he sat. She should get him. Tell him what happened.

No.

If she told him, he’d never let her go. He’d insist on leaving her at the compound while he went to find her dad.

Anger bubbled inside Celeste. Her mother. Her stupid, angel-born mother had her father captive. And she was hurting him.

Something inside Celeste opened up, and rage flooded her. Her gentle, sweet father. He’d gone there for her. To protect her. To save her. And her mother had shattered his legs. Shattered them. And who knew what else.

Enough was enough. She had to stop her mother, once and for all. And she was the only one who could. Yes, Tyr could hurt her mother, but only Celeste could end it.

Without waiting another second, Celeste darted for the exit and bolted onto the street before flagging down a taxi and diving into the backseat.

“Long Beach.”

The cabbie nodded and pulled away from the curb.

Celeste threw out her mental ability, looking for her father. Nothing.

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