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“I told her that.”

Great.

So he had lied to me too just then?

“First and last one,” Papa added, and when he closed the door, I sat down on my bed with my arms crossed again.

“See why I’m not getting along with him? He’s not as trustworthy as he seems to be, Ves.”

“It was just one lie,” I told him, defending Papa.

Fennec let out a harsh laugh. “Only one lie he has told you. Millions he’s told me.”

27

Christmas was over in the blink of an eye, but as quickly as it came and went, Fennec made the time stand still whenever I spent the night with him.

He showed me how much he adored and loved me, and although there wasn’t much talking going on when we were alone, words weren’t needed when it was just him and me.

It was my nineteenth birthday, and after a fun day of playing more board games and watching movies with my family, I was feeling tired and ready to go to bed.

The holidays always wore us out when we were little, and I wondered what it would be like to spend Christmas and New Year’s in the forest.

Although it was only the thirtieth of December, there were already people lighting fireworks.

“Impatient,” Papa muttered as he walked into the living room in only his boxer briefs.

“Going to sleep soon too?” he asked, bending down to kiss the top of my head.

I was still sitting on the couch with my legs underneath me and a pillow in my lap.

“Yes, I think so,” I replied, smiling up at him.

“Did you at least have a fun birthday? Ate enough cake Mama made?”

“It was great, Papa. Thanks for spending it here with me. I would’ve missed you today,” I whispered, reaching out to grab his hand and squeeze it gently.

“I’m happy I was here for it too. Get some rest. We’ll be up late tomorrow.”

I nodded and leaned in to hug his waist with my head against his stomach. “Goodnight, Papa.”

He brushed along my hair, then pressed one more kiss to my head before I let go of him.

“Goodnight, sweetheart. See you tomorrow.”

I watched him go into Mama’s bedroom where she was standing by the door and giving me a quick wave. “Sleep tight, Ves. Happy birthday,” she said, making me smile.

“Goodnight.”

When their door was closed, I let out a heavy sigh and looked at my bedroom door before staring at Fennec’s.

He had been in there for almost thirty minutes now, but I expected him to come out again.

Putting the pillow away, I got up and walked over to his bedroom and knocked before opening the door.

“Fen?”

“I’m in here.”

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