Page 243 of A King's Oath

“Really.”

Her eyes fell closed. Then they snapped open in panic and her body twisted until she was whispering something in Ava’s ear. He was shameless enough at this point to keep his ear out forwhat that was but couldn’t catch it. He tried to read Ava’s face and it was suddenly struck. Bewildered.

“Share with the class, ladies,” he joked. But his daughter turned to him with small, sad eyes.

“Brahmi?” He closed his other hand over hers and rubbed it. “What happened?”

She swallowed. “Nothing.”

Samarth glanced up at Ava but she was silent. The car honk made him snap out of the tension and glance ahead as it rolled down Ava’s lawn. He got out and helped them out one by one, picking up Brahmi when her dress kept tumbling into her feet without the heels. She wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his shoulder, even the skin of her cheek feeling sad to him. How could he feel her skin’s sadness?

“Are you sleepy?” He asked quietly. She shook her head.

“You didn’t like the food?”

She shook her head.

“Do you want to go again tomorrow?”

She didn’t shake her head but Ava glared at him. This was it then? She wanted another ball? He would host a thousand of those to make her smile again.

“Come on, baby,” Ava took her down at the door, slipped her tiara off and smoothed her hair. Go and change into your pyjamas first. I’ll be there to wash your face in a minute.”

“Bye, Sam,” she waved at him, suddenly looking not like the little lady but like a tiny baby. He wanted to gather her up and pack her home with him. Or roll up around her and stay here.

“Bye, baby,” he smiled. Without returning that smile she turned and went in. Ava closed the door behind her and he stepped close to her — “What is with her? What happened suddenly? Did I do something wrong? If she wants to go again tomorrow we can…”

“She is scared that if her father comes from South America then she would have to go with him and not you.”

He stilled. His eyes squeezed shut and a tear wrung out. The soft pad of a thumb came to brush it away.

Samarth opened his eyes. “What do I do?”

“Are you ready to tell her?” Ava asked.

“That I am… that… I am her…”

She nodded.

“Are you?” He croaked.

“You are not going anywhere, right? Samarth this will be serious now. Everything. I will not allow you to leave ever again. And if you do, I will not sit quietly and get lost in oblivion. The world will know, your family, your kingdom will know and my daughter will get her father back by hook or by crook.”

He grabbed her face in his hands and pulled her close — “She already has.”

Ava blinked.

“You have left me at every turn. I don’t know why I am entrusting you with the most important, fragile thing of my life but,” she shook her head malevolently. “I am taking this leap of faith so that my daughter does not have to continue living her life without her father. She… hasn’t stopped talking about you since the day she met you. Every time you leave she waits, asks, thinks aloud about you. She craves your presence, craves yourattention like she would a father’s. She doesn’t understand these feelings yet but I see them and Samarth, don’t you dare walk away from her.”

“Come. What. May. I am not leaving her, or you, behind.”

Her throat worked a swallow.

“Tell her you always wanted to come.”

“I wanted to.”

“Tell her you would have traded all the world to come to her.”

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