Page 102 of Royal Beast
Max’s frail fingers twitch slightly against mine, his gaze soft but full of emotion. He lets out a shaky breath.
“I’ve been a damn fool, Darcy,” he says finally. “I thought I was doing what was best for you. I thought keeping you away from Kellan would protect you. I told myself he wasn’t good enough, that he’d drag you into a life you didn’t deserve.”
I swallow hard, my heart aching at the raw honesty in his tone.
“But the truth is… I was afraid of losing you,” he continues. “Of seeing you hurt, or worse, because of me. I thought pushing you away from him would somehow keep you safe. And in the process, I nearly lost you anyway.” His voice cracks on the last word, and I grip his hand tighter.
“You never lost me,” I whisper, tears threatening to spill over.
His lips quirk in a weak smile, but his eyes are glassy. “I almost did. And that’s on me. I see now that you’re happier when you’re with him. I fought so hard to keep you apart because I thought it was for the best, but I was wrong.”
A deep breath rattles in his chest, and his expression grows even more earnest. “Darcy, I don’t have much time left, and I can’t change the past. But I can do this for you. I can tell you that if Kellan is who makes you happy, then that’s all that matters to me now. I don’t care what mistakes he’s made or what life he’s lived. If he loves you—and I can see that he does—then he has my blessing. You have my blessing.”
Tears blur my vision as I shake my head, overwhelmed. “Papa…”
He squeezes my hand with surprising strength. “All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy, sweetheart. I love you, even if I didn’t always show it in the right way. You’re my whole world, kiddo. And I want you to have the life you deserve with whoever you choose.”
I let out a quiet sob, leaning forward to press my forehead to our joined hands. “Thank you,” I whisper.
Max exhales, his shoulders sinking into the bed as if a weight has been lifted. He gazes at me, his face a mix of sadness and pride.
“When you were born, you were so tiny,” he begins, looking out the window as he speaks. “But you had these big, fiery eyes, like you already knew you were meant to take on the world. I used to sit by your crib and wonder how I got so lucky, what I’d done to deserve you.”
His breath hitches, and he takes a moment to collect himself. “I wasn’t always a good father. I know that. I let my demons get the better of me too many times. But even without my help, you grew into this incredible woman. Better than I ever could have dreamed.”
I can’t stop the tears from falling now.
“I’m proud of you, Darcy,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “So damn proud. And I’m sorry I didn’t say it enough when I had the chance.”
“Youwerethere for me, Dad,” I manage, my voice shaking. “Even when you weren’t perfect, you were still my dad. You taught me how to fight, how to stand my ground. That’s part of why I’m here today. You didn’t fail me.”
He closes his eyes for a moment, a single tear slipping down his cheek. “Thank you,” he whispers.
The room falls quiet, but it’s a peaceful silence. I just sit there, holding his hand, memorizing every line of his face, every breath he takes, knowing this might be the last time I ever get to.
As I hold his hand, Kellan steps into the room. His eyes meet mine for a moment before shifting to Max. The tension in the air is thick, but Max doesn’t hesitate.
“Kellan,” he says, his voice rough. “I owe you an apology.”
Kellan stands still, his gaze softening. “You don’t owe me anything.”
Max’s breath hitches, but he pushes through. “I’m sorry for what I did. I know now that you’ve always been there for her when I wasn’t. I want you to look after her when I’m gone, okay?”
Kellan nods, his voice quiet but firm. “I’ll take care of her. I promise.”
Max looks at him with a rare sincerity. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. You’re a good man, Kellan. I know about how you paid off my debts, about paying for the hospital bills.” He pauses, gathering strength. “You’re a better man than I’ve ever been. I misjudged you. I’m sorry.”
Kellan’s gaze drops briefly, then meets Max’s with deep respect. “Thank you.”
He breathes in, the sound rattling and harsh, and then closes his eyes. I grab his hand and bring it to my mouth to kiss it.
“I love you. Say goodbye to Rose for me,” he whispers. Then he takes his last breath and suddenly, he’s gone.
An icy cold numbness spreads over me and I feel myself choking back tears, Kellan gathering me in his arms as I start to sob. I can’t believe it’s over. He’s gone. My father is gone.
My papa is dead.
I sob for a while, the torrent of emotions flooding me as I process everything. Once I’ve quieted down, I realize that Kellan has me sitting in his lap, the two of us perched on the hospital room’s chair together.
