Page 80 of Immortal Sins
Ambition and recklessness had molded me into something else entirely. I’m not ready to face him. How can he recognize me, when I’m not even sure who I am anymore?
“What did that devil prince do to you?” he asks, and the starkness in his eyes burns worse than the fire in my veins.
He’s not talking about my newfound immortality. No one knows about that, yet. He’s talking about the wedding. I guess Oz let that piece of news slip.
Dad narrows his eyes at my escort. “Erron.”
“Councilman Winslow,” the old Fae answers with a tinge of humour.
“You let this happen to my daughter?”
Erron scratches his stubble. “You haven’t changed one bit, I see. Fae aren’t the enemy.”
“What do you want from her?” Dad places himself between us.
The Fae offers my dad a lazy shrug. “Young love rarely makes sense to old, fatigued warriors.”
Dad snorts. “Love? Do you expect me to believe that’s all this is?”
I wave a hand in my father’s face. “Ask me, not him. I’m only eighteen, but I have a voice—and a brain.”
Earth magic thuds through the air in loud, powerful ripples. “Where is he?” Dad searches the darkness behind us.
I square my shoulders. “I told him not to come.”
“I want to speak with my daughter. Alone.” Dad brushes off freshly conjured sand from his hands. Last time I saw him so angry, I was ten. I’d used magic to paint in front of the whole class.
Erron brushes past us to chat with the others.
Dad’s voice quiets down. “I love you, Munchkin, but you don’t know the first thing about Faerie or the Seelie court.”
I grit my teeth. “I just came from court.”
“You’re under their spell. It’s not your fault,” he sighs.
I tug on my curls.
Despite my frustration with my father, I understand the paradox of Faerie better. To outsiders, the Fae seduce and steal mortals away to their realm. To the initiate, it’s a fair deal, but as long as magic is involved, as long as Fae glamors exist, and their power stokes the flames of our hidden desires, how can anyone believe it’s free will? Especially when our own society is built on the premise that lust is a sin.
And I’m a very pissed off sinner.
“Give me any antidote you want. I did this of my own free will. You need to listen to me.”
Dad was dragged through hell for falling in love with my mother, and my birth reshaped his entire destiny. Surely, he can relate to what happened in Faerie.
“I’m listening.”
I hug him and let tears mist in my eyes to present the picture of innocence. “Oz used angel dust on Cole to kill Miss Eillis. He’s sleeping with Allie,” I whisper quickly in Dad’s ear.
The patient, patronizing gaze disappears at the sleeping with Allie part. I’ve got his attention now.
“Are you sure?” Dad scans the crowd.
The dragon chats quietly with his agents, their eyes fixated on us.
“Don’t look at him.” I wet my lips. “He used angel dust on me, too, but failed. That’s why I left for Faerie. That’s how I ended up marrying Cole. I’ll explain everything in detail later.”
The President closes in on us. “Come, Miss Winslow. It’s time for you to honor our deal.”
