Page 78 of Research with Rivals
No matter what kept my father from us, it had been twenty years. I was entitled to my own feelings on that fact.
“Evelyn,” he started. “I know your friend told me to wait, but I couldn’t. I’ve been waiting for so long. If you need more time, that’s completely acceptable, but I need to find your mother.”
He took the words right out of my mouth.
“You didn’t leave us?” I whispered.
He shook his head before I finished the question. “Never.”
“But your route … I traced it.”
His head tilted, and then he seemed to understand the question. He opened his hand, and it held a diamond ring. “I wasn’t making deliveries the day I went missing. I snuck off to buy this for your mother.”
Suddenly, I was having trouble seeing. Something blurred my vision, but he kept speaking.
“I’m not sure how much you know about the fae, but we don’t marry like the humans do. We take life partners, but it doesn’t have the same ceremony—or the same symbolism as the human act of marriage.” He rubbed his hand across his face. “And your mom had never asked, but especially with you in the picture, with your fire magic manifesting, I wanted to offer her something human for our family. It was supposed to be a surprise.”
“You wanted to ask her to marry you?” Tears ran freely down my face now. “A fae wanted to marry a human.”
He shook his head a little, confused. “Not a fae and a human. Me and your mom. But now, I don’t know how long it’s been—I gather it’s been years. I don’t know what her life looks like, or ifthere is still room for me in it, but I have to try. I’m sorry if this steps on your decision to speak to me, but you’re my only lead to find her.”
A whisper escaped my lips. “I needed you.” And once I’d said one thing, I didn’t feel like I could stop. “I needed you to teach me about my magic.”
Something broke in his expression, and a tear slid down his cheek. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for this to happen.”
Rationally, I knew that. The mist plague had been uncontrollable. A natural disaster that still impacted more families than just mine. Some for much longer. There were stories of those in the northeast who had awoken to find their families had passed away, because it had been hundreds of years since they fell asleep.
I knew I was lucky to hear these words, to have this chance, but I also didn’t know what to do with them. They didn’t change the fact that he hadn’t been there. I needed time.
“Mom is in Sandrin,” I said. “She works at Compass Books.”
Hesitantly, he put a hand on my shoulder, not coming any closer. “Thank you. I assume you need time to digest what I said. I’m sure it’s too late, but I’d be happy to tell you anything I know about your magic.”
I nodded. “I’ll be back in the city soon.”
He glanced over my shoulder. I knew without looking that Ambrose stood behind me, just out of earshot, even if the others were going about their business.
“I’ll make sure to leave word of how to find me with your Mom.”
I didn’t think it was a betrayal to say what I did next. In fact, I thought it would only speed along the happiness Mom deserved. “She’s been waiting for you. Even when I told her it was pointless.”
The words he wanted to hear landed, even as his face crumpled at my second truth—that I had not believed he was coming back. He nodded. “I hope to make it up to you. If you let me.”
Then he turned and ran, too eager by half to get to Sandrin. I’d been too overwhelmed by his words, by what he said, by the decision to share about Mom, that I hadn’t even thought to ask questions about my veil cat.
As he flung himself into the forest, he shifted. I saw his animal. He was feline, yes, but something in my stomach plummeted when it took shape. The cat that loped into the woods was all black.
He was a panther, not a veil cat.
32
Evelyn
I’d done the right thing, I’d sent Stephen—my father—to Mom. Still, my body shook as he sprinted away.
He wasn’t a veil cat shifter. My father didn’t have the answers I needed. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t been there. It didn’t matter that Mom was right, and something terrible had happened to him.
He could not have helped.
