Page 54 of A Hint of Delirium

Ansel shrugged. “I’ve never seen him before, so I don’t know. But honestly, Violet, you look exactly like your mother. You’re practically her twin. I don’t understand how Sage caught on.”

“How old is Kazimir?” I asked.

“Over nine-hundred years old.”

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “How old areyou?” I gasped.

“Clearly not nine-hundred years old, if that’s what you’re asking,” he remarked dryly.

“Obviously.” I rolled my eyes.

“Three-hundred and sixteen.”

My mouth fell open.

He raised a brow. “I think the term you’re looking for is ‘oh em gee’?”

I pushed his shoulder lightly. “That’s not funny, Ansel. You’re freakin’ old!”

“Does that bother you?”

I gulped. “I don’t know. I guess I’m more traumatized learning about Kazimir right now to worry about how old you are.”

He laughed. “Of course. Your psychotic fatherisa problem.”

“We don’t know if he’s my father,” I grumbled, leaning back on the sofa and exhaling loudly. “These are all just assumptions. I’d have to ask my mother to be sure.”

“Do you think she’ll tell you?” Ansel leaned his head back against the back of the sofa and looked at me.

I shrugged. “Who knows? She might keep it from me to stop me from looking for him. But I’m not looking to rekindle a parental relationship. I don’t want anything to do with him. He’ll kill me if given the chance.”

“He will. Especially if he finds out what’s inside you.”

Just then, our conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. With one last meaningful look at me, Ansel strode to the door. When he looked through the peep hole, he exhaled loudly with a huff.

“Open the door, asshole!” Alec yelled from the other side.

With great hesitation, Ansel unlocked the door and opened it for his brother, stepping aside begrudgingly to let him through. “Welcome,” he said sarcastically.

“Thank you,” Alec answered primly as he adjusted the collar on his white shirt, strolling inside and peering around at the apartment as if it was his first time there. “Lovely to see you again, Violet.”

“Charmed,” I replied dryly.

Ansel locked his door and approached his brother. “What do you want, Alec? Don’t you have your own place?”

“Did she tell you?” Alec pointed to me but kept his attention riveted on his brother.

Ansel nodded. “About Kazimir? Yes.”

“This is a problem, Ansel!” Alec shouted.

“She knows,” Ansel said calmly. “I told her about him.”

Alec started pacing. “It makes sense. He was one of the handful of Unseelie who were sent to the human realm twenty-six years ago to find the host. He’s got to be her father!” He pointed at me accusingly.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I cut off his tirade and stood from the sofa to stop him. “For all we know, Santa Claus is my father. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”

“Good ole’ Saint Nick didnotbang your mom, no matter how much you wish it, darling,” Alec deadpanned. “Let’s face the facts. The deadliest Unseelie of all the fae is your pops, and if he finds out you exist, you’re dead meat, along with the rest of us.”

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