My Darling Girl

W hen River returned to Waterborn House, her childhood house was as silent as a tomb. The cleaning crews had departed, and the mansion was as immaculate as ever. There wasn’t a single trace of last night’s party. No decorations, laughter, or cheer.

There was no life at all.

River wished this was out of the norm for her childhood home, but this was how it had been for nearly two decades: cold and devoid of life.

But something…

Something was different. It was more than the lack of Tertia’s yelling—River assumed her mother had left for work. No, she felt the shift in the air the moment she walked through the back door and hung up the keys.

What was going on?

River kicked off her shoes, not bothering to see where they landed, before racing upstairs. Before she’d even realized where she was going, her feet had carried her to the wing that housed her father’s room .

Two nurses stood in the hallway, and she raced towards them on her socked feet.

“What’s going on?” River asked, skidding to a stop.

“Oh, Doctor Waterborn.” The shorter of the two nurses, Megan, turned around. The blonde human smiled, the skin around her eyes wrinkling. “It’s great that you’re here! I was just about to call you.”

Megan specialized in the Stillness, and she had worked with Cyrus for over three years as his primary caregiver.

River’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong? Dad, is he…”

A gentle hand landed on her arm, the touch reassuring. Megan said kindly, “He’s fine.”

The words should’ve calmed her down, but her heart was still racing in her chest. “Are you sure?” River placed her palm over her thundering organ, willing it to slow. “I thought… the air had shifted, and…”

I thought he died .

The words echoed through her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them. She wasn’t ready to lose her father, wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

She’d never be ready.

“No, there’s nothing to be worried about,” Megan reassured her.

“In fact, you arrived at the perfect time.” This came from the other nurse, Serena.

River wasn’t as familiar with her, but judging by her pointed ears and the red markings crawling up her neck, she was a Death Elf.

“We were just about to call Representative Waterborn, but this is better. Now, he won’t have to wait. ”

River’s eyes widened, and her gaze flew to her father’s closed door. “You mean?—”

“Your father is alert, Doctor Waterborn.” Megan’s voice was soft, and her smile widened. “We aren’t entirely sure what happened, but sometimes, patients in late stages of the Stillness have been known to experience brief moments of consciousness.”

“I was just coming to give him an injection when I found him awake,” Serena added softly.

River barely heard the last sentence. She was already moving, the door handle was already turning beneath her touch, and she was stepping inside her father’s room. She thought she heard one of the nurses say they would call Tertia, but their words barely registered.

The only thing she could see, the only thing she could focus on, were the light brown eyes blinking up at her from the hospital bed. Eyes that were mirrors of her own and had been empty of life for far too long.

A warped, choked sob wrenched its way out of her throat. Tears flooded her eyes, but she made no move to stop them.

“Daddy?” she whispered.

River had no idea how this was happening, no idea what had brought this about, but it turned out she didn’t care.

Honestly, it didn’t matter. How could it, when this was everything she had ever dreamed of?

She’d spent hours on her knees, begging Dyna for a miracle.

She’d read every piece of literature about the Stillness, every case study, and every single doctor’s entry, no matter how long or short.

Everything she’d done had been with the hope that one day, her father would look at her with recognition in his eyes once more.

And now…

Now Cyrus’s lips, the same ones that had been still for so long, were inching up. The smile was small, and his skin was unnaturally pale, but the expression was unmistakable. His eyes lit up, and he…

He saw her.

Waves of heat flooded her chest, and by the Blessed Obsidian Sands, it was the best feeling she’d ever experienced. She’d never been so happy… or at least, that’s what she thought.

Then Cyrus opened his mouth, and River realized this day was far better than she could’ve ever imagined.

“My darling girl,” her father breathed.

His barely audible voice was raspy from disuse, but River heard the words as though he’d shouted them at her. Nearly two years had passed since she’d last heard her father speak during the dinner where Ryker introduced Brynleigh to the family.

Her cheeks were damp, but she made no effort to wipe away her tears. She didn’t want to move at all, in case this was a dream.

Maybe none of this was real. Maybe Nikhail hadn’t given her the necklace. Maybe he hadn’t kissed her. Maybe the party hadn’t even happened yet.

If this was nothing but a dream, it was the most incredible one she’d ever had. It felt so real that she couldn’t imagine this being fake.

But what if it was? What if this was nothing but her overactive imagination? An anxiety-fueled dream? What if she’d just wished for this so long that her mind had decided to appease her delusions by giving her this gift?

Her hand traveled to her thigh, but she was afraid to pinch herself. What if the pain made her wake up, alone in her apartment? What if it wasn’t real? Was a dream so bad if it meant she got to talk to her dad again ?

The questions were crippling, encasing her in ice and rendering her incapable of moving.

River wasn’t sure how long she stood there, her fingers hovering over her leg, before her father shifted. He lifted a hand, the bedsheets crinkling beneath him as he moved, patting the mattress with a nearly translucent hand.

“Come here, River.”

The ice around her melted at the sound of her father’s voice. She wanted to do what he was asking. The gods only knew how much she wanted it. But she had to know if this was a dream. She wasn’t sure her heart could handle finding out this wasn’t real later.

Drawing in a deep breath, she pinched her thigh as hard as she could. She braced herself to wake up in bed, on her own. For this all to be a dream.

But…

Pain shot through her leg.

“Oh, gods.” The cry slipped from her lips as she shot towards the bed. Grabbing the chair resting by the wall, she dragged it behind her.

Real .

This was real. Her father was awake, and he was talking to her.

River made it to her father’s bedside in record time, falling into the seat without ever taking her eyes off his blurry form. She reached out, sniffling as she gently picked up his hand and cupped it between hers.

Gods above, his hand was far too light. That was a bad sign. His body was quickly deteriorating. The doctor in her was panicking, but River shoved that down. She couldn’t focus on that right now.

Lowering her head, River brushed a kiss across the back of her father’s papery hand. “I missed you, Daddy,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “So, so much.”

It was more than just her move to Lakewater. She missed spending time with her dad, watching laser games with him, and talking to him regularly, even if he hadn’t been able to respond for many years. More than that, she missed having a parent who loved her.

“I know, darling.” He coughed, and it sounded like his lungs were being torn apart from the inside out. “I missed you, too.”

His last words were barely audible as he broke into another coughing fit.

“Oh, Daddy.” No amount of medical training could’ve ever prepared her for the sound of her father’s pain.

It affected her far more than that of her patients, and her heart strained in her chest. “Where does it hurt? I can get you something for the pain, or I can call the nurses back in if you prefer.”

“No, don’t.”

Her brows furrowed. “But?—”

“I don’t want anything,” he said hoarsely. “I just want to talk to you.”

That ache in her heart expanded. “Daddy, if you’re in pain…”

“No, River,” he said firmly. “I love you, my darling, but I don’t want any medicine.” He rested his head against the pillow and briefly shut his eyes. “I don’t want to risk losing a moment of precious time with you.”

Hot, salty tears streamed down River’s face, and she did nothing to stop them. Was this what it was like to be unconditionally loved by a parent? To have someone put her needs above theirs? Was it supposed to hurt like this?

“Okay, Daddy,” she whispered. She poured a glass of water from the nightstand and held it to his lips. He drank slowly, gratitude filling his gaze. “What do you want to talk about? Sports? Work? The weather? You name it, we’ll chat about it.”

The topic of conversation didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was here.

“You, River.” He placed his frail hand on top of hers. “You and your brother. I want to hear about your lives. Your work. Tell me what I missed.”

His words were knives to her heart, reminding her that this time was a precious gift that could slip away at any moment. Minutes. Hours. Neither of them knew how long they’d have before the Stillness dug its claws into his mind and pulled him back into its dark embrace.

More tears flowed down River’s cheeks. Gods, there were so many of them. Who knew she could cry so much when she was happy?

“Of course, Daddy.” She wiped the palm of her hand on her cheeks, forcing a watery smile on her face. “We can talk about whatever you want, but I’d like to call Ryker first, if that’s okay?”

Her brother needed to know about this miracle, needed to be here for this.

Cyrus dipped his chin, his eyes heavy. Sands save her, but he looked so tired. Like being alert was draining him far faster than it should’ve.

“Go ahead, River. I’ll be here.”

But for how long?

Her hands flew over the keys of her phone as though they’d been injected with jet fuel. She pressed the phone to her pointed ear, never taking her eyes off her father.

It rang twice.

“Riv—”

“Dad’s awake, Ryker,” she blurted, talking over her brother. “He’s awake .”

Stunned silence came from the other end of the line. An entire minute passed, and she pulled the phone away from her ear to make sure the call hadn’t been disconnected.

“Ryker?” she prodded. “Did you hear what I said? Dad’s awake. He’s talking.”

There was a sharp inhale on the other end of the phone, and then a chair scraped across a floor. A hushed murmur that was too low for her to hear. Heavy footsteps.

“Yes, River, I heard you.” Ryker’s voice had deepened, thick with emotion. A moment later, a door snicked shut. “I just wasn’t sure if I was dreaming.”

“I know,” she murmured. “I had the exact same thought when I first got here.”

Her thigh still pulsed from where she’d pinched it.

“He’s really awake?” Ryker sounded dazed, which was perfectly understandable, considering the circumstances.

“Yes, he is.” She looked up, smiling as she met her father’s eyes. They were filled with so much love and fondness; she could barely breathe. “He’s lucid, and he’s talking to me. Dyna has truly blessed us.”

River was already planning her next trip to the goddess’s temple to thank her for this unexpected blessing.

The offerings she’d bring, the prayers of thanks she’d utter.

It would be a whole affair, and she’d probably be there for an entire day, but what was a day spent in worship when her father was here, and he was awake?

“You’re with him now?” It sounded like Ryker was shoving objects into a bag.

She nodded before she remembered that this wasn’t a video call. “I am. I’m going to put you on speaker, okay?” He agreed, and she put the phone on the bed beside her father’s head.

“Dad?” Her brother’s voice was hesitant. Hopeful.

Cyrus squeezed his eyes shut, and when they reopened, silver lined them. “Hello, son.”

Another moment of stunned silence echoed through the phone, and then Ryker laughed. “It’s really you. I didn’t… It’s so good to hear your voice, Dad.”

A tear trailed down Cyrus’s cheek, but he didn’t seem to notice. “It’s wonderful to speak with you, too.”

“I’m coming back, Dad,” Ryker said quickly, as if he was afraid that if he took too long, he wouldn’t have the chance to get all his words out before their father slipped away. “Hold on for me, okay? I’m at the border of the Western Region for work, but I can’t miss this.”

I can’t miss you.

The unspoken words echoed through the room, and River’s heart clenched. Why did he have to be so far away now, when their time was so limited?

“How will you get here, Ryker?” she asked, her hands curling into fists.

It was the middle of the day. Vampires couldn’t travel in sunlight, so shadowing was out.

“Therian’s going to fly me over,” he said. “We’re several hours away by car, but he should be able to get me there within the hour.”

River exhaled, dipping her head and easing her fingers apart. “Good, that’s good.”

“Therian?” Cyrus’s gaze flitted between the phone and River, his brows scrunched together. “Who is that?”

“He’s a dragon shifter, Daddy,” River said softly, aware of just how much her father had missed. “Therian went through the Choosing with Ryker. His wife is a Fortune Elf, and she’s very nice.”

“Ah.” Understanding filled Cyrus’s face, and he nodded. “A dragon is a good friend to have.”

“A very good friend,” Ryker agreed, sounding pained on the other end. “Therian is waiting for me, and I have to go. But Dad, before I hang up?—”

“I love you so much, my son.” Cyrus caught River’s eye and smiled.

She’d never tire of the sight or forget how he looked at her with so much love.

As if his heart would burst. As if he loved her more than anything else in the world.

“I am so proud of you both. You are the joys of my life, and I am blessed to call you mine.”

Fresh tears slid down River’s cheeks, and she sniffled. How many times had she yearned to hear a parent’s praise? How many times had she hoped that Tertia would be proud of her just once? And here her father was pouring out his love for her.

Her chest warmed, and she wished she could bottle up the feeling to hold onto forever.

“Oh, Dad.” Ryker’s voice cracked, and he sucked in a sharp breath. “I love you, too. So, so much. Hold on for me, okay? I’m coming.”

“I will,” Cyrus promised. “Your sister will keep me company until you get here.”

“Absolutely.” River squeezed her father’s hand and poured him another cup of water. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”