Page 52 of Bite The Power That Feeds

And you fear he won’t grant it.

It’s very unlikely that he will.

Fang stared at me, his tongue slipping in and out of his closed mouth.A father who refuses to forgive his son is no father at all.

He hasn’t been my father in a long time.

Another travesty.

He refused to come when I married Ellasara. I said I didn’t care…but I did. And now that I know Larisa is truly the one, I don’t want to regret his absence.

You can’t regret someone else’s decision, Kingsnake.

The servant opened the door. “He’ll see you in his study now.”

I moved to the door when Fang slithered to the floor and up my leg, positioning himself around my body and then across my shoulder.I’ll accompany you.

It’s okay. I know you don’t like him.

But I like you.

I walked down the hallway and stepped into his study, a fire in the black hearth, his large body taking up most of the armchair. A glass was in his hand, probably scotch, his favorite. He didn’t rise to greet me like he would Aurelias, but he didn’t seem as hostile as usual either.

I took a seat, Fang still across my shoulders.

The servant poured me a drink then disappeared.

“Must you bring him?” He looked into his glass before he took a drink.

I said nothing.

Sssnake killer.

“I hate the way he smells.”

I ignored that too.

Fang released a quiet growl.

My father set down the glass. “The Ethereal have lost their king, and a novice queen wears his crown. Victory is as certain as the rising sun. We’ll ride to their forest, and if they refuse to face us in battle, we’ll burn their forest and all those inside.” He was back to war and bloodshed, the only things he cared for.

“Or we can move forward and find peace.”

His eyes shifted to me, black coals. “My commanders informed me of your visit. You were there a long time.” Disapproval was in his tone, as well as a veiled threat. “A very long time.”

“I’ve come to discuss other matters. The Ethereal can wait.”

He took another drink, purposeful and slow. “Their extinction is unavoidable. I suppose it can be postponed.” He set down the glass again and regarded me head on for the first time. “Speak your mind, Kingsnake.”

If I had a heart, I would feel it pound in my chest. Aurelias’s words came back to me, a conversation we had in the ice-cold snow. “You were right about everything. And I’m sorry.” I thought I would have more to say, but once I was put on the spot, that was all I could muster. So many years of resentment. So many years of coldness. It was hard to face the winter storm in his eyes and hope it would thaw to spring.

He said nothing.

Neither did I.

It stayed that way for minutes.

But he never took his eyes off my face. Never dismissed me. Just absorbed the apology.