Page 23 of Broken Souls

You’re being paranoid…

But all the puzzle pieces are sliding together.

Why Father –Cadencouldn’t look at me when I didn’t hit my ascension. How he changed from a loving, smiling man to a drunkard who lashed out at Mother and I.

Why she never took me to see a specialist about my lack of magic.

Why Father ended up cursing her even though he loved her.

How the most recent traitor had failed to kill me. Mother claimed the blade had missed my heart, but that man never missed.

You simply can’t kill a born vampire that way. You have to cut out their heart entirely. Or cut off their head.

My mouth runs dry as too many pieces fall into place, as a memory of a blood-drained woman floods my mind. I saw her in the alleyway I was attacked in. Aleric thinks a rogue vampire killed her, but he’s never found them.

I glance down at my hands. Feel the pulse in my teeth.

Feel the truth in my fucking heart.

Aleric Zadar is my godsdamn father.

And I’m a fucking hybrid.

Nine

HIM

When we get home, my entire body is taut with energy. I step out of the car, and my fingertips burn with the need to clench, then go eight rounds with a bag. But I keep my face expressionless, my discoveries secret as I signal Khalid to follow me. Stopping down by the lake on our property, away from all ears, I fill him in on how many vampires are left in the city. I don’t tell him about the traitor. Don’t tell him about Aleric’s demand for a picture of Mother. And I sure as hel don’t tell him about potentially being a hybrid or about being Aleric’s son. I trust Khalid with my life as Boss of the Shadow Domain. But as a hybrid? As an abomination that is hunted before they’re even born? I don’t trust anyone.

When Khalid leaves me, I don’t head back to the house. I know Mother will find her way here, too fucking worried about what Aleric might have said to me. So I stay by the lake, soaking in the peace and quiet of the lapping shore. I do not have to wait long before I catch her scent in the breeze.

My lips tight, I turn to face her as she reaches me. Her eyes tell me everything I need to know, but I ask anyway, wanting to hear what fucking lies she comes up with this time.

“Is he my father?” I ask softly. “And do not fucking ask me who.”

Her lips purse together, and she turns her head towards the house. Looking back at me, she then gestures further down the lake. She doesn’t wait for me to follow, her legs as restless as mine, perhaps, despite the grace she still moves with.

We walk for fifteen minutes, heading along the water in heavy silence. Just as my patience starts to evaporate in the heat of my anger, she whispers, “Did he tell you he was?”

“Answer my question.” I’m not in any mood to play any of her games, to give her anything in exchange for what she gives me. She can suffer over her lies.

“Varius –”

“Answer,” I say softly. “The. Fucking –”

“Yes.”

I stop, then move again, too restless to stay still. I knew it. I figured it out in the car, but even still, hearing her say it. Hearing her admit that she’s lied to me all this time. Lied to me again when I asked her for the truth a few months ago.

“He doesn’t know,” she says as she walks alongside me. Her voice is light, hard to hear even with my hearing, even with us being this close. “I’ve been so afraid since he found all your blood in the alley, that he might recognize it even with my magic.” She trails off. Takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry I lied to you, but I did it to protect you.”

“Because I’m a hybrid.”

“Yes.”

My throat suddenly feels swollen. “Can I have kids?” I ask, swallowing down the rest of the question, the real one.Will I ever be able to marry Micha?

“Yes.”