Page 11 of City of Promise and Light (Mates of Gods and Fae #1)

“Sybil,” my father breathed, his voice filled with alarm.

“I accept your offer,” I said more firmly, glaring at my father. “However, I would like to discuss the specifics,” I continued, glancing back at Ambrose.

Hastily walking up to me, anger etched across every part of my father’s face.

My pulse jumped and my breath caught in my throat when he grabbed both of my arms, holding them tight, trapping me.

“You are not going to take this job,” he growled.

“I may not have been in your life, but you will listen to me.” His grip tightened.

Fear morphed swiftly to anger at his attempt to intimidate me.

The corner of my lip curled as I narrowed my eyes.

“Get off me,” I hissed, bristling against his hold.

Shaking him away, I shoved him back and his eyes widened in shock.

“You do not get to come here after abandoning me to tell me what to do. I’m a grown ass woman, and I don’t need your permission to live my life. ”

My father lunged at me, his eyes dark, his face blotchy and red. Gasping, I stumbled back against the wall when he was suddenly jerked backward.

“Let’s not do something we will regret,” Samian said calmly, his deep voice protective as he held my father by his shirt. His eyes flicked to mine, my heart fluttering as I caught in the heat burning in his gaze.

Samian let go of my father, who stumbled. Liam reached out to break his fall. My father pushed Liam aside, pointing to Ambrose. “She is my daughter, and I will not allow her to work for you,” he bellowed.

“It’s not your fucking choice,” I yelled. Everyone turned to look at me. Flustered, I could feel my cheeks turning red. “It’s not your choice ,” I repeated, my voice softening.

“It may not be his choice, Sybil, but my opinion should be taken into account,” Liam said quietly, as though he was trying to defuse the rising tension. “I agree with John. I don’t think you should take this job.”

Too stunned to talk, I could only stand there watching Liam gaze at me with a coldness I had never felt from him before.

Your partner was the one person who should always take your side, yet mine so easily disregarded me, siding with the man that deserted his family—that deserted me.

My heart squeezed at Liam’s cold and empty eyes, looking at me as if I were no longer the person he knew and loved.

The tingling sensation returned, slowly working its way down my arms. My heart began to race, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe, like my lungs were seizing.

My body trembled, a pressure coiling through me, tightening my muscles.

So many emotions swirled within me—heartbreak, rage, confusion—and their bickering quickly became too much.

My skin felt too thin and my body too small.

Ambrose said something, laughing at Liam’s response, but his words drowned beneath the roaring in my ears. Liam’s face flushed and he lunged at Ambrose, pulling back his arm, ready to strike. My eyes widened and I cried out, throwing up my hands to stop him.

My hands stung as a bright light burst from my body like a powerful rush of water breaking through a dam. The light blinded me, but I could hear Ambrose’s deep laughter over the shocked yells of Liam and my father.

The light faded, leaving me breathless. Terror rushed through me as I stared at my hands while the throbbing eased.

The sounds of groans snapped me out of my shock.

Taking in the kitchen, my breath caught in my throat.

The cabinets hung shattered, some barely hanging by the hinges.

The chairs lay scattered, some knocked over.

Then I spotted Liam on the floor, clutching his stomach in pain.

A cry left my lips as I rushed toward him.

Liam’s eyes widened, fear flashing across his face at my approach as he clumsily moved away from me.

He was afraid of me—afraid of what I just did.

Stopping, I caught sight of my father crouched against the wall, holding a hand to his head while blood dripped down his neck.

Groaning, my father stood. His eyes were empty as he held my stare. “This is what I was trying to stop. Evil runs through our veins, Sybil. Through his veins,” he said, pointing at Ambrose. “You need to listen to me and stay away from him.”

Ambrose’s lips slowly curved into a devilish smile.

Watching my father closely, his eyes gleamed with exhilaration.

“Aw, come now John,” he said with a cruel laugh.

“Don’t be like that. Am I different? Yes, but that doesn’t make me evil.

If that were the case, that would mean our darling Sybil is evil as well. ”

Sickness consumed me, my chest heaving. I looked back to my father, my face paling when I caught the disgust reflecting in his eyes.

Was this why he left me? Because I was something evil, something monstrous, a thing to be feared?

I looked at my hands, hot tears streaming down my face.

I could feel the hum of power inside of me, could feel the wild, unrestrained force waiting to be released.

Choking back a sob, I slowly began to back away.

Being here, seeing that fear burn in Liam’s eyes, it was all too much.

My chest began to rise and fall rapidly, but it felt like there was no oxygen left in the room.

Taking another step back, soft hands gently gripped my face, keeping me in place. Slowly, my eyes lifted to Ambrose’s deep, warm blue gaze.

“It’s okay, Sybil,” he said softly, his thumbs gently wiping away my tears.

“You’re not what they think you are. But if it helps, I can offer you a bargain so that if you lose control again, I can stop it—stop you—before you hurt anyone else.

” Giving me a soft smile, Ambrose carefully pulled me into his chest, his arms tightening around me.

“I can protect you and make sure that you don’t hurt anyone else.

Will you allow me to give you that?” he whispered against my ear.