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My body shook as I attempted to digest the information, but the vivid memories of my imprisonment were starting to take over.

“No matter how much I was…we were—” I closed my eyes against the visions of Remnant…

those screams. Goddess her screams. “We are not an experiment.” I growled, my claws dug into my hands, puncturing my own skin.

Jar’s voice broke. “I know this Daemon.” He sighed.

“My job has always been to protect you, especially since your father was lost to us, but this truth, I’m afraid it is something I cannot protect you from.

” I opened my eyes to see tears in his. “That day we found you, after being stolen from us for those three long months, I was beside myself with joy. So relieved to know that you were alive and here with us. But you never really returned fully. I know that some nights still plague you, that the scars reopen and you avoid sleeping because of this.”

“You take too much responsibility upon yourself Jar.” I turned away. I would have been naive to think that he didn’t hear me heaving my guts up at night, waking up in a cold sweats barely believing I wasn’t in that horrible place anymore.

“Perhaps.” He murmured. “There is a part of the story I left out, Daemon.”

I looked up through anguished eyes. “What—” I croaked. “What story?”

“Of Faerie and her brothers. The god Ichor did indeed curse the fae…but he failed to curse all fae. His malediction only affected Faerie’s fae. But the shadow fae…were not created by Faerie. They were born of—”

“Shea.” I whispered. “They were created from the God of Death.”

He nodded. “Deirdre must have discovered this when she imprisoned General Dark.”

My teeth ground together and I hissed. “That was why she wanted the shadow fae.”

Jar gave me a sad look. “She did not want just them . She wanted to harvest them . For their ability to reproduce.”

I stared at Jarquinn in horror. “All the experiments they did to Remnant—they were harvesting her?”

Tears filled the master healer's eyes. “Yes, technically you both were. A monstrous and unforgivable violation.”

I choked and dropped my head into my hands. “How? How is it that I am her father? ”

“Daemon.” Jarquinn placed his hand on my shoulder again. “You couldn’t have known, my cub. This is not your fault.”

“I need to know. If the God Ichor cursed us…then how is it that I can be the girl’s father, Jar? I am a product of Faerie. You said it yourself. She created the shifters.”

Jarquinn hesitated before he spoke. “You are goddess blessed Daemon. The power you hold within you…that burning, raging power. It is the power of the goddess, the power of Faerie. Your mother and father knew it the moment you first shifted.”

“We are more.” The beast said within me.

I ignored the cat and looked up at the healer. “In the Wildwoods. I was healed by Faerie's power. You’re telling me I did that to myself?”

“I cannot say for sure, but what I do know is that you were blessed with this power even before your capture, quite likely at your birth. You have always been more, Daemon.”

I scrubbed my face at the echoed words of my beast. “Fuck. I don’t want to be more. I don’t want to have to pay for more either.” I sent the healer a tortured look. “When is it enough? Why has the goddess abandoned us? How could she allow this to happen?”

“She is with you Emon.” The cat whispered softly to me…almost submissively.

“Do not speak to me. Ever again.” His withholding of information was the deepest of betrayals.

“You are hurting. I apologize for ever causing you this type of pain.”

“Do. Not. Speak.” I ordered harshly.

“Your father once asked me the same question after your mother died. I will tell you what I told him then.” Jar’s ancient eyes bore into my own.

“Our circumstances are a tool that we can use to mold our lives. It is up to you what you decide to create from them. Use it to mold your own peace Daemon, a life for you, forta , and the girl…you will not find it from others. Not even our goddess.”

“Peace? There will never be peace for me, Jar. Not anymore. Not while that bitch is still out there! Hurting us, hurting my soulmate…my daughter.” I choked.

“It is imperative that you do not lose focus on what really matters. You and Remnant have been given a gift, it is up to you on how you receive it. Despite how terrible the queen’s purpose was or still is…this child is a miracle, the first shadow shifter, and your daughter.”

“Shadow shifter?”

Jarquinn nodded and shot me a small playful smile. “I do hope you give me the credit for naming a new fae race. We won’t know how her power manifests but I am sure it will be a combination of you both.”

“A combination of us both.” I murmured.

The fae coveted power above all else and now my daughter held more power in her small frame than any fae that had ever lived.

I stared at the healer with renewed fear. “How do I keep her safe, Jar? How do I keep them safe?”

His eyes widened, not expecting open vulnerability.

“Oh Daemon.” He kneeled and pulled me into his warm embrace.

His healing power washed over me like a warm blanket.

“You know what you must do. You must go to him , my cub, and then you must tell forta the truth. Let her choose the path she will take from there.”

I hugged him fiercely, not knowing what I would ever do without him.

“The attack last night forced that decision already anyway. I have plans to leave today.” I grumbled.

Jar pulled away with a sad smile. “I have no doubt you will be received well, my cub. Time has a way of healing many wounds and revealing many wrongs.”

I looked back down at the faeling. “Time…” I said softly. “We’ve already lost so much time.” I shook my head growling, I wasn’t about to let any more go with us apart.

I rose, my chest expanding and my voice clear. “I want you to personally reinforce all the wards around this room. No one is to come in here except myself, you, and Remnant.” I glared hard at Jarquinn. “Fucking no one. No exceptions.” I growled.

The ancient fae healer nodded. “As you wish, your majesty.”

“Thank you.” I said sincerely. “Thank you for not being afraid to tell me the truth. Thank you for always watching over me and now my daughter. Thank you for saving her. For caring for Remnant. For loving me.”

Jar sighed and smiled happily at me. “Daemon. You were born into this kingdom to be its brightest light but you never needed to shine to be one in mine.”

As if his words were the trigger, a sudden force exploded deep inside of me and I gasped at the pure warmth spreading in my chest.

“Sweet goddess, what is that?” I gasped, leaning over and gazing at my daughter, the source of this new strange power.

Jar stared with awe. “She has bonded with you!” He shook his head, his brows raised in surprise.

“I would know the feel of that bond anywhere. It is the same I hold with my Quinn. The same your father held with you.” He smiled widely at me.

“Your daughter will be very powerful indeed if she can bond to you in a healing sleep like this. Although, I wouldn’t expect anything less. ”

“It is beautiful.” I said in awe, reaching down and tucking the loose strands from her braid behind her ear.

“She is beautiful.” I placed a soft kiss upon her delicate forehead.

“I claim you Riella, my wee little cub.” I whispered.

“I will protect you with every ounce of life that is left in me and even when my soul leaves my body it will never stop to ensure your safety. This world will know no fiercer protector for you than me. I swear it, on the Goddess, this world, and the whole universe combined. Nothing shall ever harm you.”