Chapter 33
Chapter
Thirty-Three
The fae king appeared in my living room just as I put the final touches on dinner. I’d made enough for two this time, fully expecting him to show up now that I was home and Caelan was nowhere to be seen.
He wore casual clothes this time. No antlers. No crown. No Wild Hunt.
Just a male burning with the power of a thousand suns.
I pushed a glass of red wine and a plate of spaghetti carbonara over. “Should I call you Dad now, or are we sticking with Cernunnos?”
One side of his mouth tugged into a smile. “When did you realize?”
I fixed my plate. “Technically, I didn’t, though I suspected. The banshee told me.”
Cernunnos nodded and picked up his fork. He jerked his head. “Living room?”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
He walked over and settled in my reading chair, balancing his plate on his knee.
“I knew for sure when I shifted at Caelan’s.”
“Thought you might have.” He twirled pasta around his fork and took a bite. His eyes closed and a look of bliss crossed his face. “You are an excellent cook.”
He poked at the pasta. “What is this?”
“Carbonara. It’s a simple dish. Comfort food for me.”
He tilted his head and studied me. “Are you in need of comfort?”
He was so human sometimes and so other in moments like this—a king born to rule the natural world and so far removed from humanity, it burned being in his presence. “I’m preparing myself for what you might tell me.”
“Ah. Let’s break bread together first. As father and daughter.”
I brought my plate over and sat down to eat.
For a while, everything was normal. Ish. As normal as things could be when your father was the king of the fae, and you were a magical mutt. We talked about inane things and got to know each other a little more.
Cernunnos hadn’t spent much time on Earth until he figured out who I was.
As far as the reason Mom didn’t realize he was my father, Cernunnos had a hand in that and had basically whammied Cliona. When she got curious about my powers, a clever spell turned her attention to other things.
Cernunnos had known since I was eighteen months that I belonged to him. My heart broke at the reveal, but he said he couldn’t risk Cliona realizing who I was.
By staying away, Cernunnos had saved my life.
“Why did you come to me if that was a possibility?”
He smiled. “Because you are a survivor and would have figured out a way to survive.”
“Like swallowing the world tree?” I asked dryly.
Cernunnos set his plate down.
Here we go…
“Evie, I’m here because I want to make sure you aren’t blindsided by this.”
“That’s a first.”
At his dark look, I waved my fork. “Fine. Sorry. What bomb are you about to drop on me?”
My father drained his wine, set his glass down, and leaned forward, crossing his fingers together. A crown of oak leaves appeared on his head, and moss dripped from his hair.
“You are my only progeny, Evangeline.”
A horrible feeling burned in my stomach, a sense that a train was barreling right toward me and I was too slow to dodge.
“You are a princess of the fae, the second in command of all our people.”
I snorted. “They’ve never been my people.”
“For your own safety,” he agreed. “But things have changed. You hold my power in your veins and that of the world seed.” A grim smile. “Your power now exceeds mine.”
A shocked laugh escaped me. “Impossible.”
But Cernunnos’ eyes were serious, his handsome face grave. “I know you feel it burning through your body. You’re eating more, burning more magic, restless under your skin, aren’t you? Food and sex stave it off for a little while, but you crave more, don’t you, Evangeline?”
I stared at him, sick to my stomach.
“What are you trying to tell me?” I whispered.
A faint smile tugged at his mouth. “I’m tired, daughter.”
My brow furrowed. “I have a guest room. We can finish this conversation later, though I’d rather hash this out now.”
He chuckled. “Not that kind of tired. I am ancient, daughter. The first winds that swept across this world cradled me when I was a babe. I wish to hang up my crown.”
“You want to retire?” I blurted. “Are you allowed to do that?”
Cernunnos smiled. “Now that I have an heir, I can do whatever I want.”
I blinked. “What.”
“You are my successor, Evangeline Quinn. We must prepare for you to take my crown and rule over your people.”
I stared at him for a long moment and burst out laughing. “Good one. It’s weird being a princess and all, but you can’t actually believe I’d want to take over for you.”
Cernunnos rose. “It is your bloodline,” he said quietly.
Horror roiled through me. “You’re serious,” I whispered.
Antlers rose above his head, whispering against the ceiling. “I will return one week each month to prepare you for your role.”
I swallowed hard. “How long,” I croaked.
The fae king shrugged. “Time is a construct. We are immortal. You have as much time as it takes to be ready.”
Tears swam in my eyes. “Cernunnos. You can’t do this to me.”
Sorrow filled his face. “Heavy is the head that wears the crown, my child.”
I licked my lips. “Everyone gets that quote wrong,” I whispered. “It’s ‘uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.’”
“Even more appropriate,” he said with a thoughtful nod. A soft whisper of green, verdant magic swept my way. My hair blew back and something cool rested atop my head.
He dipped his head. “Princess Evangeline. I will see you in one month’s time.”
In a whisper of pine scented air, he was gone.
I sat there on the couch for a long moment, my entire body trembling. When I could stand without falling, I walked over to the mirror.
A delicate silver crown of oak leaves, ivy, and holly berries rested atop my head.