Chapter 49 #2
"When Veylor sent me your hair strand, I felt it instantly—like lightning striking a dead tree and finding it still had life inside.
The bond I thought severed forever suddenly hummed with possibility.
That night, beneath the full moon, I unraveled your essence strand by strand, and there they were…
unmistakable traces of Alicia and Thackery woven into your very being.
The two halves of my heart, living on in you. "
Sylvaine wasn’t the only one in the room shedding tears now, they were free falling down my face.
I wiped away the tears that stubbornly clung to my cheeks, feeling a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. My whole life had been a lie, or at least a half-truth. The man standing before me, claiming to be my father, had shattered the fragile image I had.
"I know you must be overwhelmed with all of this, but please understand that I have searched for you for years. I never stopped trying to find you, to bring you back into the fold of our broken family."
His words stirred conflicting emotions. Part of me wanted to push him away, to reject this newfound connection he claimed we had. But another part of me longed for the sense of belonging, of knowing where I came from and who I truly was.
However, he could have told me these things back at the estate and not here in a mountain.
“Why did you bring me here,” I cleared my throat. “Why not tell me all of this back there, with the mates I have? You of all people should know what it is like not to have a bond connected or being taken away.”
Sylvaine winced, his shoulders dropping.
"I couldn't bear watching you walk the same broken path, my daughter.
Every sunrise reminds me of what I've lost. Two souls bound to mine, yet worlds away.
The bond between us stretches thin but never breaks, a constant ache I wouldn't wish upon you.
Even now, I don't understand how you crossed between realms when they never could. "
I shook my head. “It isn’t right. It is my choice. It’s normal to have fights in a relationship, misunderstandings at times, especially when there are three people. You barging into my life doesn’t mean you get to dictate it!”
Sylvaine huffed, standing his ground. “I want what is best for you. I have made potions for you to forget, I can even rearrange your life strands so you are no longer connected to them.”
I gasped. “Don’t you dare. If you ever did that I would never speak to you again!” I held up the candelabra. “I don’t care if you are the only family I have left!”
There was a pause between us. Sylvaine stared at the floor. “You do consider me, your father? Even if you are not biologically mine?”
“My mother loved you, as well as this, Thackeray. You were part of a triad, so of course I would consider you a father.” My body relaxed. “Unless you are lying to me!”
He shook his head. “No, of course not. I just… want you to be happy. Forever.”
“I will be. With them.”
He nodded but frowned. “As you wish.”
That was easier than expected.
“As far as my mother…”
Sylvaine lifted his head in hope.
“She passed away. Both of them… are gone. It’s just us now.”
Sylvaine’s lip quivered.
“She passed suddenly while I was away. I wasn’t even home to bury her.” A sob broke free and I dropped the candelabra to the ground with a clang.
In an instant, Sylvaine was by my side and picked me up from the seat and held me to his body. “Shh, it’s okay.” His voice was rough and thick with emotion. “I’m here and I’m not leaving. Not ever.”
Thoughts of Mom filtered through. Not one memory came to mind that would give away what sort of life she led in the past. She only cared about me and for me to be proud of who I was.
It was because I was my father’s daughter.
Why didn’t she tell me about Sylvaine though?
Would it have been too hard to explain?
By the way, you have two dads?
I pushed Sylvaine away and his red rimmed eyes looked down at me. “I loved them both.” He whispered. “With all my being, I don’t want you to feel what I feel, if anything ever happened—”
I placed my hand over his mouth.
“Not for you to decide.” I sniffed. “It’s my decision and Oryx and Veylor will not take no for an answer. They will come for me and—”
A heavy bang echoed down the cave to where we were. I tilted my head and wiped the tears from my face. “In fact, you should run, hide or something because they are going to be pissed. How long was I out for?”
Sylvaine pulled at his collar. “Three days. I forget you still have your mother’s blood. Did I mention how much you look like her? I’m so glad you got her looks.” He smiled softly and brushed a lock of my hair behind my ear.
“Now isn’t the time to butter me up, you are about to get your ass kicked and I’m still thinking about doing it myself.”
Sylvaine sighed. “That’s more Thackery. He did like to kick my ass. No wait, he liked to be in my ass.” He tapped his chin.
I screeched. “I did not need to hear that!”
There was one final bang until I heard the swoosh of Veylor’s shadows, the clopping of Oryx’s hooves and another pair of footsteps I was unfamiliar with.
Cold air snaked through the kitchen, raising goosebumps along my arms. Sylvain's head snapped up, alert as a predator sensing danger. In one fluid motion, he pulled me against his chest, his lips brushing my hair in a protective kiss before maneuvering me behind his body like a shield.
“It couldn’t be,” he said. “You said he was dead, correct?”
“What?” I snapped.
“Thackery, he was dead.”
I groaned. “Yes, I said he was. That’s why we were crying!”
A gust of wind carried snowflakes into the room, announcing his arrival before I saw him.
The man who stepped through the doorway had skin like frost on glass, hair as white as my own, only his was braided down the middle of his back and shaved on the sides.
His eyes were the color of amethyst stones.
His light tanned leather garments clung to his lean frame, while behind him a cape fluttered behind him.
Sylvaine took a step back, taking me with him. “By the Shadows,” he murmured. “It cannot be.”