“How did She do this?” I ask in disbelief. “How did She think She could come to Earth and do this?”
“The shadow cover that you placed over it is still intact,” he says.
“Oh, so no one can even see the burnt-out shell that used to be my house,” I state flatly. “Who turned out the fire?”
“Me,” he says and then turns his attention back to Delinda, who is slapping his face to get him to pay attention to her.
I watch them as they interact with each other, Delinda telling him all about the things she has been up to and he listens intently. When he can finally get a word in, he says carefully, “Your mama tells me that you are even more special than we first thought.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, nodding her head. “I’m a Faerie.”
“So I hear,” Remiel says. “Show me your magic.” He demands it gently and I am about to protest, but Delinda is more than happy to send up a cloud of Faerie lights to dance above our heads, the white-and-gold glow twinkling in the late September sun.
“Pretty,” he remarks. “Your mother can do that as well.” The implication is strong and just hangs there for a moment, but Delinda shakes her head.
“No, Mama is only Dark Fae. Her lights are black and silver. Show him, Mama,” she says.
I do as she requests and Remiel’s eyes cloud over. “I see,” he mutters. “You have Light Fae magick.”
“Yes, Daddy says he is going to help me practice so that I can get better at magick,” Delinda says and doesn’t notice the pain that shoots across Remiel’s face.
“Daddy?” he croaks out and I clear my throat. I had hoped to broach this subject on our own. He fixes me with a piercing, blue stare that is almost accusatory in nature and I say to Delinda, “Sweetie, Papa and I need to talk.”
“Okay,” she says, jumping off his lap.
“Stay close,” I yell after her as she takes off in the direction of the woods. “Are you sure she’s safe?” I ask worriedly, watching her progress.
“Perfectly. I wouldn’t endanger her, Aefre,” Remiel chides me.
I turn back to him with a small smile. “I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it to you yesterday, but my father thinks that it was best for Delinda to have Kalen step forward as her father. It is an awkward situation, and we are trying to do the best we can,” I explain.
“Kalen?” he asks with a raised eyebrow. “I suppose I understand that, it is just hard to hear that she has accepted this so easily.”
“It hasn’t been easy,” I say to him, taking his hand. “It has been incredibly difficult. She misses you.”
“And I miss her, every day. I want to keep seeing her, Aefre,” he says with an intense look.
“Of course,” I say at once. “I would never deny that to you. I know you love her.”
“Thank you,” he says and looks back to the house. “How are you?” he asks politely after a minute.
“Great, thanks. Apart from, well…” I indicate the burnt-down house.
“You are thriving?” he asks.
Oh, I see. He means how am I doing without him close by as my sire.
“Yes,” I say awkwardly.
“I feel that y
ou should be closer to me,” he declares suddenly.
“Err…” I start. What do I say to that?
He stands up and watches Delinda chasing something she has spotted over by the tree line. I join him with my arms folded. The mood has changed, and I wonder what will happen next.
“So, what are your plans for that child?” he asks.