I kept his gaze, but couldn’t help the way saliva pooled in my mouth and how I had to swallow hard against the need to look away.
What was he trying to determine? My strength? My abilities? If he thought I could do the job my ancestors had been born to for so long?
I didn’t know why this suddenly mattered to me, but hearing it from Tavlor, from someone who was raised within the Council and not my father was important to me.
Tavlor put his hand out and I took it.
He dragged me to my feet and held onto me like his life depended on it.
“Ava. You can do anything you want to do, and I mean that in every sense. You are kind and so smart, you empathize with every person, and are unforgiving to those who are evil. You are a rare creature, and I know, no matter what you choose, you will be successful.”
I grabbed onto him, hard. “But can I do... this.” I gestured with my hand, but I didn’t think I explained myself the way I intended to. I needed to clarify. “Lead people. Have them look up to me. Take on all this responsibility and do it well?”
He nodded, his eyes locked into mine. “Of course, you can. Didn’t you hear your father? You are more powerful than any High Warlock before you, because they couldn’t control your breeding. Your mother’s will. If you decide to do this... then you will bring the change they fear. You will bring peace. I know you will.”
I closed my eyes and dropped my head onto his chest. His heartbeat steadied my own and I took a deep breath, trying to figure this out. What I wanted didn’t exactly align with what the right thing to do was.
What did I know about running a household, let alone a planet? How was I going to do this?
I lifted my head and took a deep breath.
“Well, it sounds like I’ve got a lot to learn before any of that happens,” I said slowly.
Tavlor kissed me on the forehead, his lips feeling like goodbye.
I pulled back and glared up at him. “Hey, don’t you dare give up on me,” I told him. I clenched my teeth to make sure my voice didn’t shake. “I’m not marrying some stranger, I can tell you. And they have no right to take my birth right away from me either, not unless I... you know, decide I don’t want it.”
My father laughed and patted the seat next to him. “Come here, Ava.”
I left Tavlor and moved over to my father, my chest tight and my eyes burning with unshed tears.
“What’s up?” I asked, my tone flippant, trying to lighten the mood. Trying to make myself feel better.
Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t working.
“I want you to know, that you’re my daughter.”
I laughed, glancing at Tavlor, then back at my dad. “I know... isn’t that the point of all this drama and trouble?”
My father reached over and took my hand, squeezing my fingers tight.
“Ava.”
“Yes... dad.” I swallowed hard at the look in his eyes. It was intense, heart-felt. As though I could feel his soul, know his intentions.
And they were more than I could cope with.
“Hear me,” he said, his tone serious. “You’re my daughter, no matter what. If you decide that you don’t want my... job, then that is more than your right, that is your obligation. To make the right choice for you. Always. I just want you to know that that will not change the relationship between you and I. Nothing will.”
I squeezed his hand back. “Thank you, dad.”
“But I want you to know something else.”
I arched a brow. “What’s that?”
“I want you to know... that I think you would be an amazing High Warlock,” he said. I wanted to cut in, make some sort of sarcastic remark, but he sounded genuine. “And you would do things for our community. For this realm, all the realms in fact... that I don’t have the courage to do.”
I inhaled sharply.