Page 131 of The Immortal’s Mark

It’s subtle, but I hear her tiny, pained intake of breath.

After a pause, she whispers, “Of course I care about your dad.”

“You could have fooled me.”

The silence that follows is no longer peaceful. It’s taut. Fragile. Accusations, spoken and unspoken, hang in the air between us.

I don’t regret it.

My frustration has been building since the moment she walked back into my life. She lied. She kept secrets. And she controls everything with her suffocating protectiveness.

“You’re angry with me,” she says quietly. “I understand. But it’s time we talk. Not about Adir or the clan. But about us…about why I left.”

“By all means.” I cross my arms. “This ought to be good.”

Her forehead creases. “Please don’t do that. Don’t dismiss the conversation before it even begins.”

I blow out a breath, a strand of hair lifting before falling against my lips. I brush it away. “Fine. I’m listening.”

Her gaze lingers on me a second longer, as if measuring my sincerity, before she turns toward the trees.

“I was young when I left the Nightsbane Clan,” she begins. “I didn’t agree with the way the leaders ran things. I was tired of being used for their own personal gain.”

I nod, remembering what Alex has already told me.

“Alex said the clan wanted to get rid of all vampires. Is that still their goal?”

“Hardly.” She smirks. “Alex has greatly impacted the clan’s stance on the vampire race. While many still don’t trust them, he’s made it nearly impossible for them to wish him away. His funding is only second to his protection.”

“Funding?”

“He provides the clan income for our ‘services.’” She makes air quotes. “Witches and warlocks of the clan are bound to help Alexander whenever he has need of them.”

Understanding clicks into place.

No wonder Des reached out to Alex to sway the clan toward the Council’s cause.

“I guess it’s hard to tell the person who pays you, no.”

Her smirk grows. “No one has told Alexander no in years.”

“No wonder he’s so arrogant.”

She laughs, and despite myself, I do too.

“Do not get me wrong,” she says between soft chuckles. “Despite our issues, I adore Alexander. But he is definitely one of the most arrogant men I’ve ever known.”

Her expression turns almost wistful.

My stomach drops.

She notices. “What’s wrong?”

I hesitate, but I can’t not ask. “Is Dad really my dad?”

She recoils. “Of course, John is your dad!”

Relief rushes through me so fast it makes me dizzy. “Good.”