Chapter Twenty-Three

Once I was safely outside the academy—and having checked I had no annoying fae tailing me—I pulled out Aodh's stone and stared at it for a long moment before blowing out a breath and wrapping my fingers around it.

"Okay. Let's do this. I'm ready to meet."

I focused my thoughts on my intention to meet with my father, and the stone pulsed warmly in my hand.

"Great. So far, so good," I muttered. "Now how do I know where I'm supposed to be going?"

But even as the words left my mouth, I knew they were redundant. I could feel a pull running through the stone into me, like a magnet drawing me forward. I followed my feet, letting them guide me through the trees. I made it only a hundred paces before I felt the need to stop. Just enough, I was sure, to cross the academy's wards. Just as I was wondering what next, the air in front of me shimmered, then split apart as a portal appeared.

I eyed it a moment, then squinted at the Cailleach stone dubiously. "Right. A portal appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the night. I don't suppose that's some kind of creepy coincidence?"

But I could feel that same magnet pull drawing me to the portal.

"Fine. But this whole mess started with me needing a portal," I muttered to the stone—possibly because I was losing my mind. How else had I ended up here, alone in the dark and about to go through a portal that could lead literally anywhere? "Aodh sure does have a twisted sense of humor."

I hesitated only a moment longer, because really, what choice did I have? If I didn't go through, I was pretty sure whatever Aodh would do to me for breaking my contract with him would be worse than anything my father could want. The worst he could do was kill me.

Shaking my head at the ridiculous shit I'd managed to get myself into this time, I stepped through the portal.

I emerged in a small, grassy clearing.

The clearing was deserted except for the lone figure standing there, watching me through calculating eyes. I searched his face in silence, trying to pick out features I recognized from myself. Because there was only one person he could be, and I didn't need to see the exact shade of my eyes in his, or the shape of my own lips on his face to know it. My father.

"You came," he said, watching me across the clearing. "I was starting to doubt that you would."

His cold, self-satisfied voice was like nails down a chalkboard, and abruptly all I could think of was that this was the man my mom had spent my entire childhood running from…and I could understand why. Something about him triggered the danger response in my head, and I wanted nothing more than to turn on my heel and run.

Instead, I eyed him coldly.

"Aodh required me to."

His eyes tightened—I guess this wasn't the warm family reunion he'd been hoping for. Or maybe he was just pissed I wasn't fawning at his feet.

"You were foolish enough to make a deal," he said scathingly. "It wouldn't have surprised me if you were foolish enough to break one."

"Says the man who broke one of the most important laws there is, and is now in hiding from the council."

"Oh, is that what you believe, daughter?"

I frowned. "You're a vampire. And my mom is human. That's illegal. You are a vampire, right?"

My frown deepened as I looked at him more closely…but it wasn't like vamps wore an ID tag telling everyone what they were. Still, there was no mistaking the fact he wasn't human.

"I am indeed a vampire. And I fathered you on that human woman."

I opened my mouth, decided what was about to come out would do nothing to prevent my untimely demise, and snapped it shut again. See? I could make smart choices.

"What I dispute, daughter, is that the draconian law to which you refer is anything short of ridiculous. Lesser creatures should not attempt to govern their betters."

"Yeah, every asshole I've ever spoken to has felt the same way."

…so much for the smart choices.

My father's lips pinched together in disapproval. "You have poor manners. Had I been able to keep you by my side, you would better understand your place in the world."

"Oh, I understand it just fine, thanks."

"That I doubt greatly, or you would mind your manners around me."

"And why would you think I'd give a shit about that, after what you did to my mom?"

Tension ripped across his jaw, and my fa—

"What's your name?" I blurted. Because I really did not want to think of this guy as my father. He was not that to me. I'd managed just fine without one my whole life, and I wasn't interested in changing that now.

"Oh, how remiss of me, Callista. I am Ezekiel of the Daemonoctis Clan. And you, daughter, are my life's work." He waved a hand dismissively. "Or at least, the last half-dozen decades of it."

"How old are y— Actually, I don't care. Why did you bring me here? I'm guessing it wasn't because you harbor some deep-seated desire to get to know me. Why did you even—" Ew, no, there was no way to get that sentence out without it sounding gross, or involving me picturing this guy with my mom, doing the horizontal ta—Ah, just great. That image was never going away.

"Why did I father you? I have my reasons. But I wonder, do you even understand what you are?"

"I'm a dhampir. Half human, half vampire, fully illegal, and hated by just about everyone. Thanks for that, by the way."

I clenched my fists, anger and resentment churning through me. Everything I'd struggled with my whole life was because of him and his choices. Because he'd chosen to interfere where he didn't belong.

"So yeah, I understand perfectly well what I am," I said coldly. "An outcast. Never fully belonging in the human world or the supernatural one."

My father arched an eyebrow. "Is that self-pity I detect? Perhaps I was wrong. You are weak, just like your mother."

His words were like a slap. "Don't you dare talk about her!"

"She was a foolish girl who meant nothing to me," he said dismissively.

"Then why?" I demanded. "Why…seduce her at all? Why father a child if she meant so little to you?"

Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "I have my reasons. Not that I owe you any explanation."

"The hell you don't!" I shot back. "You turned my life upside down for your own agenda. I think that's the very least you owe me."

In a flash he was across the clearing, hand clamped around my throat. His fangs glinted as he snarled into my face.

"You forget your place, girl. I am your sire and you will show respect."

Gasping, I clawed at his hand, wishing I knew how to use my own fangs, or even shift on command. "Respect...is earned."

I kneed him hard and his grip loosened. I twisted free, heart hammering as I backed off a few paces. He looked momentarily impressed.

"You have spirit," he mused. "Very well, I will tell you this much. Your birth was deliberate, Callista. As I said, my life's work. I have great plans for you."

His smile sent chills through me. I needed to get out of here, now. Whatever sinister ‘plans' he had, I wanted nothing to do with them.

Slowly I backed further away, body coiled, ready to fight…or do the smart thing, and run like there were hellhounds on my heels. Either way, I didn't give a shit why he'd created me. I would never be his pawn.

My father's smile twisted, flashing fangs—show off. "Don't be foolish. You can't outrun me."

He prowled closer. I tensed, looking for an escape route. But he was a full vamp, and an old one at that. He was right—there was no way I was outrunning him.

"Come now, daughter. Let us speak civilly. I have much to teach you."

Right. And I was the queen of England. I edged back.

"I'll pass, thanks. There's nothing I want to learn from you."

My father's cold smile didn't reach his eyes. "I advise you not to be hasty. A wise child would hear her father out before making rash choices. Walk with me, daughter. There is much I wish to discuss."

When I didn't move, his voice sharpened. "Must I make it a command?"

I stiffened. "I don't take orders from you."

"Come now, is that any way to speak to your sire? I've only wanted the best for you."

Whoever the hell I got my reluctance to lie from, it sure as shit was not this guy, because there was no way he gave a damn about me.

"You don't know the first thing about what's best for me," I shot back.

His eyes narrowed. "Such insolence. Had you been raised properly, then what lies ahead would be far less painful for you."

I shook my head adamantly. "My life is mine. I won't be part of any scheme of yours."

For an instant his carefully crafted mask slipped, revealing a glimpse of pure merciless ambition. It chilled my blood.

"You will honor your duty, one way or another." His voice was pure menace. "The only question is whether you walk to it willingly...or if I must drag you there in chains."

"The only place I'm going," I told him coldly, "is back to the academy."

"The academy?" He threw back his head and laughed. "No daughter of mine belongs at the academy."

"I am not yours."

"You are mine, until I say otherwise. I would not advise being troublesome during that time."

"Yeah, well, I think we've already established that I'm not interested in taking your advice, thanks. So I'm leaving now. My deal with Aodh was to meet with you. We've met. And now I'm done."

"You are what I say you are," his voice thundered around me, and he passed his hand over a red gem set into one of the heavy rings on his fingers. A portal sprang into existence, and I gaped at it. I'd never seen anything like that before. Every portal I'd ever seen had needed a fae to be there, in person, to open it. Guess I knew who'd sent that portal to the academy for me.

"That ring could really put Aodh out of business," I muttered under my breath.

"There are many things that your mind could not begin to comprehend."

"Thanks."

"I will ask you one final time. Come willingly."

"Where does the portal lead?" I asked, stalling for no reason in particular, aside from my apparent desire to prolong the inevitable, since it was pretty clear that if he decided to force me to go through that portal, there wasn't going to be a whole hell of a lot I could do to stop him. Thanks, Aodh.

"My home. We'll remain there for a few weeks while I make the arrangements."

"What arrangements?"

He shook his head. "You have stalled for quite long enough, and my patience is growing thin." He jerked his chin toward the portal. "Go. Now."

He was stronger than me, faster, and had control of powers I didn't even know existed. The smart thing to do would be to do what he wanted without a fight.

But I'd never been all that smart.

I backed away slowly from the portal. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

My father's pale eyes flashed with anger, his lips curling back from his fangs. "You dare defy me, girl?"

Before I could react, he moved in a blur of preternatural speed. His hand cracked across my face with crushing force, sending me flying backwards.

I hit the ground hard, skidding several feet as pain exploded through my head. Dazed, I pushed myself up, tasting blood in my mouth. My father loomed over me, rage etched on his face. Shit.

"Get up," he commanded. When I hesitated, he grabbed a fistful of my hair, wrenching me to my feet. I cried out as he bent my head back, baring my throat.

"Perhaps I should remind you of your place."

"You can't!" I gasped. "I'm a dhampir, you'll become addicted."

"Then the myths are true? Interesting…"

His grip slacked in his distraction, and I twisted away, wrenching myself free. He whirled on me in a heartbeat—shit, he really was fast—and I raised my hands.

"I'm not fighting back," I told him quickly, while I still had some hair left. "I'll go willingly."

"Quick to break. He'll enjoy that, I'm sure," he muttered to himself, and his lips twisted in amusement. "Raised hands might be a sign of peace amongst lesser creatures like humans, but it's a sign of war amongst magic users. You'd do well to remember that, where you're going."

Oh, right. I guess that made sense. I dropped my hands with a curt nod and reluctantly started toward the portal, feeling Ezekiel's eyes boring into my back with every step I took. I was two steps away from it when my hand burned and movement flashed in my periphery. I twisted to my right, gaping at the second portal that had sprung into existence. One rapid glance at Ezekiel told me he hadn't been the one to conjure it, and that was all I needed to know. Anything had to be better than going with him.

With no more hesitation, I sprinted for the new portal.

His enraged roar echoed behind me. Just before I plunged through, I felt his fingers graze my back, grasping for purchase. Then I was tumbling weightlessly through the darkness.