“Yes. It seems she decided to double-cross me.” I attempted to keep the pain from my voice, ignoring the sadness and fury in my demon’s gaze, but it was difficult. This was the problem with emotions—you open yourself up for a few and start to get way more than you bargained for.
No. Not today. I would not deal with these today.
“Narc—”
“So my grandma knows?” I needed to confirm while also filling the painful silence that reeked of the potential for pity regarding my shitty mother. I didn't want them thinking I needed that, because I didn’t. I was perfectly fine. I mean, mothers betray their daughters in Demonic realm battles all the time. Right? We were actually pretty run-of-the-mill when it came to parenting issues.
I didn't think I was actually fooling anyone.
“As much as I did at the time.” He nodded as his large hand gently ran through my hair, making my skin break out into shivers. His words did make me feel better a bit, because if my grandma was somewhat aware of the situation, she would easily be able to hold down the fort until I managed to find my way back.
Dorian frowned slightly, seeming to debate something before guilt flashed in his gaze. "Well, it is possible she knows more than that."
"What do you mean?" I pulled back as Abel chuckled under his breath.
He offered me a slightly sheepish look. “It was very brief, and I could have misheard it, but I thought she said something about your father.”
“My father?” I parroted.
He nodded. “I mean, I know she has an idea of who he is, but I’m not positive how that relates to where we are—”
“Excuse me?” I asked sharply, feeling a confusing cloud of frustration form over me. Unless I had lost my ever-loving mind, I was damn positive that this was the first time that Dorian had ever mentioned anything about my father.
My incubus’s gaze darkened with concern. I could feel a slight tension running through the group, and I had the urge to turn to see the others’ expressions. To see if they were surprised by his words or if they had already known. I was hoping for the first but betting on the second, which meant I was a bit miffed. More than miffed. I was pissed off. I kept my focus on him, not wanting to budge on our intense eye contact until he explained himself.
I didn’t do secrets.
Dorian ran a hand through his hair, a bit of a nervous gesture, before an expression took over his face that had my chest squeezing. Not because of worry or insecurity or even anger... no, this was affection. I could see the concern for my possible reaction and guilt from what I could assume was due to his secret-keeping.
My anger dissipated as I realized how much my reaction to his words mattered to him. I don’t know why he had kept this from me, but I trusted Dorian with my life, so I had to assume it was for a good reason.
Was it wrong that it gave me a small thrill of happiness that he cared about my opinion so much? I’d been obsessed with my guys for so damn long. Had loved them for so damn long. It was overwhelming to realize that they truly loved me back. Wonderful, but overwhelming.
“Fuck, this is not the ideal time to explain all of this,” he grumbled. “The context of the conversation isn't going to make full sense right now... but your grandma is aware of who your father is, and according to my understanding, the reason why he and your mother broke up. She didn’t explain further than that, though.”
Oh.
“Why did she share any of that to begin with?” I demanded softly. My heart was beating a million miles an hour as I processed his words. Holy shit.
In my peripheral, I could see the others had walked ahead just a bit, giving us space to talk. I appreciated that, but I really needed to confirm if they had known this literal life-changing fucking news and for how long.
I forced down the tiny bit of betrayal I felt, because I wanted to instead focus on his words—you know, the ones about an entire sector of my past that I’d always been curious about. More than anything though? The strongest emotion I was feeling?
I was livid with my grandma.
Okay, livid was dramatic, but I was pissed. I mean, I had expressed to her several times what a massive gap this had been in my life, and all this time she could have filled it in for me? That was a bit shitty of her. Sorry, I wasn’t going to lie about that.
Dorian’s ears heated. “I think that may be a conversation better held with everyone else here. Plus, as I said, I have no idea how it relates to this situation at all. I probably shouldn’t have even said anything. I’m sorry Narc—”
“Dorian,” I began, tugging his hand to mine. “It’s fine. I’m not mad at you.” I hated that he was rambling. I hated that he was so uncharacteristically worked up about this. I didn't want him to feel that way. I think I was just a bit shocked about all of this. I could also see that he authentically believed it would be better to wait to have this conversation, and like I said, I trusted him. Instead of saying anything, I raised up on my toes and brushed my lips against his in a heated kiss, gripping his shirt in a tight hold.
A deep, low groan broke from his throat as his hand wrapped around the back of my neck, making the kiss deep and intense. Maybe I could kiss the answer out of him? I had to admit, this was a much healthier way to deal with my frustration regarding all of this bullshit. I’d meant it to be a light, sweet kiss, but when my tongue darted out to trace his lips, I could feel my demon starting to break.
“Dorian!” I exclaimed, breathless and flushed, as my back hit a nearby willow, the leaves creating a night-like veil of privacy around us. I could tell we had traveled a bit into the forest, my head falling back to look up at the large man filling my entire vision.
His muscular chest and citrus scent created a shiver that ran up my spine as one of his large hands tilted my head back, his thumb running over my quickening pulse, making heat explode in my center. Holy shit. This man had the power to destroy me, I could just feel it. Of course, it didn’t help that my magic was one hundred percent on the ‘let’s fuck right now’ train. I briefly had a thought about the others, wondering if they would be worried... but I mean, worst-case, they came looking for us. I wouldn’t complain.
“I was going to answer you anyways.” Dorian’s voice was soft and filled with certainty, his grey eyes tracing my slightly parted lips.
“That wasn't why I kissed you,” I admitted as a sexy glint lit up his eyes, making me nearly smile. I enjoyed most looks on Dorian, but happy and amused were ones that I would be thrilled with seeing constantly... well, that, and the hungry way he was staring at me right now.
“Sometime last year, when you had stayed home from school sick, I ended up having a conversation with your grandma that even I couldn’t have predicted,” he began, making me realize just how serious he was. “We were in the kitchen, and she began to explain how, out of all three of you, there was only one person that had a chance at happiness long term. You. So she gave me something, something for our future.”
My cheeks heated. “She gave you what?”
What had she given him? Did I want to know? Of course I fucking wanted to know. I also wanted to know who my father was, though it seemed like I should have been more focused on getting out of Hell... something that didn’t seem nearly as important anymore.