Page 62 of Toward Immortal Ruin

Eden retreated and took the stool next to him.

“Eat, Coffee Shop. Wouldn’t want dinner to get cold.”

“My compliments to your grandfather. It totally makes sense it was your childhood favorite, this is definitely the most delicious grilled cheese I’ve ever had.”

“My dad always makes them so much better than I can. Never figured out how, though, even though he explained it to me a million times.” Gaze growing fuzzy with fondness, she smiled softly.

“He seems like a good man,” Nero commented, swallowing another bite. “When was the last time you saw him?”

Her expression tightened. “It’s been ages, honestly. I’ve either been too busy or didn’t have enough money to buy the tickets.”

“Why don’t we visit him now?”

“Oh my word! Why didn’t I think of that?! And I asked for Paris first!”

“It’s okay, professor, you have your own personal Raeth taxi service now. There’s no limit to what your dutiful mate can provide. I can take you anywhere you want to go, as many times as you want to visit.” He popped the last bite into his mouth. “The world is too big to stay in one place, Eden. Sometimes, the beautiful things can’t be discovered without getting lost.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

For the fifth time,Eden smoothed out the blazer she’d put on, ensuring no wrinkles remained in the grey material. Her weight loss was strategically camouflaged by the structured fabric, and she hoped her dad wouldn’t notice it and start to worry.

The thought of seeing her dad tonight was exciting and nerve racking at the same time. Too many times she’d planned to go visit, only to be foiled by a last-minute speaking engagement or funds running too tight. After her symptoms started, she hadn’t dared to face the man who would be more crushed by her life-altering diagnosis than anyone else in the world.

Nero had taken her back to her apartment to let her change into appropriate clothing, and was currently taking out her trash while she wore a hole in her floor. As soon as he reappeared, she ambushed him.

“Can we go now?”

The devil smirked. “Yes, your alphaness, we can go.”

Two minutes later, they were striding up to the front doors of her father’s residence in his assisted living community. The rowsof townhouses were well-kept but frustratingly similar, with only a stray pink flamingo or some such lawn ornament separating one from the other. She instantly recognized her father’s favorite weathered rocking chair, sat on the left end of his porch, a host of reading material in a plastic box next to it.

With a single steadying breath, she knocked on the door.

“Coming!”

Her heart thumped in her chest at the sound of her father’s voice, practically bouncing up and down as the door finally opened and she saw his face. “Sugar plum!”

“Daddy!”

Her tears came quickly. It’d been far too long, and the days too hard, since she’d seen her father. He wrapped her in his hug, not a bit weaker than he’d been when she was growing up. Whenever she’d needed him, he was always there: fixing a tire, hauling around furniture, or taking her out for ice cream when the world got to be too much. Her dad was more than just a father—he’d been her best friend growing up.

“Baby, I didn’t know you were coming!” He held her out at arm’s length to get a good look while she gave him a watery smile. “You’ve lost weight.”

“And I wasn’t even trying,” came her flippant answer, hidden beneath a grin. “Daddy, this is Nero.”

Her father’s expression turned from ecstatic to scrutinizing in the span of a second. Those emerald eyes, bracketed by laugh lines, narrowed as he took in the man behind her and weighed him for all he was worth.

Nero extended a hand in greeting. “Eden’s told me so much about you. Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“Sir, huh?” he chuckled. “I like this one already.”

Her dad returned the handshake. A gleam of approval registered in his aged features before he looked over his shoulder. With a tilt of his head, he urged them inside.

“Still getting those headaches, sugar plum?”

Eden scrambled to cover for the reveal, before Nero took interest. “Nope, daddy, I’m all good.”

But her smile felt forced, and it was only moments later that she realized Nero’s stare had hardened. Concern siphoned along their mating bond, and that was when she finally understood the source of his discontent. He’d sensed she’d been deceitful.

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