Page 47 of Bargains with Benefits
My fingers wrapped around my glass again. “Why give me such an impossible task with the inn, then? If you want to help me?”
He laughed, but it didn’t sound joyful. “I’m pretty sure you’re the only one that can save it. And if you’re not interested in doing so, there is no point in me holding on to it.”
I lifted my glass to my lips again. His words were similar to Evelyn’s. They made me wonder if he, too, was aware of the blood magic. I wasn’t ready to ask him about that, especially considering the memory.
Starting fresh was also a concept I didn’t know how to address. Were we to pretend the last twenty-five years hadn’t happened? That he hadn’t abandoned me? Was this some misalignment between humans and fae? Twenty-five years probably seemed like nothing to him. It might not be much to me in the span of my lifetime, either, but those years he’d ignored me still hurt.
“So,” he started when he must have realized I couldn’t find the words to say anything else, “do you have plans for your name day?”
I cleared my throat. Then took another big gulp as I desperately tried to understand his question. “What?”
He licked his lips like maybe he was reconsidering. I was sure I’d heard him correctly. I didn’t know why he would be asking.
“Do you have plans for your name day next week?” He swallowed hard and tapped his fingers against the side of his drink. “I wondered if we could host you at the house. Your grandmother and I would be thrilled to have you for a meal.”
I sucked in a breath. Exactly what I needed was falling into my lap, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to do about it. Thankfully, Seraphina arrived at that moment to deliver the food. She brought Darius his soup, and for me, a meat pie. I couldn’t even get excited over one of my favorite dishes as I contemplated how to respond to Darius. Seraphina gave me a weak smile as if she wanted to offer me some support but couldn’t interrupt my meal.
“You two need anything else?” she asked.
Yes, I need answers that make sense. But that wasn’t her problem. I smiled and shook my head, and she was gone. Once again, I was alone with Darius—my estranged father who wanted to host a name day meal for me. No matter how inconceivable the offer, I couldn’t waste this opportunity.
“I’d like to come,” I said as I cut into the pie, letting the steam burst out through the slit, “but I’d like to bring someone.”
Darius made a noncommittal “Oh?” sound, like a question. It was like he expected me to provide more information. I figured I needed to. What was I going to say? I’d had plenty of time to develop a story but had failed. I knew I was a lousy liar, and my lack of relationship with Darius wouldn’t make me any better.
“I’d like to bring Vincent Andiveron,” I said carefully, tasting the name on my tongue.
Darius’s eyebrows rose. “You know him, then? It’s not just enjoying his column?” He gestured to the drink near my plate.
“Yes.” I took another sip.
Darius waited for more. I wasn’t sure I had more to say. He clearly wanted to know what Vincent and I were to each other.I honestly wished I knew, but I had no idea. Unfortunately, Darius seemed content to wait, lifting a spoonful of soup to his mouth with a patient smile in place.
He was fae. Who knew how long he could outlast me here? I let honesty reign as Darius’s quiet patience defeated me.
“I know you’re waiting for some explanation, but I don’t have one. We’ve been…seeing each other,” I said hesitantly. I knew that had connotations that weren’t precisely true to Vincent and me, but it felt true enough that I could say it with a straight face.
Darius’s eyebrows raised farther.
“He’s important to me, and therefore it would be nice, if I was to come to a family home that I’ve never been invited to, to have someone familiar…someone who will look out for me should things not go the way I expect.”
I hadn’t realized what I would say until the words were out. Now that they were, they felt like the ones I’d been searching for all along. I might not be sure Vincent and I could have a romantic future after all the pain of this bargain we’d made, but I knew I cared for him. I believed he cared about me as more than a means to an end, too.
Even if we were visiting Pierce House to see if my father was up to some nefarious activity, I wanted Vincent by my side when I found out the truth. Though I hated to admit it, I wanted to know if my father was attempting to keep half-fae like myself from learning about their magic, especially with this recent change of heart. This whole discussion was a total turn from everything I’d expected. I was getting exactly what I needed, so I wouldn’t press, but my curiosity was more than piqued. Why now? I hadn’t even given him the report about the inn. I hadn’t had to ask for my favor—he’d offered me exactly what I needed. It was too good to be true, I was sure.
But I wanted to save Cliff House, and this was our ticket to do so.
I let out a breath and met Darius’s steely blue gaze. My confusion must have been apparent. He was no longer smiling, but he nodded. “If that’s what you wish, we’d be happy to have you both.”
I took a bite of the pie, unable to enjoy it.
What had I gotten myself into?
22
Vincent
Iwas drawn to Luna as I entered the tavern, like the tide to the shore. She and Darius were finishing their meal. I slid through the mass of people to get to the bar. Someone was settling up, allowing me to snag an empty stool. Seraphina gave me a look as I sat.
