Page 54 of Shadow Warrior
There was silence after his revelation.
I lightly touched his sleeve. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”
He looked momentarily conflicted. “I’ve dreamed of home for so long, and now my chance is here, I must admit, I am torn. This pathetic world has grown on me.” His eyes lit up as they caressed my face. “The people here have grown on me.” He smiled and then shook himself, tail flicking as if brushing off nostalgia. “Make the call, Kash.”
Kash held his phone to his ear. “Gran, hi. Yeah, sorry … I’m not sure … I think she was upset. Honestly, it’s all a little fuzzy. No, we’re fine … Yes, I’ll be back, but Indigo got summoned to shadow cadet duty … I know, a real shame, but she’s up for coming back to visit again soon. Yes. Okay. Love you too.” He hung up. “I think we’re good.”
That was it? “She bought it.”
Kash shrugged. “It’s a powerful enchantment, a system that’s been in place for generations. There’s no reason for her to think otherwise.”
“And Payne … When he doesn’t show up on their feeds?”
“They’ll assume he left the creek for another part of that world,” Larkin said. “It’s rare, but it happens.” He looked speculative. “But you know he can’t stay here, right? There is no place for him at the Academy any longer. The safest thing for him would be to leave.”
Leave? Panic tightened my throat. “No. I only just got him back.”
Even as I said the words, I knew they were selfish. Staying here after he’d found out who I was had gotten him into this mess in the first place. If he had run when he’d discovered I was his daughter … No, I couldn’t allow him to put his life at risk again.
Kash cupped my shoulder. “It’s for the best … Just until things cool down.”
I nodded mutely. “I’ll speak to him.”
“I’ll get him,” Kash said.
He was gone for less than five seconds, and then Payne was standing in the corridor with us.
Payne took one look at my face and shook his head. “No,” he said. “I’m not leaving you.”
There was no denying the spike of joy at his words, the warmth that suffused my veins to know if he had a choice, he would stay. But that wasn’t an option. It had never been. Part of me had known all along that bringing him back didn’t mean I got to keep him with me. I’d just refused to acknowledge it.
This was going to be hard. “Yes, you are.” I crossed my arms. “You leave now so that we can be together again in the future. You know I’m right.”
He did know. It was written in the lines of sorrow on his face. He knew he couldn’t stay here, not if we wanted to save our tiny family of two.
“Indigo …” His face clouded with grief. “I don’t want to go.”
Fuck. I would not cry. “I don’t want you to go. But I’d rather you be away from me, somewhere in this world where I can find you easily, rather than transported to another reality.”
He swallowed hard. “Okay.”
My heart cracked a little.
“I’ll take you,” Larkin said to Payne. “I can drop you off wherever you want before I leave.”
Payne nodded. “Thank you.”
“Time to say goodbye,” Larkin nudged.
Fuck, this was it. They were both leaving.
Payne drew me into a hug and then kissed my forehead. “I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. I promise.”
I wanted to hold on to him and never let go. I wanted to stop time and just be his daughter for a little longer. Instead, I released him reluctantly and plastered a smile on my face, one that said, this is not the end. One that said … “I’ll see you soon, Dad. Be safe. Please.”
He smiled. “I’m so proud of you, Indigo. I’m so proud to call you my daughter.”
Larkin gripped my dad’s arm, and then they were gone.
