Page 22 of Shifting Winds
“I’m fae.”
“Raised by humans.”
“I dunno. If I’m fae and I can find friends like I have, why can’t you?”
Cernunnos laughed. “You make it sound so easy.”
“And you make it sound so hard.” I flipped onto my side and studied him. “Did you love Mom?”
He stilled. “Such an abrupt change of subject.”
“She seems so cold all the time. If I didn’t know I was the product, I never would put you two together.”
“I’ve already told you our time together was brief. Your mother is a…force.”
“So just sex then?”
He looked pained. “Evie.”
“It’s cool. Sometimes the loins want what the loins want.”
“I am rethinking this heir thing.”
But I could hear the amusement in his voice. “Too bad. I’m going to come in and declare Taco Tuesdays and mandatory movie screenings in the throne room on Saturdays.”
Cernunnos shook his head and rose. “Get some rest, daughter. I will visit again soon.”
“Do we have to go back there?” I couldn’t quite keep the whine out of my voice.
“They are not bad,” he said after a moment. “Only complicated.”
“And power hungry.”
“Yes.”
“And I should probably watch my back for assassination attempts?” My words were lighthearted, but some of the looks I received tonight got my hackles up.
His eyes swirled with fury. “No one would dare.”
I tried not to laugh. “If someone thinks they won’t get caught, they’ll dare way more than we think they will.”
“I will send a guard.”
I held a hand up. “Absolutely not. If you get all protective on me, you’ll regret it. I’m a grown woman. And if what you say is true, I have more power in my pinky than most people do in their entire body. I’ll be fine.”
With a groan, I hefted myself from the couch. “I’ll hang the gown and give it to you next time I see you.”
Cernunnos rolled his eyes and walked to the door, even though I knew he could disappear in a flash if he wanted to. He acted a little more human around me, which I appreciated.
“You will call me the instant something happens.”
“I will,” I promised, even though I had zero intentions of doing so. “Though I just want to make sure if someone does come after me, I can put them in the ground, right?”
His smile was all teeth. “I’d expect nothing less from my daughter.”
We walked onto the porch. A swirl of magic surrounded me before a heavy sweater lay across my shoulders. My fingers stroked the soft fabric.
“Cashmere?” I gasped.
