Vaughn scented his mate the moment she materialized behind him. He reached for her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her tightly against his side. The fae stared at her in amazement and tried to move forward again, but the wards held.
“Do you know who I am?” the fae asked.
Tulip shook her head, but she studied the fae hard, looking for clues.
“My name is Cedar and I believe I’m your father. You’re Nightshade’s daughter, aren’t you,” the fae asked.
“Yes,” Tulip said. “If you’re my father, why did you never come for me?”
“Because I didn’t know you existed. I was with your mother for a few months and then I got called away for a war. When I came back years later, I couldn’t find your mother and heard rumors that she’d died. No one mentioned a child.”
“How can I believe you?” Tulip said. “I need proof you’re my father.”
“If you’ll reach through the door, I’ll show you,” the fae said.
Vaughn growled and his grip tightened on Tulip, but she looked up at him with pleading eyes. He moved them closer to the open doorway and let her stick her hand outside, but kept her anchored against him in case it was a trick. The fae reached out and placed his hand against Tulip’s. Fireworks shot into the air around their hands and Tulip gasped. Where the sparks fell, flower blossoms littered the ground.
“Daddy?” Tulip asked softly, tears shining in her eyes.
“I will do everything within my power to protect you,” Cedar said. “I’m sorry it’s taken so long for me to find you. If I had known, I would have come sooner.”
“Can we let him in?” Tulip asked. “Is there a way to let him in without letting in all other light fae?”
Eric did something with his hands and Cedar was allowed to cross the threshold. Tulip broke away from Vaughn and threw her arms around her dad, hugging him so tight the light fae looked uncomfortable for a moment, then he hugged his daughter back. Seeing them together, Vaughn couldn’t deny they were related. But would the fact they could now prove she was half-light fae be enough to save his mate?
“Can you speak with the others and call off the hunt for Tulip?” Vaughn asked.
“I can try to reason with them, but once they find out I was in love with a dark fae, my judgment will be called into question. I’m not certain they will care that she’s part light fae. I could take the matter to the high court, but without a king or queen, it’s chaos at the moment. Our military has taken over.”
“Then I’ll go see the council,” Eric said.
“You loved my mother?” Tulip asked.
“More than anything,” Cedar replied. “She was my entire world, but our love was forbidden. She was different from the other dark fae, kinder. You have her eyes.”
“She waited for you,” Tulip said. “I think she finally died of a broken heart when you never came back.”
“I was sent on several missions back to back,” Cedar said. “It was nearly twenty years before I heard that she had died. I didn’t much care what happened to me after that. But if I had heard even a rumor that Nightshade had had a baby, I’d have looked for you.”
Vaughn kissed the top of Tulip’s head and held out a hand to Cedar. “You’re welcome to stay with us, if you’d like. Get to know your daughter. I’m sure she’d like that.”
“I can help guard her,” Cedar offered. “I’m not as powerful as some of the light fae, but I can hold my own in a fight.”
“If I go with Eric to meet the council, would you watch over Tulip while we’re gone?” Vaughn asked. “The house is warded as you saw. Neither of you should leave until we return, hopefully, with good news.”
“I would be honored to stay with her.”
Vaughn looked at Tulip then back at her father. “As I mentioned earlier, she’s pregnant. You’ll be a grandfather before too long.”
Cedar stared at his daughter, love shining in his eyes, and Vaughn knew that his mate would be safe while he was gone. He kissed Tulip softly before nodding at Eric. The sorcerer placed a hand on his shoulder and a moment later they were in what looked like a courtroom, except the walls were glass and they were surrounded by plant life. Vaughn didn’t have any idea where they were, but he didn’t much care, as long as the council helped his mate.
Eric stood with his hands folded behind his back, his feet braced shoulder width apart. Vaughn mimicked him, not knowing the protocol for approaching the council. He’d heard of them, but had never met a council member before. His nose told him which of the members were wolf shifters. He tried to make eye contact with them, but no one had acknowledged their presence yet.
A fae looked up, a crown of flowers on top of her blonde locks. “Sorcerer, you wished to speak with us?”
“I have come on behalf of Tulip. Her father has claimed her and has proven she’s not fully dark fae.” Eric looked each member in the eyes. “I’ve come to ask that you remove the threat to her life. The light fae have asked her to be turned over to them dead or alive.”
“And if she is not fully dark fae, what is she?” one of the shifters asked.
