And I listened.
Really listened.
There it is.
My gaze snapped back to him. “We’re literally underground.”
He smiled. “Very astute.”
“Is this room… what is it?”
“It is one of many in this specific area of Shadow Tunnels. Situated beside mine.”
“Shadow Tunnels… right. Because you’re part of The Shadowed.”
“I am its Commander and its Maker.”
“Is that how I should refer to you? Asmymaker?” I bit back.
“I wouldn’t advise it. Maker in that context has a mythical vampiric connotation to it that many would interpret as you being a sireling.”
“Isn’t that what I am?”
“Certainly not. I have thousands of sirelings who are bound to me by the dark magic inherent in vampirism and the rites of turning.Youare my flesh and blood. You are my one and only child. Myson.”
I frowned. “You speak so reverently about it.”
“Of course.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “It doesn’t make sense. You disowned me. You abandoned me. Worse—you left me to be raised by that brutal bastard. My fucking stepfather.”
“Rest assured, thatbrutal bastardwas punished for what he did to you.”
I started. “What are you talking about? He was mauled by a rival wolf pack, one trying to protect my mom.”
“Well, I was certainly trying to protect your mother—and you—but his fall wasn’t the result of wolves. It merely needed to appear that way due to the political complexities at play during that time.”
“You murdered him.”
“Well, not justmurdered.As I said, he was punished. Severely. As were his allies who attempted to exact revenge through you over the years once you left the safety of your mother’s home and made your way in the world.”
“You were everywhere. All this time?”
“In the shadows, yes.”
“I don’t understand. Why never emerge? Why never show yourself to me? Why never claim me as yours?”
“To be connected to somebody like me would have marked you for death. Not to mention, the work I do, it is not a life I would wish upon those whom I love.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “There is no reprieve. No peace. It just…is.”
“Just survival?”
“In a manner of speaking.” He smiled sadly. “Great power is not free, hmm?”
“Yeah, I’m getting that… a lot lately, actually.”
“I am aware, Lazriel. And I am so very sorry.” He reached out, but stopped at the last moment, thinking better of it as I tensed. “Rest assured, that hard times will pass. They always do. And in this case I will see to it for you.”
“I don’t need you to do that.”
