it?” he asked when we squared off again.
“Not even a little and no offense—when have we ever talked about stuff like that?”
“None taken, and it’s awkward for me too, but I think you need to get it out to someone who won’t coddle you.”
I snorted. “Have you met your daughter? She doesn’t coddle. She just knows me well enough to know…”
“That you’re seconds from running. Yes, she didn’t hide how worried she is about that.”
I couldn’t even deny it, so I didn’t, getting my frustration out in our sparring and taking his sword from him in twelve moves… Which did not make him happy.
Well, it made me smile.
I tossed it back to him, but then frowned when I saw him tense. “What?”
“I do have one thing to say, as a father, not as a dragon who serves the Vogels.”
“Okay.”
“Hudson’s not my son, but I’ve watched him from the moment he was born. He’s a good kid.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t, not fully. He’s been… It’s crushed him how much he’s hurt you. He fucked up, but I believe you now understand the true difference between a prince who sees people as pawns and possessions, and one who made a serious mistake trying to do the right thing and didn’t get the upbringing he should have to handle all on his shoulders.”
I blinked at him several moments, taking in what he’d said. “I’ll think on that. I will. It’s a good point.”
“Good, because you were valid. Maybe harsher than I would have expected, but it wasn’t your fault everything with all of them blew up at once, but valid. I’m not on his side, as I’ve also sworn to protect you.”
“Why bring it up then?”
He cleared his throat and glanced at the house. “Because I have a feeling you’re going to need the support of those who will be loyal and at your back now, more than ever. He is not like the fairies I used to know but… Twenty years is a long time. No, fairies weren’t perfect, but maybe we romanticized them some. Maybe things changed.”
My heart thudded so loud, it echoed in my ears as his meaning sank in. “You think the dark magic and the evil of it sank into the ones it was cast upon.”
“I don’t know. I didn’t know him before. It could be a million different things and honestly, I’m no peach, but waking up twenty years later and finding out my mother had done all of this to my whole species, and world, would make me a rat bastard, of that I have no doubt. But it also wouldn’t be the strangest thing we’ve ever seen.”
“Both are good points. Thank you for telling me. Really.”
He nodded. “I’m on your side. My clan is, and not just because of Hudson and…” He shook his head when I waved him to go on. “It’s not my place. Just talk to him.”
There was definitely something more to that, but I let it go. What he’d said was enough to think about, really mull over, and let sink in, and I’d had enough harsh truths lately. I didn’t need to go looking for more shit.
It always, always found me.
Neldor came out to watch towards the end of our one-hour session that was normally two hours but cut in half like Dr. Salzman told me to handle training. When we finished, he actually waved for my sword, frowning when I snorted at him and put it away. “I need to brush up on my skills.”
Then Mr. Rothchild snorted. “That’s great, Prince Neldor. Best of luck finding someone to handle that.”
Neldor’s eyes flashed shock. “You’ll train her, but not me?”
“Yes.” Mr. Rothchild smirked at him before glancing at me. “And I keep telling you to stop trying to pay me.”
“I haven’t,” I defended.
He rolled his eyes. “You sent another shipment from the co-op and bakery—”
“No, I didn’t,” I chuckled. “They do that all on their own, Mr. Rothchild. You guys protect me, help the hobgoblins, and your nieces are doing a fantastic job running HAVEN. They thank you all on their own. Tell them what you want, or they’re just going to keep sending stuff as they want. Trust me.”
“I’ll pass that along.”
“Thanks again. Tuesday?”
“Wait,” Neldor cut in. “Surely you can spare an hour at least?”
Mr. Rothchild finished packing his stuff away and hefted his bag on over his shoulder. “Yes, as I’m staying for breakfast, but I won’t.” He narrowed his eyes at Neldor. “Tamsin respected our ways enough