Page 82 of A Trial By Blood

“So you got her pregnant and took off instead?”

His smile dropped. “I was going through some things. Things that I didn’t want touching my girls, so I left. I planned to come back, but things in my world were messy, and the longer I stayed away, the harder it was to come back. In the end, I thought you’d both be better off without me.” He motioned to me. “I never dreamed you’d have anything of me in you… I thought you’d be all witch. Nothing like this has ever happened in our colony. You’re unique…” He shook his head. “I don’t even know your name. Christ, I don’t even know my own daughter’s name.”

I crossed my arms. “Rose.”

“Rose.” He smiled. “Daisy always did have a thing for flowers.” He fidgeted. “I know I don’t have a right to be here, but I wanted to meet you. I’ve always regretted leaving the way I did.”

He actually seemed genuine, but then I didn’t know him. He could be full of crap. “I’m not sure what you want from me,” I said, because he’d had my whole life to make introductions, yet he’d stayed away.

“I’m sure you have questions about what you are, where you come from. I wasn’t there when you needed me, but I’d like to be there for you now. You have family, a colony, they’re your people as well. I’d like to share that with you, if you’d let me.”

I suddenly realized I did have questions, a lot of them. I also had wings that I couldn’t use, and maybe he’d be able to help me with that. As for a relationship of any kind or getting to know my bat shifter family, I wasn’t so sure. “I’d like to know more about what I am, but as far as the rest, I’m not sure I’m interested. Maybe we could meet to talk sometime?”

He nodded. “I’d really like that, Rose. I’m not going to push for anything. It’s up to you, all of it.”

I didn’t want him coming inside. This was enough of a shock for me, I wasn’t going to spring a reunion on Mom as well.

He gave me his number and left, and I went inside. Today had been eventful, to say the least. My head spun, and I found my need for Ronan, to be with him, was so strong, it was a constant ache inside me.

He’d left only minutes ago, and already I missed him.

The sounds of the TV drifted from the living room. I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts, so I joined Mags and Iris on the couch.

“How’s things?” Iris asked, throwing an arm around my shoulders.

“Okay, I think, or maybe completely terrible. Honestly, I’m not sure,” I said and rested my head on her shoulder.

“Sounds about right,” she said and gave me a squeeze. We were quiet for a few moments. “So, have you been studying up on your basic spells?” she said into the silence. She was worried about me.

“Yes, ma’am, and all I can say is thank the goddess I have Ronan to protect me or I’d be toast already. I’m so out of practice.”

Iris’s expression grew serious. “When you need it, your magic will be there for you. If you don’t have a spell for what you need, follow your gut, the words will come. And if not, you can direct the energy you’re feeling. A blast of magic disorientates an attacker and can give you the split second you need to get away. Practice, okay?”

“I will, I promise.” All my sisters had been trying to hide their fear for me, but I saw it now in Iris’s eyes. Time to change the subject. “Where’s everyone?”

“Mom and Art had an early night. Else is out again with Connor.” Iris’s eyes went wide, and I laughed. Last year our gran predicted, from the spirit realm, that a male was going to come into Else’s life. It looked as if her prediction was coming true. “And Wills is at the clubhouse. Ren was stopping by, he’s been spending a lot of time there lately, the pull to be with her…he’s finally giving into it again. He’s also spending time with the hounds.”

“Well, that’s good.” Willow had been trying to get him to leave his house more, and it looked like her efforts were working.

“Ren’s been taking baby steps, but this seems like a big one to me,” Iris said. “Though, I think the hounds have just given him another way to avoid dealing with what he went through.”

“Oh?”

“Booze and females,” Iris said.

I winced.

“Yeah.” Iris chewed her lip. “But Wills is there, and Warrick. They won’t let things get out of hand.”

She didn’t look overly confident. I wasn’t either. Ren was still young, only twenty-two, and working through the trauma he’d suffered, something that none of us could ever understand. And no, getting drunk and sleeping around wasn’t exactly a healthy way to deal with it, but if that was what he needed right now, I wasn’t going to judge. I turned to Mags. “Where’s Bram tonight?”

Magnolia shrugged. “Don’t know. I don’t freaking know anything anymore.”

“He’s still being weird?” Iris asked.

Mags twisted her fingers in her lap. “Yep. I feel…god, helpless, and I’m…I’m so fucking angry. Angry with Bram, angry at whatever’s keeping him from me. Angry at everything.” She clenched her fists. “I don’t want to be angry anymore.”

“Maybe I can help you with that,” Asher said, walking into the living room, carrying a bowl of popcorn.