Page 60 of A Dragon's Curse

When Dad’s voice had sounded in my mind and told me that he was borrowing Cillian, I almost ran naked out of the shower to stop them but decided better of it.

I drummed my fingers on the table over and over until Beatrix finally smacked my hand. “Quit your fussing. Your father won’t hurt him, and I’ve been watching Cillian. Unfortunately, he’s impressed me. It seems that boy would do anything for you, and I’m sure that includes listening to Roman toss idle threats at him.”

That had a smile lifting on my face. Cillian was the perfect mix of sweet and strong. I knew he could burn the world if he wanted, but he also cared deeply about many different things. Most important being me.

Knowing that had been one of the things keeping me calm lately.

Footfalls sounded in the hallway, and it was my father who appeared first. Alone.

“Where’s Cillian?” I asked, standing up and looking behind him.

“He’s coming.” Dad went to Mom, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pressed his lips to the side of her head. Even after all these years, he couldn’t enter a room without touching her first.

Ten seconds later, Cillian walked into the kitchen. I gave him a onceover, and he seemed fine. Not angry or annoyed or anything in between.

I was nice, my dad’s voice sounded in my head.

You’ve given me no reason to believe that without Cillian confirming so.

I glanced back at him, and my father grinned. He knew what he’d been doing and was proud of it.

My fingers laced through Cillian’s, and I looked up at him. “Did you want to take a shower before we go?”

He cringed a little. “Probably should.”

“I’m sure we have some clothes you can have, too,” Mom offered, stepping away from my reluctant father.

She pulled my mate away from me, and just like that, he was now alone with my other parent. This was just such a great morning.

“We leave in five minutes,” GiGi said loud enough that I knew my mother and Cillian would have heard her, then she huffed. “I’m going to go wait outside. I don’t need to be present for whatever gush fest the two of you are about to have.”

I’d had no intentions of doing that with my father now, but when I looked at him again, his eyes were much softer than they’d been since I’d returned home.

As soon as Beatrix went out the back door of the kitchen, Dad came over to me and grabbed my hand before gesturing for us to sit at the table together.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t handle last night as well as I should have,” he said first, surprising me. I was pretty sure the only person I’d ever heard him apologize to was my mother.

I didn’t reply immediately, because telling him it was okay to turn his back on me didn’t sit right in my chest.

“You’ve never walked away from me before,” I said instead.

His eyes cast down. “I know, and I knew it was wrong as soon as I’d taken my first step in the opposite direction, but I let fear continue to push me away. Since the moment you were born, there’s been nothing I’ve wanted more than to keep you safe.”

I squeezed his hand. “You can’t do that forever, Dad.”

“I know. I also know that you’ve grown up to be an incredible woman, and I’ve kept you too close for too long now,” he admitted.

“But you also taught me how to protect myself and be smart in all sorts of situations.”

He finally grinned again. “You always were an excellent fighter during trainings. You know, people haven’t always treated you differently because you’re the alpha’s daughter or because you have the alpha gene. You’re powerful in your own right, Dawsyn. Nothing I taught you can take away from that. I’m sorry if I didn’t make you see that truth before, but I hope you feel it now.”

I had thought I was already feeling his words, but it wasn’t until I heard them leave his mouth that I felt my chest rise and shoulders push back.

All my life I’d wanted to be something more, and I never thought I could be until I left home. I briefly thought that if only I’d known… Yet, the path I’d taken and the feelings I’d had, they’d all led me to Cillian. I couldn’t have any regrets about that.

I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around my father’s neck. “Thank you, Dad. For everything. Even all the things I didn’t realize at the time that you were doing for me.”

His hands pressed against my back, and he rested his head against mine. “Always, baby girl. No matter how old you get, where you live, or what you do, I’m always here for you.”