Dacia paced through her office, trying to think about anything but Preston, and failed miserably. She wanted to prove that she could help.
There were a few options, none of which seemed to be the answer. She could go to Toryn and offer her assistance, but she didn’t want to make Preston look bad.
Another option? Telling Toryn who Preston was. And after spending half the evening before wondering why they looked so damned similar, it all made sense. Of course, she had no clue why Toryn didn’t know in the first place. She didn’t want to risk going against Preston’s wishes.
As a last resort, she considered tracking down her father herself, which wasn’t likely to end well.
Feeling useless, she threw herself into the leather executive chair and picked up the phone. Not dialing, she only stared at it, unsure who to call or what to say. A distraction was what she needed.
Her door slammed open and in strode Lincoln, who looked pale. His sea green eyes flashed, an intriguing contrast to his coffee and cream colored skin. Finally starting to fill out, he no longer looked like a teenager, but a man, at twenty-seven.
Dacia’s head cocked to the side. “My, aren’t we pissy today?” Which was new for Lincoln. Shy, embarrassed, timid—all things she associated with him. Royally ticked, not so much.
He gripped the back of his neck. “I need your help. She’s driving me crazy. If I stay, she’ll find a way to control me. I can’t take it. A fresh start is what I need—away from her—in a place I can call my own. “
Dacia sat up straight, her brow arched. “Who, Lincoln? You’re not making sense.”
He paced the room, pressing his hands to his head for a moment before facing her and throwing his arms down. “My mother is still here, haunting me. Only now she’s calling me a sinner, and I’ve done nothing wrong.” Color flooded his dark cheeks.
Blinking, Dacia sorted through what Lincoln could possibly have done to merit his mother tormenting him from the grave. The worst thing he could possibly do was jerk off, but that wasn’t a sin. Except his mother was probably that much of a prude.
Finally, a distraction.
“What are you looking for?” she asked, business-like, as she pulled out a notepad and pen.
Lincoln took a deep breath, and let it out in a huff. “You’re not going to question me?”
“Didn’t figure you were going to tell me what you did to earn mommy’s wrath.”
He swallowed, his eyes dropping to the ground before blazing up to lock with hers. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. “I’m done being the perfect little boy who never does anything for myself.”
“Good for you. I already like the new Lincoln better than the wallflower you were.”
“Doubtful.” He sighed. “It’s like she expects me not to feel desire. And I keep sensing her.”
Frowning, her brows drew together as her hand rose. “Your mother?”
Shaking his head, he scrubbed a hand over his jaw as one corner of his mouth tipped up shyly. “Someone I want, but I can’t even think about inviting her into my home while my mother watches over my shoulder.”
“Come again?” Now she was doubly curious. “You finally found a woman you’re willing to pursue?”
He nodded. “First, I need a house, apartment, I don’t care, something not my mother’s!”
“Budget?”
“Doesn’t matter, but I’m not looking for something huge. Simple, low maintenance, but I need some place to call my own.”
“And fast?”
Lincoln nodded.
“I’ll drive.”
* * * *
Old Street Diner stood before them. Preston had fond memories of studying in one of the booths after school with Robert and Liz. They spent many days there back in the forties. His mother had owned the place for as long as he could remember.
Preston stared through the window trying to gather his words to confront his mother on a subject that she had shut down every damned time for decades.
Robert’s question interrupted his thoughts. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he looked over. “Not really. My mother is the only one who could have told Remus who my father is. Why tell him, and not Toryn?”
“When was the last time you talked to your mother?”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Months ago was the last time I sat down and really talked to her. I meant to call, but then had to deal with Toryn, and well… What the fuck was I supposed to say? Every time I ask why I can’t tell Toryn, she shuts me down.”
“You sure she’s okay? If Remus came here…”
He refused to think too much. “Don’t. Let’s go see what’s up before we jump to conclusions.”
Preston pushed through the door and found his mom behind the counter flirting with one of the regulars from years ago. He took a breath, letting relief fill his lungs. “See, she seems fine.”
Preston lifted his arm in a wave.
A smile brightened her face, but a single eyebrow arched. “New tattoo?”
With a glance at his arm, he remembered the Lady of the Lake. Mom hadn’t seen the ink before. “Been there a while. I need to talk to you, Mom.”
She tipped her head toward the kitchen. “Joe, come out here a minute, please. I need to talk to my boy.”
“Pshh.” The regular laughed outright. “That kid of yours hasn’t been a boy in more than seventy years.”
Joe came out with a grin, his face wrinkling further. The troll preferred to appear as a crotchety old man. He’d been his mother’s business partner for ages. “Go on, Priscilla. Maybe tell him about that weasel who was coming around a few weeks ago. You can’t trust Remus and you, of all people, know that first hand.”
“I will, but I’m protected. Remus can’t harm me in my establishment,” she offered lightly.
“You aren’t always here, are you?” Preston asked coldly.
Her eyes flashed, but she didn’t argue.
Robert cleared his throat. “Come on, let’s discuss this away from prying ears.”
Priscilla nodded, leading them back to her office, then through the closet door to go down to the basement. Magic washed over him, sending a tingle down his spine. It was always like that. There was a tunnel that led to her home across town, and she used it whenever anyone paid her too much curious attention.
Once the door was closed Preston started in, “Mom, why did you tell Remus Arc who my father is, but I can’t say a damned word to anyone?”
She turned, her eyes wide as her gaze ping-ponged back and forth between Robert and Preston.
“I know,” Robert offered ruefully. “Don’t worry, it didn’t come from his mouth. But here’s a warning, you will not bind me the same way you bound your son.”
She nodded slowly. “Very well. I won’t ask how you learned the truth.” She took a deep breath, her chest heaving with the motion, and turned to face her son. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“Why is that?”
“Remus would have burned the diner down with everyone in it. He wove a spell to make sure no one could slip out during his visit. Telling him saved everyone here. Besides, it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. I’m amazed it hasn’t yet.”
Her attention flicked to Robert. “Doesn’t this change Preston’s position with the Silver Council?”
“His secret is safe with me, Ms. Emrys. I value your son’s friendship far more than his pedigree. Have you learned nothing of me over the years?”
“Your mother—”
Robert’s expression turned dark, his eyes narrowed. “Don’t ‘my mother’ me. She’s no longer here, and even while she was, I didn’t let her ideals control my life. I have far different views from her, as you would know if you ever paid attention to the fact that I have never let your son down.”
“You wouldn’t have reported it?” she mocked.
“No. I would not have.”
“Anyone else would!” she insisted.
“Maybe most, but not all. That’s not why we’re here. We need to understand why you wanted to keep this secret from everyone, especially Toryn.”
Her arms crossed over her chest. “What good would the fae knowing do? He couldn’t be here for his son, and I wasn’t going to allow Preston to be raised in Faerie when I’m a fugitive there.”
“I highly doubt Toryn Flame would have gone so far as to take me from you. I have a feeling the man would have strived to be part of my life without taking me to Faerie.”
Her hands landed on her hips. “And what makes you say that?”
Preston let out a bitter laugh as he paced away, pushing his fingers through his hair. “You know so little about him. Do you have any clue what he’s really like? Or did you make assumptions based on the fact he took you to bed and didn’t try to make a relationship work? Well, Mom, I’ve got news for you, I’ve bedded plenty of women, and it didn’t make me a bad man.”
She fidgeted, looking anywhere but at him. “I never said Toryn was a bad man. I’m the first to admit he is honorable, and would have made an excellent father. But think about this. If anyone ever found out Toryn helped me escape Faerie, we’d all be dead by now. If the mages ever learned your father was fae we’d be outcasts, treated worse than you were because they think your father is a human. Telling Toryn would have put us all in danger. All of us!”
He paced away and hit the wall, then turned back to his mother. “For the record, I’ve been dealing with him for my current assignment. As it turns out, we see eye-to-eye on quite a few things.”
“He knows? He can’t!” she shouted.
“And why the fuck not?” Preston yelled back, throwing his hands up.
“If the Silver Council finds out, it will ruin your career.”
“Yeah, well you told Remus, and he already shared your secret with my mate.”
The absolute shock on her face would have been comical if he hadn’t been so mad. “Mate? Wait… what? Mate? As in a fae bond?”
“Yes, Mother. Didn’t think that could happen, did you? Funny, neither did she, and she’s only half-fae.”
“Half?” Her brow knit together. “Who?”
He still wasn’t totally sure where Dacia and he stood to begin with, but his mother’s meddling could easily throw a wrench into their tenuous beginning.
Preston sucked in a breath, and spit out the answer, “Dacia. Remus’ daughter. So thank you very fucking much for potentially ruining a relationship that took weeks of chasing her before she let me in.”
“You—you chased a woman? For real?”
“Yes, I did! I want her more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life, and the stubborn woman kept turning me away because she didn’t believe I could be sincere. Apparently just like you. Fuck! Why did I come here again?”
He glanced over at Robert, practically ready to beg him to transport his ass anywhere else. Robert’s lips twitched.
At least someone was getting a kick out of this.
Priscilla approached him, her hands up in surrender. “Preston, slow down. You’re in a relationship? Truly?”
His eyes snapped back to her. “Yes, damn it, I am.”
“Then it can all be fixed. Though, are you sure you want Remus’ daughter? That arrogant monster may have rubbed off on her.”
“Oh no, don’t even go there. She’s not like him. Give me a single damned reason Toryn can’t know about me now. I’m an adult. It’s not like he’s going to spirit me away to Faerie, especially since his mate doesn’t want to go there either.”
Her brow shot up, her eyes bugging out. “His mate?”
Preston’s hands cranked into fists as he tried to wrestle back his anger. “Yes, his mate. Doubtful you’ve ever met her. She’s less than half my age. Why do you care when you’re the one who never once went looking for him?”
“I didn’t think the man was capable of love. Only lust,” she admitted with a sad shrug.
“Mother,” Preston forced a smile, “you have taken more than your share of men to bed without love. Why is Toryn any different than you, than me, or any number of people?”
“I was afraid. For you. For me. For a lot of reasons. Most of which circle right back to Remus.” She shrugged and sank onto a chair. “I’m wanted in Faerie, especially after what I did to Remus before my escape. I’m sure he would love to have me in a dungeon again, only this time without my iron spikes.”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Preston shuddered. “Did he hurt you?” The words were torn from him.
A smirk twisted her lips. “Oh no. I knew some of his darker desires, and turned them against him.”
“Fuck,” Preston groaned. “I really don’t want to know more.”
“I didn’t have sex with him, if that makes you feel better. I let him think he was getting lucky before driving iron spikes through him. Funny thing about iron on certain fae, they can’t escape, no matter their tricks.”
“Seriously, Mom. No more details! Now, release me from the spell.”
“First, tell me why you’re looking for Remus.”
“He’s my assignment. He needs to pay for his crimes. We have irrefutable proof he’s tortured, raped, and killed countless women. I’m working directly with Toryn to find Remus. It may never come up, but if I’m forced to lie and withhold things, it could jeopardize this assignment. Please remove the spell so I can do the job you’re so damned proud of.”
Priscilla stood there, staring at her son.
Robert cleared his throat. “Preston’s position is safe, Priscilla. I won’t share this secret, and unless Remus spreads the truth, no one will learn of it. Even if he does, we can play it off as rumor.”
Her head dipped in a slight nod as she moved closer to Preston. “Very well.” She lifted a hand and placed it on his chest.
The threads of magic snapped, and a weight was lifted off him. He took a deep breath, feeling free, stumbled and put his hand out.
Robert caught him. “You okay?”
He nodded. “Never realized how constricting that spell was.”
“For that, I am sorry,” Priscilla offered softly.
“Thank you.” I think. He wasn’t sure what to feel about all of it, and her vague answers left more questions. “Is there anything else I need to know?”
“No, but if I think of anything, I’ll call.”
“Thank you.”
“And don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“Mom, I’m sorry.” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her through his lashes. “I get why you kept the secret. I’m not even sure I’ll tell Toryn.”
Her expression softened as her head tipped to the side. “He’s an exceptional man. Maybe it’s time Toryn learns of his son.”
Preston sucked in a breath. “Call me if Remus initiates contact. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
She gave him a vicious smile. “He won’t take me by surprise. And I trust you to take him down. Remember, he’s devious and he’ll use everything at his disposal.”
“I will.” He tipped his head. “He can’t sneak up on me either.”
Mom nodded with a smile. “Go get him.”
“You ready?” Robert asked.
“Sure.” Preston hoped he spoke the truth.