Autumn Dawn (Fate's Intent Book 11) (27 page)

“It was but Meg was there and I used her to try to forget about Ruby.”

I couldn’t help it and I laughed. “Really?”

“I already know you’re opinion of her and that’s fine. It didn’t matter. All that time was wasted because Ruby was waiting on me.”

“You were waiting on each other?”

“Regrettably so. Meg left by then and we worked things out.”

“I can’t believe I haven’t heard this before.”

“Were you serious when you said you won’t tell?”

“Oh, I won’t. I swear.” I watched him for a couple seconds while we continued to walk the halls and I noticed something different. “Is there something else?”

“I don’t want to scare you but I also don’t want you coming up with some conspiracies and sharing them with the others.”

“What?”

“It’s the timing. There’s a fifty/fifty chance that I could be Cadence’s father.”

His words stopped me from walking and I just froze, my insides feeling all twisted with some kind of fear. “What?”

“It’s okay.” Darius tapped my shoulder to get me walking again. “If it’s true, I’m not upset that she’s with you.”

“But how do you know?”

“I’m still not completely sure that I do. It’s Ruby who’s convinced. That day your mother got back alone and ordered you to go play, that’s when she told us about it.”

“But—how—wouldn’t—couldn’t—” I honestly didn’t know what to say. I’ve never come to any kind of thought like that.

“There’s a way to test it but it’s really not a good idea to let her know what we’re doing.”

“Why? Wouldn’t she want to know?”

“That’s kind of exactly why. I still might not be but we wouldn’t want her to get her hopes up. She’d be relieved at the slightest chance that she’s not a part of Hintus.”

He was probably right. She would be glad. “And what about Dirk?”

“What about him?”

“I can already hear him now if that’s true. He wouldn’t allow me to be with his sister.”

Darius laughed, somehow finding my panic amusing. “I guess I’m glad you didn’t say he would be angry about this but it shouldn’t be like that. If it’s true then I’d have rights to her, not him unless I die before she’s married.”

“And where exactly would you stand?”

My question amused him again. “Didn’t I already say I wouldn’t mind? You’re a good man, Seth. She already loves you. There wouldn’t be a thing I could do about that.”

“I guess it would bring our family even closer together.”

“It sure would. Now, come on. It’s getting early. We should have been off to bed already.”

“I suppose. I won’t tell anyone about this and I’m sorry again, for assuming wrong about you with the instance with my mother. I should have asked.”

“It’s all right but it’s in the past for you now, right?”

“Yeah and mother doesn’t have to know any different.”

“Good. It’s time to put this to rest and continue with the days ahead.”

I nodded and we parted ways to our rooms.

Cadence was already tucked away in bed when I walked in and I went over just to watch her lay peacefully. I was kind of hoping what Darius told me was true, that he really was her father. I didn’t know how everyone else would react but Cadence would be happy.

I’ve heard the stories. Everyone in Hintus was crazy. I didn’t want her to be a part of that. I didn’t care that it wouldn’t make her a true Princess. That’s not why I loved her. There were so many other reasons and the list grows with every passing day that she spends by my side. Our future looked brighter than ever and no one could deny that it wasn’t Fate’s Intent but I knew I still had things to do before I could make her mine forever. It was just doing them. We had to know who her father was.

Coming soon—

The Twelfth Installment

Of The
Fate’s Intent
Series

Despairing Tides