Read Online Flight (Children of the Sidhe) by J.R. Pearse Nelson - Free Book Online
Authors: J.R. Pearse Nelson
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tactics of concealment and magic. Not because there’s support for it.”
“You’re the one who left your daughter, Mikhail. You made that choice on your own.”
“Oh, you supplied plenty of advice, sister. I knew my mistake had no welcome home here.”
Tessa sucked in a pained breat h. So it came out. Like a punch to the gut. She had no reason to be so affected. He was right. She’d made her opinion plainly known. She’d told him if he wanted a child he could live beyond the veil with her. She’d been disgusted, especially at the thought of the mother’s heritage.
And now , surprisingly, those same viewpoints made her stomach ill.
She finally spoke softly. “Don’t be angry, Mikhail. I’ve said I was in the wrong. I’m telling you now.”
“For your own reasons. Always for your own selfish reasons.” Mikhail nodded in the direction of the study, and Tessa turned her face from him. He was right. She was beyond selfish. Even with Nathan. She’d taken him in because he might have some value. She’d taken him as a lover because she liked the way he made her feel. None of that was fair to him. Not when he didn’t even understand her past, her feelings about his sort. But what were those feelings now? She didn’t know. The abstract idea of lesser beings sharing her superior blood was all muddled up with the reality of Nathan, and the unanswered questions she had about her niece.
Mikhail gathered a deep breath. “I can tell you’re struggling with this. I’ll try not to be angry. I hope you figure out just how wrong you’ve been. Until then, I need to be sure of your plans. Can I assume that if you believe my daughter to be in danger you will tell me the instant you know? Do you have that much honor where your family is concerned, Tessa?”
Tessa had to forgive his tone. This wasn’t a pleasant discovery. “I’ll tell you the moment I worry for her safety. Let us hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Mikhail paced across the room, stopping to stare out the window. Maybe he was trying to come to grips with the news she’d shared, or maybe he was just getting his emotions under control. Tessa had never responded well to emotional arguments. He knew her well enough to know that.
“ So...” Something in his voice made Tessa’s attention snap back to her brother. “What is this, with Nathan?”
“ Why would you ask me that? I’ve known the man all of three days.” Tessa glowered, and turned away. Her brother didn’t deserve her ire – that’s what his tone had said. Dare I broach a sensitive subject with my bitter sister?
She took a deep breath, resigning herself to the awkwardness of honesty. “I don’t know what this is. Distraction? Comfort? He’s been through something, and so have I. And he’s really good looking.”
Mikhail laughed out loud at that, and Tessa smiled. Her little brother ; she loved his laugh. Moments later, he turned a solemn expression her way. “Don’t get involved if you’re going to throw the half-human thing in his face later. That’s just cruel.”
“ People end affairs for all sorts of reasons. What’s one more?”
“ Don’t be cavalier. This is a big one. Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
Tessa didn ’t have time to form a retort before he left the room. She didn’t know how he’d known, but a moment later the bell rang, calling them to dinner. Leave it to Mikhail to be extra perceptive when it came to food.
Tessa hung back, weighing her thoughts like she could actually feel them in her hands. Could she promise that she wouldn ’t hold Nathan’s half-human nature against him, in the end? And if not, what right did she have to treat him so callously?
Thirteen
When Nathan heard the bell calling them to dinner, he frowned. He still wasn ’t halfway through the sample he’d taken, but he’d already found a number of very peculiar things.
The wing was the most di sturbing, from a llaiadian, as Tessa had called it. She’d
“You’re the one who left your daughter, Mikhail. You made that choice on your own.”
“Oh, you supplied plenty of advice, sister. I knew my mistake had no welcome home here.”
Tessa sucked in a pained breat h. So it came out. Like a punch to the gut. She had no reason to be so affected. He was right. She’d made her opinion plainly known. She’d told him if he wanted a child he could live beyond the veil with her. She’d been disgusted, especially at the thought of the mother’s heritage.
And now , surprisingly, those same viewpoints made her stomach ill.
She finally spoke softly. “Don’t be angry, Mikhail. I’ve said I was in the wrong. I’m telling you now.”
“For your own reasons. Always for your own selfish reasons.” Mikhail nodded in the direction of the study, and Tessa turned her face from him. He was right. She was beyond selfish. Even with Nathan. She’d taken him in because he might have some value. She’d taken him as a lover because she liked the way he made her feel. None of that was fair to him. Not when he didn’t even understand her past, her feelings about his sort. But what were those feelings now? She didn’t know. The abstract idea of lesser beings sharing her superior blood was all muddled up with the reality of Nathan, and the unanswered questions she had about her niece.
Mikhail gathered a deep breath. “I can tell you’re struggling with this. I’ll try not to be angry. I hope you figure out just how wrong you’ve been. Until then, I need to be sure of your plans. Can I assume that if you believe my daughter to be in danger you will tell me the instant you know? Do you have that much honor where your family is concerned, Tessa?”
Tessa had to forgive his tone. This wasn’t a pleasant discovery. “I’ll tell you the moment I worry for her safety. Let us hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Mikhail paced across the room, stopping to stare out the window. Maybe he was trying to come to grips with the news she’d shared, or maybe he was just getting his emotions under control. Tessa had never responded well to emotional arguments. He knew her well enough to know that.
“ So...” Something in his voice made Tessa’s attention snap back to her brother. “What is this, with Nathan?”
“ Why would you ask me that? I’ve known the man all of three days.” Tessa glowered, and turned away. Her brother didn’t deserve her ire – that’s what his tone had said. Dare I broach a sensitive subject with my bitter sister?
She took a deep breath, resigning herself to the awkwardness of honesty. “I don’t know what this is. Distraction? Comfort? He’s been through something, and so have I. And he’s really good looking.”
Mikhail laughed out loud at that, and Tessa smiled. Her little brother ; she loved his laugh. Moments later, he turned a solemn expression her way. “Don’t get involved if you’re going to throw the half-human thing in his face later. That’s just cruel.”
“ People end affairs for all sorts of reasons. What’s one more?”
“ Don’t be cavalier. This is a big one. Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
Tessa didn ’t have time to form a retort before he left the room. She didn’t know how he’d known, but a moment later the bell rang, calling them to dinner. Leave it to Mikhail to be extra perceptive when it came to food.
Tessa hung back, weighing her thoughts like she could actually feel them in her hands. Could she promise that she wouldn ’t hold Nathan’s half-human nature against him, in the end? And if not, what right did she have to treat him so callously?
Thirteen
When Nathan heard the bell calling them to dinner, he frowned. He still wasn ’t halfway through the sample he’d taken, but he’d already found a number of very peculiar things.
The wing was the most di sturbing, from a llaiadian, as Tessa had called it. She’d
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