Heart of the Fae (The Otherworld #1)(18)

“I already told you,” Sorcha brushed her hand along Briana’s cheekbone, memorizing the shape of it. “The faeries offered me a deal to cure the beetle plague. I won’t see Papa die.”

She left her sister in the room and lumbered down the stairs. The pack was too heavy for her, but she refused to let any of it go. The books were important. Every herb, every poultice, every bit of her mother’s teachings was in those books. Where she went, they went.

Three flights of stairs felt like a full day’s hike. Heaving the pack to the floor, she quietly made her way to Papa’s room.

Knocking, she called out, “Are you awake?”

“For you, always.”

Sorcha smiled, blinking back the tears welling in her eyes. She slipped into her father’s room and closed the door behind her. Shadows hid the salt tracks on her cheeks.

“You’re leaving,” he said.

“You heard?”

“How could I not? Your sister was screeching like a banshee.”

She settled onto the edge of his bed. “You always said at least one of us was a changeling child.”

“Yes, but I always thought it was you.”

“I made a deal.” She blurted the words out and let them hang in the air between them. “There wasn’t another way. The Guild won’t listen to me, you’re getting worse, the beetles are spreading. Someone had to do something, Papa.”

“And that someone had to be you?”

“Are you so surprised?”

He pushed himself up onto his elbows, gray streaked hair plastered to his skin with sweat. This was the reason why she would risk her life. This man, who had given up so much to give her a chance.

Papa slicked his hair back, huffing out a tired breath. “I woke up this morning, and the beetles were worse than ever. I coughed up blood for the first time, and I know what that means. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry. Then, this afternoon, they stopped moving. I don’t know why. I don’t know how. But they stopped and my first thought was that you had something to do with it.”

A tear slid down her cheek. “Papa—”

He lifted a hand. “I’m not finished. I didn’t raise you for the beginning bit of your life, but I saw a good girl when I met you. I never met your mother, but she obviously raised you right. The others are spoiled, vain, cruel to each other. You have never been like them.

“I knew from the moment you set your heart on curing me, you would find some way to stop this. I’m glad it’s you. I’m sad you must leave me to do it, and I hope you didn’t trade your soul for my old life. But I will stand by you if this is what you want.”

“Oh Papa,” she choked as she threw herself into his arms.

She hadn’t done this since she was a little girl. It was far more difficult to fit in his lap now that she was full grown, but she tried her best. He rubbed her back as she fought back tears.

“It’s not a shameful thing to want to save your family, Sorcha.”

“They think I’m running away to be with a man. As if I would leave you? Them? I love you all too much to leave without good reason.”

“And they love you. It’s why they’re so upset.”

“What am I going to do without you?”

He chuckled. “I imagine you’ll do just fine. Do you know where you’re going?”

“You believe me?” She lifted her head from his shoulder. “You don’t think I’m crazy or lying?”

“You’ve always seen faeries, Sorcha. I thought you were crazy when you were little, but then I started noticing things myself. Tiny hands used to tug your hair all the time. You stayed the night with Rosaleen, but your dresses were all perfectly pressed and folded on your bed. Strange things happen around you, child.”

“Most would say I’m a witch.” She wiped at her eyes, catching the salty tears upon her fingertips.

Papa shook his head, the deep grooves in his forehead standing out in stark relief. “You’re no witch any more than your mother was. Faeries are picky who they choose to help, so I’d say you’re lucky. Not cursed.”

She didn’t want to let him go. She wanted to stay curled up against his chest forever, or until he stood up as a strong man again.

Her chest heaved with silent sobs. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Papa. Is this the right thing to do?”

“Does it feel like it?” He tapped her chest. “In here?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s the right thing to do, and family be damned. You’ll return to us someday, I’m certain of it.”

She wasn’t. Sorcha had a sick feeling deep within her belly that this was the last time she’d see him. Her hands shook as she cupped his cheeks.

“Goodbye.”

He pressed his palm against the back of her hand, holding it against his heart. “Goodbye, sweet girl.”

If she stayed for a moment longer, she would never leave. She threw herself from the bed in a whirlwind of movement and rushed out the door.

“Sorcha?” Rosaleen called. “Sorcha, are you really leaving?”

“Tell the others I love them!” she shouted and scooped up her bag.

The front door slammed behind her so hard the shutters shook. The dullahan started, a bland expression on his face.