Haunting Shadows (Book 2)

Chapter 23

Kalen’s eyes widened in shock when James Wils—my father remained impartial, not even acknowledging what I had just said. “I thought your parents tried to kill you…?” Kalen said, looking about as shocked as I felt.

My eyes remained fixed on James. I wouldn’t call him my father until he had earned that honor. “My mom and the man she’s married to did, but he isn’t my biological father.”

“I’m curious why you think I’m your father, girl,” James said, his voice remaining neutral.

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Don’t call me girl. My name is Lana.”

“Just Lana, no title?” he challenged. Figures. My biological father had to be an ass. I had the most awesome luck ever.

I balled my hands into fists, the rising anger increasing my level of confidence. “No title anymore. I kind of denounced my family after they tried to have me killed and all.”

James cocked his head to the side, observing me like I was a wild animal set free upon his house. “Then what did your title used to be?”

“Lady Lana Eleanor,” I spat out, the words burning my tongue. I swore to myself I would never call myself that again, and this man was forcing me. The memories that name brought burned to brightly, blistering the skin still left on my bones after everything. It was a flame I had no intention of igniting again. Kalen placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder; I shrugged him off, in no mood to be calm.

My biological father stiffened, but his expression still betrayed nothing. He opened his mouth to speak, but Natalia interrupted him before he could. “Father, you cannot seriously be trying to deny her accusations? How can you when she has your eyes?”

He fixed cold, deadly eyes on the daughter he obviously cared more for. “I was not about to deny it, only confirm it,” he said to her, before turning to me. “Your mother, her name is Jane Eleanor?”

“I no longer consider that woman my mother.”

James rolled his eyes. “I do not blame you. She has always been a spiteful woman.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Spiteful is not the word I would use. And I wouldn’t quite put you in a different category.”

The corners of his lips twitched up. “You think I’m spiteful, and what, you’ve known me for two seconds?”

“I second her statement,” the girl who called herself Mallory said, her eyes set into a scorn.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” he snapped, his gaze still focused on me.

“Before she thought I was going to die, in my cell that was the final stop to my death, Jane Eleanor told me everything. Her last gift to me. Telling me how glad she was to be rid of me because I shared even the slightest resemblance to you,” I took a deep breath, willing my emotions to stay at bay from the painful memory. “She told me that you know… about both my brother and me and you chose to leave us with that woman anyway… knowing that if we inherited your inclination toward magic we could die. What kind of father is that heartless? How does that make you any better than her?” I accused, my pitch rising.

Every single eye in the room was on me and I realized this might’ve been the wrong time and place to do this, but I didn’t care. I hadn’t known how much it actually did hurt me knowing he had abandoned us before he even got the chance to meet us.

“I have a half-brother and sister you failed to tell me about? A half-brother and sister younger than me that you failed to mention?” Natalia demanded, her eyes wide and her tone taking on a incredulous edge.