Chapter 101: The sins of the father
Soren sat alone in his study, and in his hands he held a photograph.
The image had begun to fade at the corners, but her face remained clear. Isolde.
Her dark hair fell in waves past her shoulders, and her eyes those impossible green eyes looked at him with a warmth that still had the power to undo him.
Tears tracked down his face but he did not wipe them away.
"Our son is dying," he whispered to the photograph. His voice cracked on the words. "And I cannot be there. I cannot watch him die, Isolde."
He traced the line of her jaw with his thumb, a gesture he had made a thousand times. A thousand more would never be enough.
"What does any of it mean?" he whispered.
There was a knock at the door. Soren swiped at his eyes with the back of his hand, clearing the tears, and slid the photograph into the top drawer of his desk.
"Enter."
The door swung open and Willow stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She regarded him with a flat stare, her arms crossed over her chest, her posture rigid with defiance.
"I was told you are looking for me, Father."
Soren looked at her.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"I do not think that concerns you, Father." Willow shot at him.
Soren rose to his feet, rounding on Willow and he struck her across the face.
Willow’s hands flew to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at her father.
"How dare you?" Soren barked at her. "You have always been so spoilt, Willow. I let you get away with whatever you wanted."
Willow lowered her hand from her face. A red mark was already blooming across her cheek.
"You let me get away?" She scoffed. "You were never there to let me get away with anything, Father. Do not delude yourself."
Soren grabbed her arm and shook her. "You are being a child. So what if Ares is my son?"
Willow’s eyes went wide.
"You admit it?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "You admit to sleeping with the Alpha’s Luna? Your best friend’s wife?"
"She was mine far before she became his." Soren roared. "I love Kieran like a brother but he knew Isolde was never his up until the day she died."
"How can you say that?" Willow’s voice rose. "How about my mother? What was she in your love triangle with your best friend?"
"I loved your mother."
Willow scoffed again.
"No. You listen to me." Soren pulled her closer, his face inches from hers. "You want the whole truth? You want to be mature and think you know it all? Then listen to this."
"I loved Gia how I could, and she did the same. My own father wanted me to begin having children, to let go of Isolde who was my fated first but I could not. Gia gave me you, and I will always be grateful for that."
"And did you kill her as a means to show your gratitude, dear Father?" Willow mocked. "Did you strangle my mother and string her up to show your thanks for the love she showed you?"
"It is more complicated than that."
Willow gasped.
"More complicated?" You killed my mother!"
She wrenched her arm free of his grip and stumbled backward, putting distance between them. Her eyes were wet now, the tears spilling over despite the fury etched into every line of her face.
"He was right," she said. "You are a fucking monster."
Soren’s eyebrow drew together in confusion.
"He?" Soren stepped toward her as she backed toward the door. "What has Alistair said to you? What has he told you?"
"Stay away from me."
Willow’s back hit the door. Her hand fumbled behind her for the handle, but she was shaking too hard to find it.
Soren advanced on her.
What poison had he poured into his daughter’s ear while he was not there to protect her?
A knock on his door stopped him in his tracks.
"Who is it? State your purpose."
"My lord, Prince Damon is healed."
"Did you say Damon is healed?"
"Yes, my lord. Alpha Kieran has summoned you immediately."
Healed? Soren’s shoulders slumped in relief.
Willow stared at her father, watched the way the smile broke out on his face at the news of Damon’s healing.
"No," she murmured. "It cannot be."
Soren glanced up at her.
Willow was staring at him with a look of dawning horror. Her hand had risen to her mouth.
"Damon," she said slowly. "You are his father too?"
Soren said nothing but his face did not hide the truth.
A sound escaped her, something between a sob and a gasp.
"And Cassian?" Her voice broke. "Is he also yours"
Soren looked at his daughter, his chest heaving.
"Like I told you, Willow." His voice was quiet. "It is complicated."
Willow’s eyes filled with fresh tears.
She turned around, reaching for the door but Soren was faster.
He caught her by the arm and pulled her back. She opened her mouth to scream, but his hand was already there, clamping down over her lips, muffling the sound before it could escape.
She struggled, kicked and thrashed and clawed at his arm, but that did not help much.
His free hand found the pressure point at her neck and he pressed.
Willow’s eyes went wide, her struggles weakened and her body went slack in his arms.
Soren caught her unconscious form before she could fall.
He held her for a moment, cradling his daughter against his chest the way he had when she was small and she could still fit in the crook of his arm.
"It’s okay." he murmured against her hair. "I just need you to stay here for a bit, Willow. I promise I will explain it all when I return from slitting the throat of that bastard, Alistair."
He carried her to the chaise by the window and laid her down. Her breathing was steady and she looked peaceful.
Soren looked at her for a long moment.
"It is for your own good," he whispered.