Chapter 65

I smile at Mihai, my mood had finally lifted, and i couldn’t wait to get back to the mansion to show him just how appreciative i was for all his support. That was, once i had met my brother, Dren. I hope he isn’t as serious as Luthor, my father needs to take a serious chill pill and calm down. Though, Nathanial was the same. He always had a pike up his ass too.
I lean closer to Mihai, nibbling on the side of his neck, he knows what it means, i don’t need to say it. He turns, smiling down at me as he shakes his head.
Luthor clears his throat from the other end of the table. “I know that we agreed you didn’t want anything today.” he says, handing me a small box. “But i think every young woman deserves something shiny on their birthday.”
I look down at the small black box with wide eyes, gods, i hope whatever is inside wasn’t expensive. I haven’t even decided if i want him as a father yet. I didn’t want any strings, that is why i said no gifts. I don’t like surprises. I never have. They creep me the fuck out.
I look back up at him, “Look, it was a really nice thought, but i don’t think that i can accept-”
“Just open it before you reject it.” he says, frowning.
Great, now I've offended him. It's so easy to offend people these days. I need a fucking warning sign above my head to scare people away.
I sigh, but i don’t argue with him, not this time. I understand that he’s trying to be nice, and i do appreciate the kindness. I just hate getting gifts.
I slowly unwrap the ribbon on the box and open it, expecting something absolutely hidous. But it is the most beautiful locket i have ever seen, with green emeralds coating the edge of the silver oval.
“Open it.” Luthor says softly, smiling at me.
I smile despite myself, and i open the locket, a sharp breath catching in my throat. Inside is a picture of my mother smiling at the camera, and she is as beautiful as i remember. I hadn’t seen a photo of her in so long i had forgotten what she looked like.
That's sad isn’t it, forgetting what your own mother looks like, but Nathanial refused to keep any photos once she was taken to trial. He burned all of them. Every single one. Even the smallest ones that i tried to hide.
Tears slide down my cheeks as i stare at the photo, she looks so happy, so full of life. She wasn’t like that in her final days. She cried a lot, and held me every chance she got.
Maybe she knew what was going to happen to her, maybe she was scared. But even if she was, she will always be the most incredible woman i have ever known.
If i grow to be a fraction of the woman that she was then i have succeeded in life.
“Luthor, this is amazing.” i whisper, “I don’t know how i will ever thank you for this.”
“You can start by calling me father.” he says with a laugh, “I know all of this is so strange for you, Mae, but i want you and i to make up for lost time. We missed a lot of years because of the hunter council and i can’t change that. But i am here now, and i am not going anywhere.”
More tears slide down my cheeks, emotion choking me, suffocating me from the inside out, and i do something i never would have five minutes ago, i stand, walk around the table, and i throw myself into the arms of my father.
He rubs my back, cradling me as though i am a child again, and maybe, just maybe, that is what i need in this moment.
“I miss her so much.” I cry the words into his shoulder, holding onto him as hard as i can.
Perhaps I'm afraid he will leave, that I'll be alone again.
My world has always been so small, yet now it feels impossibly large.
“I do too, kid.” he says, holding me close.
Mihai clears his throat from the other end of the table, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but i still have business to attend to, we need to leave.”
I sniffle, wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand, “Yeah, sorry.” I murmur, letting go of my father. “Let’s go back to the mansion.”
Luthor looks mildly disappointed that Mihai interrupted us, but he doesn’t say anything. He just stands, grabbing his jacket.
He looks down at me, forcing a smile. “I will pay the bill and meet you by the door.”
I nod, waving him off as i turn to Mihai, his face dark with anger, “There is no need to be jealous, he is my father, not a random guy.”
Honestly, you’d think i just fucked someone in front of him. I growl and walk around the table, gently taking the small necklace out of the box and opening it, but i struggle to clasp it around my neck.
“Let me help.” Mihai says, slowly taking the chain out of my hands and helping me put it on.
I try to look down at the necklace, but it’s awkward when it's around my neck. This has got the be the best present i have ever received in my entire life.
It's beautiful, and so is my mother.
“You two ready?” Luthor asks, walking back towards the table as he slowly folds up the receipt and places it into his pocket.
I nod, “Yeah, let’s go.” I say, slowly placing my hand in Mihai’s much bigger one.
He stares at our hands for a moment, a little lost, and then we follow my father out of the building, just in time to see the growing army outside.
“Mae.” Mihai says coldly, “Do you still have that knife?”
The hunter’s all shift, their weapons drawn.
I nod, not saying a word.
Fuck. They've found us, and now we have to fight. Again.
i am so tired of fighting.