“You still haven’t answered my question earlier,” she said at last, eyes sharpening again. “Putting aside all the secrecy, what made you decide to date my father?”
Her tone made it clear—Give me one reason right here and now why I shouldn’t label you permanently as someone I need to annihilate.
“Well,” Alastor began, reclining slightly with a glint of amusement, “how many hours do you have? Because I could go all night.”
Charlie scoffed. “Just pick one or two. I’ll judge whether you’re worthy enough from your choices.”
“Very well.” Accepting the challenge, Alastor set his cup down with a soft clink.
Charlie frowned. “That’s your answer?”
Her scowl deepened, but Alastor continued before she could interrupt.
“He shines bright,” he said simply. “He has his own gravity, and he makes everything around him warm. Not only that, he’s true to himself—no matter what planet or even cosmic dust tries to cover him. Frankly, I never understand when he speaks as if he’s flawed, because to me, he’s just… perfect.”
He let out a quiet, weary sigh. “The only thing I truly agree might be a flaw is how he sometimes can’t see what’s bad for his well-being. He’s such an expert at hiding his pain—it’s appalling, really. I’m afraid I get too overprotective sometimes. But… I’m sure you understand, having lived with him longer than I have.”
“What? Can’t you protect him properly? Heh, so much for claiming to be the head of the house.” She glared sharply, accusation simmering in her voice.
But Alastor didn’t flinch. Instead, he calmly turned it back on her. “And you?”
“Are you sure you know every time he does it?” Alastor asked smoothly—too smoothly—the words slicing cleaner than they should. “Because bravo, if you do. Truly.” His smile didn’t waver, but the edge in it gleamed. “Sometimes, he doesn’t even know when he’s hurting, you see. So it would be quite the miracle if you managed to notice what left no signs… no tells at all.”
Charlie’s lips parted, but no words came out. Her jaw clenched.
Because deep down, she knew he had a point. Her dad had hidden his title for an entire year—a secret so monumental that it still baffled her how no one noticed prior the party.
If he could hide that—even from her… what else could he be keeping buried? What else had he convinced himself not to see?
That part, of course, stayed unsaid. She wasn’t ready to give him that satisfaction yet.
“I’ll put that on my epitaph,” Alastor quipped, reaching for a cookie before smoothly changing the topic.
“Now then, as much as I love to talk about us, unfortunately, I do have a mission—one given by him.”
Charlie narrowed her eyes. “And what would that be?”
“Get to know you.” He snickered cheekily before adding, “You’ve no idea how nervous he’s been all day—terrified we wouldn’t get along. And, I suppose, not without reason.”
Charlie grumbled under her breath, a noncommittal “Hmmh.”
“Regardless,” Alastor cut in smoothly, “I promised him I’d try my best.” He inclined his head, tone deceptively polite