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Karma's Bite
Worried Dad Mode, Activated--39

Worried Dad Mode, Activated--39

Dominicus shook his head, amusement tugging at the corners of his lips as he chuckled. “You're not wrong. Though the day is young.”

I grimaced, heat climbing my cheeks as I shot him a glare–belatedly realizing he couldn't see it. “I’ll do my best not to cause a fuss. Now, let’s move on. This is the resistance leader, I take it?”

Dominicus nodded, gesturing to the man beside him. “Yes, this is Henry. I've already filled him in on the situation.”

Henry shook off his initial surprise, his expression hardening into a grim mask.

“The king is truly dead, then?” Sharp, intelligent eyes bore into me and I had to fight the urge to squirm under his stare.

“He is. I saw it myself–there’s no coming back from that spell.”

Dominicus’s face tightened, his expression unreadable. Unease churned in my stomach as I remembered his power–the ability to raise the dead.

I would have no way of knowing that in this timeline, so I forced my face to remain neutral, despite the thought making my skin crawl. It was one heck of a power, though I couldn’t imagine how disconcerting it was.

He can raise the dead? Time's voice cut in, his tone sharp with disbelief. Such a thing should not be possible. Even the spirit of Death can do no such thing. Once a soul crosses into his territory, he can visit it but never bring it back to the realm of the living.

I kept my gaze on Henry as I mentally replied. No, it's not like that. He can reanimate corpses, but the soul isn't there. I've seen it in action.

Relief replaced Time's alarm. Ah. That is far less troubling, though the results could still be…disturbing.

You're telling me. The memory of Henry's lifeless body made my skin crawl anew. If Dominicus hadn't said his patron was Fate, I would have assumed it'd be Death…

Indeed. Once I recover, I will discuss this with Death. It is peculiar for Fate to bestow such a power upon her Chosen… Time's voice faded as he lapsed into thought, and I turned my full attention back to Henry.

His serious expression lingered, his gaze weighing heavier on me the longer it stretched. Just as I opened my mouth to break the silence, he laughed.

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The sound was loud and genuine, and a broad grin split his face, erasing years of stress and worry from his features. He clapped me on the back with enough force to nearly knock me over.

“Good on you! That was our goal when we left Dawnmoor, but its a relief to know he’s gone without a single casualty on our side. My wife and daughter will be overjoyed when I return home early.”

The lightheartedness drained from the room, and I cast a wary glance at Dominicis, “You didn’t tell him?” I’d thought it strange that Henry hadn't immediately asked about daughter. Now, it made sense.

Henry’s smile faltered, his attention snapping to Dominicus. “Tell me what?”

Dominicus grimaced. “I was getting to it, but he insisted on meeting you first.” He sighed, clearly reluctant. “Let’s finish introductions before we get into this. He won’t be in any mood for pleasantries once he knows.”

Henry’s scowl deepened. “What are you two talking about?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but Dominicus cut me off, his unfocused gaze seeming to pierce straight through Henry. “Your daughter is not safe in your town. She’s here…somewhere. Nikolas saw her.”

Henry spun so quickly I didn’t have time to react. His fist gripped my cloak, nearly hauling me off the ground as he choked out, “She’s here? Where?!”

Old instincts flared at the edges of my mind, and I shoved them down, keeping my voice calm despite the rising tension. Resting a hand over his, I forced a smile and took a steadying breath.

A frantic man demanding answers I don’t have… Why does this feel familiar?

Time huffed, embarrassment creeping into his tone. I regret nothing.

Focusing on Henry, I answered, “I didn’t see her myself. But Silas mentioned kidnapping the daughter of the resistance leader. If I had to guess, she’s probably in a cell somewhere.”

The color drained from Henry’s face. His grip slackened, and he released me, stumbling back to lean against the wall as if his legs could no longer hold him. “Spirits above and below… If those monsters got to Maya…what happened to my wife?”

Grief and terror twisted his features, and I scrambled for something to say. Before I could figure it out, he straightened abruptly, his expression shifting to grim determination as he bolted toward the door.

“No time for that. I need to find my daughter! Who knows what that bastard has done to her? She’s probably scared senseless!”

Alarms blared in my head, and I lunged forward, grabbing his arm before he could run out into the corridor. “Wait! I agree we need to find her, but if the king’s soldiers spot you, you’ll be killed.”

He answered with an elbow to my jaw, pain sparking across my face. “Let them come! I’ll slaughter anyone who dares stand between me and my Sweetling!”

The door swung open behind him as he disappeared, and I cursed. “Dominicus–”

“I know,” he interrupted, already moving. “This is why I hadn’t told him yet. I knew how he’d react.”

He paused at the threshold, expression grim. “Henry is known far and wide as a kind, doting man. He is a force to be reckoned with in battle, but when those he loves are threatened, all reason flies out the window. We must hurry. Stealth is no longer an option.”

Adjusting my sack, I lifted my hood. The fox inside moved to curl around my neck before settling again. With a resigned sigh, I followed Dominicus out, bracing for the chaos to come.