Chapter 81

Another awkward silence. It seemed to me that my father was hesitating, that he didn’t know what else to say or if he really should say something else. And again, that was strange for him.

“Was that why you left?” he asked me, seriously. “For your human wife?”

“It was many things, Dad,” I interrupted him impatiently. “More than anything, I just wanted to escape from you. She was another reason to do it, I already told you.”

“Escape from me,” he replied, with a low growl. “You are my son, my heir. Do you think I’d let you out of my sight just like that?”

I grimaced, confused.

“In almost ten years, you haven’t—”

My father looked toward the fire, leaving me with the words in my mouth.

“I didn’t look for you, is that what you’re going to say?” he replied. “Of course I did. Because you are my son, and your loss hurt me. Because your college buddies couldn’t keep their mouths shut and went to the police. Because thanks to those same human friends,