Illusion(4)

“Josephine,” Stefan had just begun to speak when his cell phone twittered again, signaling another incoming text alert. He glanced at the screen, saying nothing and simply handing me his phone.

Kian: Please bring my daughter to the fourth floor.

“Vackra, if you wish to leave, you must talk to him. He will not let us leave unless you meet with him,” Stefan advised.

I handed his phone back to him and frowned. “So we’re unofficial captives until I give him what he wants? Let’s get this over with.”

“Josephine, this is the way this has to work.” He sounded frustrated. “There is no other way.”

Scowling, I exhaled loudly. “It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“I know.” Stefan took my hand, leading us down the hall towards the elevator. He pressed the up arrow on the panel and we waited as the doors slowly opened. We stepped inside and he reached across to press the button for the fourth floor, watching in silence as the doors closed and the elevator began its ascent.

The doors parted and we walked into a dark, wood paneled room that was a living and office space. On one side, two large couches faced each other in the living room. The walls were lined with impressive artwork, most of which were probably priceless, one-of-a-kind masterpieces. The other end of the room was centered around a large mahogany desk with two chairs at each corner. My father sat behind the desk, silently observing us and rising to his feet to greet us.

“Stefan and Josephine. Thank you for joining me.” Kian inclined his head in greeting. He walked around the desk with outstretched hands as if to embrace me. Shrinking back, I huddled against Stefan’s side. My father dropped his hands and a wounded expression briefly darkened his face before a small, forced smile took its place.

“Stefan, thank you for bringing my daughter to see me before you left. I would like to speak to her alone,” Kian said as he glanced between us both. By his tone it was obvious they’d discussed this and it was an order, not a request.

“Vackra, I have no choice. I will be close by, I promise,” Stefan’s mental voice had a nervous edge to it.

Straightening my back, I pulled away from Stefan’s side to face my father. I stared at him for a moment, my eyes flickering over him before I spoke. “I would prefer for him to stay with me, Kian.”

He clasped his hands together in front of him before sitting down in one of the chairs that was in front of the massive desk. “I would like to speak to you alone. I understand your fear, Josephine. I am your father and I assure you no harm will come to you. Stefan, please leave us.”

Stefan’s sparkling blue eyes turned into icy glaciers as he inclined his head to my father. He leaned and pressed a kiss to my forehead while his mental voice entered my thoughts. “I can hear you from the other floors. If you need me, call for me.”

He left the room and I stood alone, facing the man that was my birth father. His vivid red hair stood out in stark contrast to the paleness of his alabaster skin. His attentive, green eyes seemed to take in my every movement.

“Josephine, please sit,” Kian said, gesturing to the chair opposite him. Gingerly easing down on the edge of the seat, I swallowed nervously. I’d waited for this moment my entire life, yet I couldn’t find it in myself to be happy. Something about Kian made me uneasy. He seemed too smooth and polished.

“You wanted to see me?” I asked as I tapped my fingers against the arms of the chair. Raising an eyebrow in contempt, I struggled to keep my voice level. “Now that you have and I know who you are, there’s really nothing else to say. I’d like to leave with Stefan unless I’m a prisoner here.”

He crossed his legs and attempted to arrange his face into a gentle smile. I noticed that the sentiment never reached his eyes. “I can understand why you are angry with me. All I ask is to speak to you for a moment.”

Sighing loudly, I stared down at the ornate rug for a moment before focusing back on my father. Part of me wanted to just refuse and get up and leave. Another part of me was interested as to what he had to say. My curiosity won out over my stubbornness and I scooted back in the chair in surrender. “Fine, Kian. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

My father leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his thighs.

“You are happy with Stefan. I can feel the love between the two of you. He had searched many years to find you, Josephine. His fated mate. It was interesting to watch him on his journey to find you,” Kian mused as he threaded his fingers together and a grin pulled at the corner of his lips. “He never gave up on finding you. Others would have grown tired of the constant searching, yet he never did. It speaks of his character.”