Chapter 33: Search for the Truth

Lilia POV

Her mother was asking for her blessing to be happy with Jude.

After everything Ravyn had done for her and now her family throughout her entire life, how could she possibly refuse?

After upholding the sacredness of the mate bond ever since she'd joined with Dane, how could she reject it now, and even worse, deny her own mother and an ally?

And after her father had come back into their lives and caused such turmoil and disruption and refused to explain himself, how could she, for one minute, hold on to the tiny, childish shred of hope that her parents would one day reconcile?

Was that really why she'd resisted the romance between her mother and Jude, a good and noble man, and a friend–and now her stepfather?

Two days ago, Dane had tried to coax her past the fog that she'd been in ever since Patch reported that Ravyn and Jude had bonded.

Holding her close in the council chamber after a meeting, Dane had rested his chin on her head. "I thought you were going to leap all over Councilwoman Sinapu."

Lilia had buried her head in his chest. "I was that bad?"

"All she said was, 'The Silverpaws have an Evenhide Luna,'" Dane had replied dryly.

"Ohhhh. We're all going to have to get used to that." She drew back to stare into his shimmering blue eyes. "And to Mother and Jude being together … he's been like a brother to you Cresta boys, and now he's stepfather to me, and all of you."

Dane had shrugged. "If we had to have one, he's the best one. And I never told you this, but I didn't exactly feel enthusiastic about having Lady Yelna or Queen Ylavi or Marcus Mond's mother as his Luna. The only one I could have embraced other than Ravyn was Vinessa Vermello, because I like her fighting spirit and her sisters."

Lilia had nipped him gently on the neck. "I think Mother can fight harder."

"Give them a chance to be happy. He deserves it." His mouth had twisted in disgust. "And she deserves it even more. I'm trying hard to see your father in you, but all I see is Ravyn."

"I know. That's because she was the one who guided me, loved me, and cared for me all these years. I'm not the only one." She took his handsome face in her hands and kissed him. "I want her to be happy, and I'm going to be happy for her no matter what."

Ravyn's voice broke through her dreamlike remembering. "No matter what?"

"Yes." She stared into her mother's hopeful, grateful eyes. "No matter what Father does or what he thinks. He doesn't get a say anymore!"

Rage suddenly overtook her, and she hurled the bowl she'd been washing clear across the kitchen. It shattered somewhere close to the ovens. She let out a string of curses in the witch tongue, the shifter tongue, Orcish, and some choice words Thessi taught her in Wood Elvish.

Ravyn protested with a raised eyebrow, "Language, Lilia!"

"Never mind my language! How dare he object?" she burst out. "How dare he act offended about you finding happiness with Jude when we spent years and years WAITING for him to come home? To remember that we existed? It's outrageous!"

"Still, you ARE the Luna and have to set an example."

Lilia snorted. "You sound just like Titania sometimes."

"I suppose I do–and by the way, she and Ransome support us too."

With a wolfish grin, Lilia said, "Naturally–his family in the Silverpaw territory will probably have a fit, which means he's all in favor of you as the new Luna." In a softer voice, she added, "And so am I. Dane, too."

Her anger bubbled up again. "And Father does NOT get to dictate your life or my life. If he wants to be a part of our lives, and that's a big IF, he needs to understand that! You were right. He missed all this!"

"Do you want to throw any more dishes?" Ravyn asked. "Be my guest."

"No. Jiro would be appalled."

"He hasn't been too pleased with Daxius," Ravyn replied.

"NO ONE has. They all know what he's done." Lilia ran over and knelt to pick up the pieces of the bowl she'd shattered.

A memory surfaced.

Ravyn crying over a cup Lilia had broken carelessly. A silver-white teacup that they never used anymore. Ravyn never set a lot of store on material things, but she called Lilia thoughtless and reckless. She wouldn't let Lilia play with Anneliese for a week.

"The teacup," Lilia said aloud.

"What teacup?" Ravyn looked at her quizzically. "Did we have a teacup at dinner?"

"No … the one I broke when I was nine. The one you punished me for."

Ravyn squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm so sorry. That was your father's favorite cup."

Lilia's mouth dropped open. "I don't remember that."

Opening her eyes, Ravyn smiled softly. "There's no reason you would. You were a little girl." She used her magic to repair the bowl.

Lilia whistled. "Did you fix Father's favorite cup?"

Ravyn smiled wryly. "I didn't have the energy, and I think some part of me was happy to leave the cup in pieces and throw it in the rubbish."

Standing up, Lilia carried the cup to the sink and dropped it in the hot, soapy water. "I don't blame you. After everything he's done, that's the least he deserves."

"Unless he's telling the truth," Ravyn said gently.

"But how can we believe him?" Lilia burst out.

Emotion swirled in Ravyn's eyes. So many emotions. Worry, doubt, hope, fear, and something else. Love?

"Do you still love him after all this time?" Lilia asked.

A sound made them both spin around to see Jude bringing in a few stray dishes. His face was the calm Alpha face Lilia knew so well, until you saw his eyes full of anxiety.

* * * * *

Jude POV

He hadn't meant to intrude on this private mother-daughter chat.

Actually, that wasn't quite true, he thought with raw honesty. He'd wanted to know what Lilia thought and felt about him mating with her mother. He'd always admired and respected and liked Lilia, from the first time he met her three years ago. He'd loved the way Dane looked at her, as though he'd give her the sun, moon, and stars.

She'd been his best friend's beloved mate and also a good and wise friend for years. Now she was his stepdaughter, and Dane was his son-in-law, and a fine one, just like Eamon.

"I didn't mean to …" He lifted up the dishes. "I just never like to leave a job unfinished."

Lilia strode over and took the dishes from him, gazing into his eyes and probably seeing into his heart and soul. "I've given you and Mother my blessing, just so you know. Which means that you have Dane's blessing, too."

He was grateful she'd taken the dishes because he'd have dropped them when his shoulders sagged in relief. He pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you," he murmured against her hair, so like Ravyn's. She smelled sweet and also relieved.

She returned the hug. "Treat her right, or you know what you'll have to deal with–and who you'll have to answer to," she whispered.

He hugged her harder. "I promise."

Lilia wriggled out of their embrace and darted to the sink, still glancing over her shoulder at Ravyn. "We're both waiting for an answer."

"And the short answer is yes. Do you want to hear the long answer?" Ravyn asked.

"YES," Lilia and Jude chorused, exchanging determined glances.

"Part of me will always love your father," Ravyn said with honesty. "He gave me you, after all. We were married. I care for him. And as I told you, Jude, I want to know that the man I married once upon a time and had a child with is a good man."

Jude paused, thinking deeply.

She had told him that over the last few days, more than once. He could understand her need to find out if the man she'd married was honest and true.

"You'll always love Emer," she continued.

He wanted to snap that Emer had never hurt anyone, but instead he said, "A little part of my heart belongs to her, always."

"And I feel the same about Lilia's father." Ravyn gestured to both of them.

Lilia and Jude moved in and Ravyn drew them into a fierce hug. Jude felt the closeness with both of them. His wolf purred, content.

"We need to find the truth if we're going to be happy," Ravyn said. "No matter the cost, no matter how difficult it is. Daxius has the answers."

Lilia smiled at both of them. "Then I'd say we're all going on a quest together." She took a deep breath. "Father."

He had no idea that this one word from Lilia could make his heart sing.

Another noise alerted them, and they all rotated around to see Daxius, his face shattered. He spun around and marched out of the kitchen, his back straight and proud.

Jude sighed and looked at both of them. "This could be a very long, difficult mission."