“Want to tell me what’s on your mind?”

“I’m fine,” she lied. She hated the necessity, but wouldn’t cave. He didn’t believe in the paranormal, even when the evidence of it was right under his nose, and she wasn’t in the mood to fight. Or receive a therapy session.

“Problems with Riley?” he persisted.

Riley, her sweet Riley. The boy she would date for one more day, then never speak to again. At that, her heart actually lurched inside her chest. “Dad, what do you do when you know you’re no good for the person you love?”

He looked at her for a moment, then sighed and pushed his cards aside. He propped his elbows on the table and stared over at her intently. “I hadn’t realized you and Riley had reached the I love you stage yet.”

Her cheeks heated. “We haven’t said it to each other, no.”

He relaxed a little. “So why isn’t he good for you, sweetie?” Gently asked.

She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. She couldn’t tell him that it was the other way around. That she wasn’t good for Riley. He wouldn’t believe her. “What would you tell a patient who asked you the same question?”

His lips twitched at the corners. “I see what you’re doing. Deflecting. I’ve taught you well. So, are you asking what I’d say to a patient if she refused to share all the details with me?”

She nodded.

Another sigh. “I’d tell her to ask herself a very important question. Will the person cause her harm, emotionally or physically?”

He still had it backward, but the answer was yes. She, too, pushed her cards away. She’d been right, then, to break things off with Riley. She’d been wrong to let things start back up again. But she couldn’t regret her actions. She’d had that one glorious night with him, and she could die without regrets. For the most part.

Die. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

“If the answer is yes, I always tell my patients to leave the relationship.” He reached over and took her hand. “Always. Now. Do I need to get my shotgun? What’d that boy do?”

She laughed. “You hate guns, and therefore don’t own one. Besides, Riley hasn’t hurt me or anything like that. He never would, either. He’s very protective.” And I need to be protective of him.

“Then what’s the problem? You can tell me. This is a safe space.”

Another laugh, though this one was forced. “That may be true with your patients, but that’s never been the case with me.” Which she understood. She was his daughter. Everything was personal. “So anyway,” she said, quickly changing the subject. “I’ve been wondering. If you knew you only had one more day to live, what would you want to do?”

“Planning on killing me?”

She rolled her eyes. “Be serious.”

“You’ve never been this morbid before, but I guess I can play along.” He released her and tapped a fingertip against his chin. “I’d pay the premium for a higher life insurance policy, make sure you were going to be properly cared for, and then spend the rest of my time here, with you.”

Tears filled her eyes, burning. “Thank you.”

“And I’d want to tell you the truth about something, since I’ve learned my lesson about keeping secrets.”

Her mind locked onto that one word—secrets—and she froze. Even her heart skipped a beat as panic whipped through her. “Wh-what?”

“I, well, I met someone,” he said, a blush staining his cheeks.

Her eyes widened. “Really? Who? When? Where? Tell me everything!”

He laughed. “So many questions at once. Yes, really. I met her yesterday, at the grocery. And I, well…I asked her out on a date.”

“Dad!”

“I haven’t been on a date in ages, but I couldn’t help myself. She was just so intelligent and, well, pretty.”

Mary Ann was…glad. He deserved to be happy. Especially if she…if she…no, she wouldn’t think like that. He just deserved to be happy. “You’re leaving details out. What’d you guys talk about? What’s she like? Where are you going to take—”

The doorbell rang, and they both jumped.

Her dad grinned sheepishly. “We’ll resume this conversation in a bit. I’ll get the door.” He uncoiled from the chair and strode off while Mary Ann cleaned up the cards, marveling at the turn of events. Her dad. On a date. Oh, he’d been on one or two over the years, but nothing serious, and not once had he lit up like that. His interest had always been detached.

A few seconds later, she heard a female voice and laughter. Her dad’s laughter, and it was such a sweet sound. What was going on in there?

“Mary Ann,” he called. “Come on in here, honey.”

She padded into the living room, hands stuffed into her jean pockets. Soon she was standing in her mother’s rainbow living room, staring over at her dad, who was grinning like a loon and saying something to a young, gorgeous blonde wearing a white silk blouse and a flowing white skirt. Her skin was flawless, almost too much so. Her features were perfect and heart-achingly lovely. Could this be the mysterious grocery store babe?

Mary Ann cleared her throat.

Her dad glanced over at her, radiating so much excitement she actually had to look away. “Mary Ann, this is the woman I was telling you about.”

The blonde nodded in greeting, though her gaze didn’t leave Mary Ann’s dad. She was petting his cheek, as if he was a favored puppy. “Mary Ann. I’ve heard so much about you.”

From their one conversation at the grocery? Don’t be petty. This was a good thing. “Nice to meet you,” she said.

Finally the newcomer turned and faced her, and Mary Ann gasped in horror. Those eyes…glowing, wide and brown, revealing the sheen of glitter in her too-perfect skin. This was no human.

This was a fairy.

“Leave my father alone,” she barked. “He’s done nothing—”

“Mary Ann,” he said, clearly shocked and disappointed by her behavior. “That isn’t how you—”

“Be a dear and go to your room,” the fairy told him. “Stay there, no matter what you hear.”

“Of course,” he said, and walked off without another word, heading up the stairs and never looking back.

Mary Ann’s heart threatened to beat its way out of her chest. She wanted to run, but she remained in place. She would protect her dad, no matter what she had to do. But the simple fact was, she’d never dealt with a fairy before. She knew only what Riley and Victoria had told her.

They couldn’t control people with their voices, like vampires could, but humans were so entranced by them, they usually obeyed their word without question. They craved power and didn’t like anyone who was stronger. They were cold, icicles on the inside, yet desperate for warmth.

Despite all of that, or maybe because of it, they considered themselves protectors of mankind. Mary Ann was part of mankind. Maybe. With her ability…

She opened her mouth—to say what, she didn’t know.

“Do not scream for your boyfriend,” the fairy said with a frown. “At the moment, the wolves are busy fighting a swarm of goblins. I made sure of it. And you’ll only distract them. Do you want their blood on your hands?”

She gulped. “I wasn’t going to scream.” She wasn’t a coward. Anymore. “What are you doing here? Who are you? What do you want?”

A grin met her words, and yet, the expression lacked any hint of amusement. “I am called Brendal, and as to why I’m here, I would think that was obvious. I want you to follow me.”

“Why?”

“Answers will come later.”

“Hardly. Did you lead my dad on to get to me?”

“Of course. We do what we must.”

Spoken without a hint of remorse. Bitch. Anger sparked.

“Now. Come,” Brendal said, and motioned her over.

Mary Ann raised her chin. She felt no compulsion to do as the fairy wished. Because she muted the fairy’s powers? Maybe, but she wasn’t fully muting them, since her dad had climbed those stairs on command. Remember what Victoria told you. Your ability doesn’t work on someone’s natural gifts. “I think I’ll stay here, thanks.”