Chapter 192

Tessa’s POV

I stared at my father with my mouth hanging open.

“What are you talking about?” I asked after a long pause of silence. “I don’t have magic.”

I stared down at my hands with my face heated; I started to feel ridiculous. Was he lying to me? Why would he make me feel foolish like this?

“I never wanted you to find out,” he said sadly, and this time, he met my eyes. “I wanted to find a way to get rid of it.”

“Get rid of what?”

“Your magic,” he answered in a whisper. “I didn’t want you to end up with the same fate as your mother. Magic is a dangerous weapon to yield, Tessa. It’s the reason your mother is no longer with us.”

My entire world stopped moving around me; tears brimmed in the corner of my eyes at the mention of my mother dying because of magic. My mind was whirling from this information, and it was taking everything I had not to stand up and walk right out of this restaurant.

I wasn’t sure how much more I’d be able to hear.

He sighed and leaned back in his seat as he studied my face.

“I know it’s a lot to take in,” he breathed.

I could see the concern in his eyes, but it wasn’t enough to calm my anxieties.

“So, it wasn’t gang members?” I found myself asking, my tone coming out dry and bitter as I stared at the man who lied to me my entire life.

His face fell and he shook his head.

“No,” he said slowly. “It wasn’t gang members. It was vampires.”

My entire body stilled at the mention of vampires. Vampires killed my mother? No. I couldn’t believe such a thing. I wouldn’t believe it.

I shook my head and this time; tears broke free from my eyes like a dam that had broken inside of me.

“They were after something that your mother had,” my father continued to explain. “She wouldn’t give it to them, so they took her life.”

“No,” I said, furrowing my brows together. “I won’t believe that.”

“Believe what you want,” my father said, narrowing his eyes at me. “But it’s the truth. That’s why I don’t want you around that Joseph guy. They aren’t good news, Tessa.”

I shook my head again, not wanting to hear anything more.

Thankfully, Luanne returned with our food. Grateful for the distraction, I focused my attention on eating. Although my stomach wasn’t feeling very hungry anymore, it was still a distraction and I needed it.

“I know you are angry that I kept this from you…” my father said, peering at me with a timid frown on his face.

“What were the vampires after?” I asked; I didn’t bother looking at him as I asked that question. I kept my eyes fixed on my plate.

My father sighed and picked at his fries.

“Something called the Heavenly Heart,” he answered. “I’m not exactly sure what it is. But apparently, it’s powerful.”

“And mom, had it?” I asked. “Where was she keeping it?”

“I’m not sure,” my father answered. “There were a lot of things she wouldn’t tell me for my own safety.”

My stomach was in a knot, and I feared if I continued to eat, I would soon lose the contents of my stomach.

“How do you know I’m a witch too?” I asked, my brows knitting as I studied his face.

“When you were born your mother could sense your powers,” he explained.

I shook my head.

“I’m not powerful. I don’t have magic,” I told him.

“I heard you don’t actually get your powers until you are 25. So, I’ve been taking this time to try to figure out how to get rid of them…”

“My powers?” I asked; my heart officially fell into my stomach as he nodded. “You were trying to get rid of my powers without even telling me about them?”

He nodded again.

I was stunned silent. I couldn’t believe my father would do such a thing. I can’t believe he’s kept this huge secret from me my entire life. Looking at him across the table was like looking at a complete stranger.

I no longer recognized him.

“I’m so sorry…” he whispered. “I was only trying to protect you…”

I didn’t want to hear anything more he had to say. I don’t think I could handle it.

“I…” I began to say, my voice cracked, and I started over. “I have to go…” it came out in a breathy whisper, but the words were in the air and my father’s face fell in disappointment.

“I understand if you are upset with me….” He breathed; he was tugging at his fingers, and I knew this conversation was hard for him.

I slid out of the booth, shouldering my purse. I began to rummage through it to accumulate some money for my dinner.

Once I gathered enough bills, I pulled them out and began to place them on the table.

“When I’ve had time to think about things, I’ll give you a call,” I told him, my voice sounding strained.

His eyes glanced at the money, and then he waved it away.

“I’ll cover dinner, Tess,” he said, giving me a very forced smile. “It’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, my tone shaky.

He nodded.

“Of course,” he said softly. “It’s my treat.”

I put the money back in my purse and nodded my head. I knew if I didn’t leave right then and there, tears would start falling from my eyes and I’d be sobbing in the middle of the restaurant.

I didn’t trust my voice to speak anymore, so I turned on my heel and quickly hurried from the building. As soon as I was outside, the tears started to flow.

I got into the car and let a sob escape my lips. I cried the entire drive back to Ruby’s place. I had already called Joseph to meet me at Ruby’s apartment so he could take me to his Villa for the night. So, he was there when I arrived.

Sitting in the car, I tried desperately to make myself look like I wasn’t sobbing for over an hour, but it was no use. My eyes were bloodshot, and my face was all red. Not to mention the tears wouldn’t stop coming out of my eyes.

When Joseph saw me, he wrapped me in a hug and held me close to him. I cried into his chest, and he held me even tighter, whispering that everything was going to be okay.

I didn’t want Ruby to see me like this because then she would ask questions, and I wouldn’t be able to answer, so Joseph returned Ruby’s keys to her while I sat in the passenger seat of his car. When he returned, he took me back to his Villa and I told him everything that had happened. I told him how my mother really died, I told him about the Heavenly Heart, and I told him that I was apparently a witch and wouldn’t get my powers until I was 25 years old. I even told him that my father had been lying to me my entire life and that he’d been trying to find a way to get rid of my magic without me ever finding out about it.

Joseph held me the entire night as I cried and vented. He didn’t interrupt me once and I never felt safer and more heard in my entire life.

“You said she was protecting something called the Heavenly Heart?” Joseph asked after I finished telling him everything.

I nodded into his chest; I felt sleep taking over. It was late and I was emotionally and mentally exhausted.

Realizing this, he kissed the top of my head gently.

“Get some sleep, sweet girl,” he whispered against me. “I love you.”

“I love you…” I whispered, barely audible, as I fell fast asleep.

…..

Joseph’s POV

The Heavenly Heart.

The name was familiar, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a thing.

I rubbed my face as I thought more about the Heavenly Heart. Tessa’s mother died protecting it; so, it must be important, especially for Vampires to want to possess such a thing.

Vampires didn’t typically mess with witches because of what they could do. So, for there to be an entire war between witches and vampires, it must have been over something important.

I wasn’t going to hunt Tessa for information though; she told me all she knew, and I knew that all of this was very confusing to her as well. I didn’t want to make things more complicated. She had enough to deal with right now.

She fit perfectly in my arms as she slept, and a smile tugged at my lips as she snuggled against me. Her entire body was relaxed, and she looked so peaceful. I wanted this to be our life for the rest of her days. I wanted to hold her like this every night, and never let her go.

My love for her only grew stronger every day.

Whatever challenges she was going to face in the future, I wanted to be there and help her through it all. But for right now, at this moment, I held her, and let her sleep.