Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set

by Multiple Authors

  A soft hand on his shoulder pulled him around. Daphne looked at him and he felt as though she was looking into his soul. “You need to tell her,” she pleaded of him. “The longer you leave it, the harder it will be, for both of you. If she finds out some other way, she will never forgive you.”

  Daniel hung his head, knowing she was right. “How do I tell her, though? How do I say to her that for all these years, I could have told her, could have taken her away from that hell she lived in back in Mythosandria, but I didn’t? I was too much of a coward. I thought her safer there, where no one knew who she was. I thought that would protect her from my past, but instead it’s put her in danger.”

  As soon as he finished speaking, he realized his error.

  “Mythosandria?” William asked suspiciously. “You said you were from Boudeaux in the north.” The large man stood up from the table, the chair scraping as it slid back. “You know what trouble the message was about, don’t you?” He grabbed the front of Daniel’s tunic, lifted him up, and slammed him into the wall. “You could tell me about our aunt, couldn’t you?”

  Daniel spluttered, pain radiating from his back until his entire body felt on fire. Although the curse he was under didn’t allow him to die from age, he remained an old man who should have died long ago. He decided coming clean would be the only way William would put him back down.

  “Yes, I know Priscilla. I’m sorry that I lied, but I have to protect my daughter.” He hesitated, looking up into the frosty eyes of the man who was Persephone’s cousin. “Your aunt is Elizabeth’s mother. And her name isn’t really Elizabeth. It’s Persephone. She’s your cousin.” He knew the statement would shock these siblings, but he’d hoped the shock would release him from William’s grip. Instead, the man only clasped his hands tighter around Daniel’s tunic.

  “I don’t believe you,” he growled.

  “Let me down and I’ll tell you everything. The truth this time. I promise.”

  He pleaded with his eyes, glancing between William’s face and Daphne, who stood at her brother’s elbow. She placed a hand on William’s arm, a gentle touch that signaled the brute to lower Daniel, allowing the old man to stagger to the nearest chair. He leaned over, arms on his knees as he fought against his aching body. Once the pain receded a little, he sat straight. “It’s a long story, and if Persephone comes out here…”

  Daphne nodded curtly. “Understood.”

  Daniel began his sad tale, and was quite surprised that he finished it without Persephone joining them. By the time his tale was done, Daphne had made breakfast and William sat once again on a nearby chair. Silence returned to the kitchen.

  “So she has no idea that you’re her father, and that our aunt, although giving birth to her, isn’t really her mother?” William bluntly asked.

  “No idea,” he replied. “But I’m going to tell her. Today. I can’t put it off any longer.”

  The clattering of a chair being knocked over in the main room sent a lead ball of dread plummeting to Daniel’s stomach. He couldn’t explain how he knew, he just knew that Persephone had overheard them, and she had run out.

  “Shit.” He clamored to his feet, a dull ache in his back from being slammed against the wall earlier almost knocking him back down. William beat him out of the kitchen, the large man surprisingly nimble on his feet. They burst out of the doors, and Daniel whipped his head around, trying to find where Persephone might have run to. He was grateful that he didn’t have to look far to find her. She stood by Gypsy, her back to them.

  “Persephone?” he asked softly, worried about what reaction his voice might provoke.

  She spun around, her temper sending her normally vivid eyes a green so dark, her eyes were almost black. He was taken aback by how much she looked like his beloved Alexandria. Her ebony hair hung loose over her shoulders, down to her waist, her hands resting on her hips. Alexandria would have the exact same look on her face whenever she fought with her parents about wanting to be a Witch of the Light. His heart ached as he remembered her in all her glory.

  “You lied to me!” Persephone shouted at him, jerking him back to the present. “All these years I thought you were my friend, that I could trust you, and you were lying to me, every day.” Tears flowed down her cheeks and he wanted nothing more than to sweep her into his arms and wipe them away, but he knew she would have none of it. Not until she had her say. He just hoped he had the chance to explain himself before it was too late.

  She screamed and cried at him, pouring out her heart wounds about having been raised by such terrible parents, having to see the side-glances and hear the whispering behind hands, being forced to wait hand and foot on the pathetic man she was made to believe was her father. Daniel stood there and took every verbal blow, knowing he deserved it. William had taken a few steps back, still close enough to intervene if needed. He was grateful for the space granted them by the gentle giant of a man.

  Finally Persephone ran out of words, and just stood before him deflated and looking emotionally numb. He took a single small step forward, reaching out his hands. “All I can say this moment is I am sorry.” He cringed at the plain words, hoping they didn’t sound hollow to her ears. “Do you want to hear what I have to say inside over some breakfast? We don’t want to have Daphne go to all that effort for nothing.” His beautiful daughter didn’t move straight away, and he feared she had fled into herself, leaving behind the now pale, swaying shell.

  He felt a small, warm hand on his arm, and turned around to see Daphne standing behind him, holding a blanket out for him. Daniel took it, smiling his gratitude, before facing Persephone once more. He lifted the blanket and slowly approached his daughter, throwing the blanket around her shoulders once he reached her. It wasn’t until that moment that she reacted, her slightly glazed eyes searching out his face. She was confused and hurt, and so he was hurt in return, knowing that he had done this to her. Placing his hands on her arms, he gently steered her inside.

  Once in the kitchen, Daniel settled her on a chair close to the stove, the blanket still around her shoulders. Daphne placed a hot mug of coffee on the table and stepped back to the stove to scoop some porridge into a bowl. Daniel moved a chair so he could sit next to Persephone and held her hands. They were cool, so he wrapped them in his own, trying to warm them up. Her eyes were still slightly glazed in shock, and he began to worry that she wouldn’t recover from yet another nasty surprise.

  “Persephone,” he gently called to her, hoping she’d respond. It took a few moments but she slowly looked up at him. She seemed lost and his heart almost broke. “Sweetheart, can you hear me?” Her eyes shifted, grew dull and she was gone.

  ***

  She could hear him calling her name, felt his hands trying to keep hers warm. She just didn’t care. Her emotions sat in a frozen lump in her chest, her mind reeling still from what she had overhead.

  It was all still too much, and she just let go. Persephone felt herself spinning out, away from her body, and she could hear a beautiful, familiar voice calling her now.

  “Persephone.”

  “Adrian?” she murmured, not believing what she heard. “Is that really you?”

  He appeared before her, misty and unsubstantial for a moment before solidifying into all his wonderful, firm glory. She ran to him, throwing her arms around him and crying into his shoulder.

  “Oh how I’ve missed you,” she sobbed. She couldn’t get enough of his scent, which she had longed for so much. She took deep breaths, relishing each moment in his arms.

  “I’ve missed you too, sweetheart.” He smiled as he pulled back to look at her. “But you shouldn’t be here. It isn’t your time yet.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have a life to live, you can’t just throw it away.”

  “But everything I’ve known, everything I was ever told turns out to be a lie. What life do I have to go back to?” She wept.

  “The life of a daughter with a father who regrets having to lie to you
,” he gently replied.

  “Why did he have to lie to me?” she begged of her love.

  “It’s not for me to say. It’s Daniel’s tale to tell. And he wants to tell you, my love.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and she clasped his hand to her face, never wanting to let go. “You just need to give him the chance. I know you are hurting, but believe me, so is he. He’s had to watch you grow up and discover the world without being able to tell you how proud he is of you. He hasn’t been able to tell you how beautiful you are, like your true mother.”

  “How—”

  “There is so much going on that you are yet to know, and cannot learn until you are ready. Just like you can’t join me here, not yet.” His eyes were full of sorrow, and she knew that if he could whisk her off to the afterlife, then he would. She hung her head and nodded.

  “I’m sorry.” She sniffed.

  “Whatever for, my love? It is only natural to be shocked by such news. But try to remember what Daniel said last of all: ‘But I’m going to tell her. Today. I can’t put it off any longer.’ He was going to tell you.” His hands, as warm in death as they were in life, cupped her face, lifting it until she met his eyes. Adrian leaned in and softly kissed her lips, sending a fire through her.

  “I wish this moment would never end,” she whispered as they pulled apart.

  “And so do I, sweetheart. We will be together again one day, that I promise. Just remember what I told you. Head to the sea.”

  “I remember. That’s where I’m headed.”

  He smiled in reply, stepping back as he started to shimmer and fade before her.

  “I don’t want you to go,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. As she reached out to him one last time, his hand grasped hers, their fingertips meeting again. Moments later he was gone, and she felt herself pulled back to her body. “I love you,” she breathed.

  “I love you, too,” Adrian’s voice echoed back.

  She reentered her body calm and prepared to listen to whatever Daniel had to say.

  ***

  Daniel paced the kitchen while Daphne checked Persephone’s vital signs and William tried to calm him down.

  “She’ll be fine, just took a shock,” he assured the old man. “That’s a lot to find out in one go.”

  Daniel nodded, trying to believe what the other man said. He kept glancing to where Daphne watched over Persephone, leaning right into her. If Persephone were to come around this very moment, she would probably go into a shocked faint again.

  As though she heard his thoughts, Persephone moaned. “Father,” she croaked, her eyes fluttering open. He rushed to her side, mumbling an apology to Daphne who he almost bowled over.

  “I’m right here, lass,” he told her. “I’m not going anywhere.” He held her hands in his own again and was relieved that they were warming up. She struggled to sit up straighter, having slumped down once she fainted. Daniel helped her sit up and was reassured to be rewarded with a slight smile.

  “Thank you.” She turned to face him properly. “I owe you an apology,” she began, but he didn’t want to hear it.

  “No, lass, I owe you one. I should have told you long ago who you really are. I never wanted for you to find out this way. It’s only natural for you to have reacted so…”

  “Dramatically?” she finished for him.

  He held his hand to her cheek. “You are so much like my dear Alexandria. She is your true mother, no matter that Priscilla carried you and gave you life. You are really Alexandria’s daughter.”

  “But how is that possible?”

  Before Daniel could answer, Daphne butted in, bumping him to the side with her hip. “Now, now, no time for that. The child needs to eat.” She thumped a fresh bowl of porridge on the table, sprinkled with nuts and dried fruit, then placed a jar of honey down as well. “You help yourself to the honey, sugar. Honey sugar,” she snorted, quite amused with herself. “Eat up, and let me know if you want more, there are plenty of bacon and eggs cooked, as well as some fresh bread.”

  He watched his daughter dig into the porridge, a smile tugging at the side of his mouth. The rest of the story could wait until after breakfast.

  Chapter Five

  Breakfast took longer than Daniel expected, and it was an hour later that they were finally loading the horses and checking the saddles. William had decided to join them to spend some time with his newly found cousin. Daphne didn’t like to travel, and was happy to stay at the Ceorl Frog, keeping the tavern open and prosperous.

  So it was that Daniel, Persephone, and William set out towards the ocean together, their horses loaded up with clothing, camping gear, and cooking utensils, while their food was stored away magickally. William had started packing food tightly together to load on to his large charger until Daniel stopped him. The large man had watched his hands perform a quick flourish, and the older man couldn’t help but chuckle as William started in shock as a large cold box appeared.

  “How did you do that?” he had demanded.

  Daniel shrugged. “I told you, I’m an Earth Wizard. I can store items magickally and recall them from storage when needed. Chiron has the strength to carry the weight, but why burden him in case we need to pass through a tight space, or over a rickety bridge?” He packed the extra food Daphne insisted they take with them, then sent the box back to storage.

  When they were finally finished loading and checking the horses, the three adults turned to Daphne, waiting on the steps to the tavern. Persephone approached her first and the two women embraced. “Thank you,” Daniel heard his daughter gently say. Her cousin held her hands for a moment before patting them with one of her own.

  “It’s wonderful to finally have another woman in the family. Please promise that, if you do settle nearby, that you will keep in contact?”

  “I promise.” The women shared a smile before Persephone pulled away to approach Gypsy, swinging up on to the mare’s back.

  Daniel said farewell next. He smiled gently at the tiny woman and clutched her hands. “Thank you,” he repeated Persephone’s words. “I’m so thrilled that my Persephone has such fantastic family in you and William. The family she grew up with…”

  Daphne nodded. “No need to explain, I know my aunt can be tough, and marrying that brute didn’t improve her temper. You take care of her now, and don’t forget, tell her everything.” She didn’t let go of his hands until he replied.

  “I will,” he promised, smiling in mirth.

  He turned his back and busied himself in settling in the saddle to allow William a private farewell with the sister he had never been apart from, but the man’s booming voice could still be heard.

  “I have to do this,” he said, and Daniel could hear pleading in his voice, as though he was unsure his sister understood.

  “I know you do, brother. She’s family. And this is your chance for the adventure you always wanted. It’s part of who you are, and I’m okay with staying behind to run the tavern while you’re gone. You know I love the Ceorl Frog, because we built it together. You’ll never be apart from me while I still have the tavern. Just don’t stay away too long.”

  “You know I’d miss our fights too much.” He chuckled, his voice choked up, and even Daniel found himself wiping a solitary tear from his eye.

  “All right,” Daphne replied, her tone full of business. “You better not keep these two waiting. Hurry up and get on your horse.”

  Daniel turned towards the siblings in time to watch William pick his sister up in a bear hug before planting a kiss on her cheek. “Take care, my sister dearest.”

  “You as well, brother mine.”

  He gently set her back on her feet and took the couple steps to his horse, swinging into the saddle with ease. Daniel admired the ease with which the younger man moved, and knew his presence would be a boon to their journey. His intimidating size would make any robbers think twice before attacking them except the most desperate. He nodded to himself, grateful for more company.


  “We ready to set out then?” he asked of William and Persephone. The pair of cousins nodded and they were off, continuing east towards the ocean.

  The trio set out, only turning around once to wave to Daphne one last time. They urged the horses into a canter that consumed the distance with ease, and the first few hours passed in relative silence. Daniel had not been able to explain his actions to Persephone, since Daphne had insisted on feeding the young woman until she was close to bursting and refused to allow him to say one word that might upset her.

  Now, he had the chance to talk but was unsure of himself. What would he say? How would he start? Would she listen to him without interrupting? She already knew part of his story, and he had found it quite easy to tell her that much, but he had the chance to fill in the rest, and he found himself hesitant.

  With so much quiet around and between them, he had plenty of time to think, and he couldn’t help but notice that Persephone refused to look at him, instead focusing on the scenery that passed them by and the animals that would peer out of hiding to watch these intruders. Would she ever forgive him?

  ***

  Persephone patted Gypsy’s neck and smiled as the mare dipped her head in response. She had been happy that William would join them, since she wasn’t sure she could trust herself alone with the man who had finally revealed himself to be her father. It still hurt that he hadn’t told her earlier, and that she had found out by overhearing him tell it to these people who were practically strangers, despite their familial connection.