I wasn’t sure what to say.

  On one hand, I felt for him. He’d just gotten his daughters back and both of them were mad at him. On the other hand, he could have done a much better job of breaking the news.

  “Terry, give us a minute.” Yorn nodded at the only person left on the floor.

  The green woman eyed me for a moment, then turned and headed for the door to the stairs. Once she was gone, Yorn put his arm around me and guided me towards the edge of the room.

  Large, almost floor-length windows allowed us to see out at the city. Even though we were in the Nobles District, we were still in the second tallest structure in the city. Only Harror’s giant tree was taller and that was over on the northern edge of town.

  “Are you scared of heights?” Yorn paused a few steps from the window.

  “Only if the window is open.” I tried not to think about how many floors up we were. Honestly, I didn’t know, but it was a lot.

  “They don’t open.” Yorn let go of me and walked over to the window and tapped it with his finger. “T5 glass, so anything under T4 won’t be able to even scratch it.”

  I tilted my head. It sounded like he was trying to reassure me, but pointing out how sturdy it was had only made me more tense.

  “I get why my uncle built this place.” Yorn waved out at the city. “From up here, you feel like a king in a castle.”

  I looked around the floor. “Looks pretty lonely up here.”

  The silver man laughed. “You’ve got a point. Once you get this kind of power, there aren’t many people who can rise up to where you are.” He turned and looked at the tree. “But we’re still so far below the gods.”

  I’d gotten so used to the people around me knowing my secret that I hadn’t realized that he would think I was just a normal human. I nodded silently as I waited for him to continue.

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  “I know your dad has risen higher than most people, so you’ve probably got your eyes set on reaching at least Tier Six if not Seven.” He shook his head. “The sad truth is that it won’t be long before your father is either forced to join the personal guard of one of the gods or they kill him before he can challenge their power.”

  “He’s on a first-name basis with most of the gods from this Ward and is respected by others all over the world.” I waffled my head. “You really think one of them would try to kill him?”

  “Try!” Yorn laughed. “Have you seen the gods power?” He shook his head. “The gods don’t try, they just smite you when they tire of you.”

  I took a deep breath. What he was saying wasn’t necessarily false, but it was also bordering on sacrilege. Considering the cults and the demons that we’d been dealing with lately, I was beginning to rethink how sure I was that he wouldn’t hurt me.

  “Of course you’ve seen it!” Yorn snapped his fingers. “You were in Mive during the dungeon break.” There was wonder in his eyes as he studied me. “I watched a video of the Tree of Protection growing in front of the main gate.” His voice filled with awe and jealousy. “What I wouldn’t have given to have been there.”

  “You wanted to be there while packs of high-level monsters were tearing through a city?” I shook my head. “I’m surprised all of us made it out alive.”

  “Ah, yes. I’ve heard the rumor about how your father was gravely injured defending the city.” Yorn sighed. “I guess it would have been too dangerous, but still…”

  “So…” I took a step back. “About your daughters.”

  “Fray will never be officially recognized.” Yorn lamented. “Her mother remarried and even if I claimed her, she’s illegitimate, which disqualifies her from receiving any public support from the family.”

  I shook my head. “That’s a stupid rule.”

  “Many agree, but there are also a lot of illegitimate children who would try to challenge the heirs for power if it weren’t like that.” Yorn shrugged. “Some will still join the family through deed and work their way up through the hierarchy, so that avenue exists, but for her…” He paused. “She’s going to have to forge her own path and I’m afraid neither of us can help her with that.”

  “Last I checked, Fray was a member of my party.” I folded my arms in front of me. “I think that gives her a pretty good shot at raising her level.”

  “Yes, but she won’t be able to share your family name like Gessy.” Yorn wagged his finger.

  “Why not?”

  “Because the nobility forbids sisters to be in the same harem.” Yorn shrugged. “Which means eventually, you’ll have to choose. The heir or the outcast?”

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