Fresco couldn't speak or move or protest. As much as his mind screamed a denial, his heart felt the truth. Here before him sat his father.

Meritas stroked the back of his hand. "I've so wanted to tell you," he said. "To visit you and see how you were doing. You see, most of my progeny failed to come to their gifts." His slender shoulders shrugged once. "An unfortunate truth. But I knew Constance and me... that you had it in you to be the best of all of them, Fresco."

He ...