Page 63 of Dark Princess Ascending

Jasmine leaned into his embrace. "I just hope he won't make me so nervous that I forget the cover story. I always get so anxious when I talk to him."

Ell-rom pressed a kiss to her temple. "You'll do fine. We need answers about your mother, and he's the only one who might have them. There is no way around this."

The mention of her mother sent a familiar ache through Jasmine's chest. "I think that's what makes me the most anxious. I'm afraid to find out that he had something to do with her disappearance. I'm not close to him, but he's my only remaining family, and I don't want to lose him."

"I understand." He put a hand on her shoulder. "No one wants to find out that their parent is a monster."

She nodded, twisting the phone in her hands. "If it were just about me, I might have given up onever finding out, but this involves Annani and Khiann. If her mate is out there somewhere and my mother is the key to finding him, I have to find her. I need to stop being such a chicken about this."

"You're not being a chicken." Ell-rom's voice was gentle. "You're brave to face this head-on."

She leaned her head on his shoulder. "How do you always know exactly what to say to me?"

"I don't. I just want to tell you the truth as I see it. And the truth is, you're one of the strongest people I know."

She snorted. "Now you're just flattering me."

He caught her hand and squeezed it. "You've built a life for yourself despite your father's disapproval. You've pursued your dreams even when everyone said that they were impossible. And now you're willing to face painful truths for the sake of others." His eyes held hers. "That's strength, Jasmine."

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them back. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too." He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "And I'll be right here, holding your hand while you make this call."

Jasmine nodded, straightening her spine. "Okay. I can do this." She looked down at the device clutched in her hand. "But I need to pace while I'm talking with him, so I can't hold your hand."

"Do you want me to give you privacy?"

"No." She patted his shoulder. "Stay right here. Please."

"Of course." He settled on the couch while she rose to her feet and started pacing again.

She took another deep breath, mentally reviewing her cover story one more time. She worked for Perfect Match. She was in their training program. She'd met a software engineer named Eli. Simple. Believable. Close enough to the truth that she wouldn't trip over the lies.

Her thumb hovered over the call button. "What if he asks for details about the program?"

"It's classified," Ell-rom reminded her. "Perfect Match is famous for its secrecy. He'll expect that, and if not, he can look it up."

"Right." She nodded. "And if he asks about Eli?"

Ell-rom smiled. "Say that he's handsome, irresistible, and a god in bed."

When she laughed, he added, "Eli is also kind and smart, and you're serious about him."

"Right. I'll also tell him that you are rich. He always says that I'm dating losers."

"Well, that's not true, but since you are already making up a story, go for it."

She shrugged. "I could tell him that you are a prince, which is true, and that I'm immortal now, which is also true and much more impressive than anything else I could tell him, but he won't believe that."

"You don't need his approval, Jasmine."

She knew he was right. She'd built a life she was proud of, found love she never expected, and discovered a community that accepted her completely. Her father's opinion shouldn't matter anymore.

Jasmine nodded, and before she could talk herself out of it again, she pressed the call button.

The line connected, and after two rings, her father's gruff voice came through. "Who is this?"

"It's me, Dad." Jasmine winced at how small her voice sounded. "I got a new phone number."