“Hey,” Rebecca protested, popping to her feet and then flitting up to the ceiling, trying to see over Bitterlich’s shoulder. “What about me? It’s my parents.”

Bitterlich leaned in to see the writing. Rebecca’s cylinder was the base of the trunk and only one branch led away from it, indicating the ciphers only recognized half her lineage. The cylinder above hers read: Ewald Bitterlich, Seelenjäger—cull.

Bitterlich’s head felt light and his lips went numb. A strange, dead tingling spread from his fingers and toes.

He was Rebecca’s father?

Bitterlich sat down. He aimed for the chair but missed and landed hard on the floor. The pain barely registered.

He was Rebecca’s father! But that was … just barely not impossible. Eulalie had gelded him, but not until after they’d had sex. She’d gotten pregnant. Abandoned the child. She’d stolen his child from him and didn’t even tell him.

“What’s the matter with him?” Rebecca asked, her voice shrill.

“He’s just become a father,” Isabelle said.

“What?” Poor Rebecca was bewildered.

Isabelle said, “You didn’t know who your parents are, but at least you knew you had parents. Major Bitterlich had no idea he had a daughter, much less that it was you.”

Outrage boiled up in Rebecca’s voice. “How could he not know?”

Bitterlich sat doubled over, his head in his hands, trying to hold it all in. “She never told me. Your mother never told me she was pregnant, much less that she’d had you.”

“Why not?” Her anger faded to confusion.

Bitterlich could not speak through his shock. His head and heart felt like they were going to explode. He’d known Eulalie was a selfish, evil harridan, but this … she’d thrown away her child. His child.

Isabelle spoke in more soothing tones. “I can’t speak for your mother, but Major Bitterlich never would have abandoned you if he’d known you existed.”

Bitterlich looked up at Rebecca. His vision blurred from tears. None of this was her fault. He took several very long breaths. How to go on from this? Rebecca. She was the important one here. Her needs must be attended first.

He knelt before his daughter. “Rebecca. I am so sorry. I did not know. If I’d known you existed, I would have searched to the end of the world to find you. I would have taken you in, raised you. I would have been a father to you. I still will if you will let me.”

Rebecca recoiled, befuddled by this sudden proclamation.

Isabelle touched his shoulder lightly. “Ewald, I’m going to take Rebecca outside. I’ll be right back.”