The next night, Melody sat in the library while she took a break from mothering while the twins were sleeping.

Tohr walked in, an envelope clutched in his hand. For a moment, he just stood in the doorway watching her. Melody sat in one of the push chairs, her legs tucked under her and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was bent over a book with a frown of concentration on her lips, her head bent while struggling with the words. She looked utterly adorable.

He stepped inside the doorway and her head came up. The frown was replaced by a warm smile at the sight of him, "Hi."

He couldn't help but smile back. Tohr went to the chair, took her face in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. When he straightened he held out the envelope to her.

At he look of confusion he said, "It's from your father."

Tohr watched as her eyes widened as they went to the envelope. With slightly shaking fingers she reached for the letter. He waited patiently as she opened it and read it.

Melody's lips parted as her eyes darted over the words. When she was done, she handed the letter to him:

Milord,

I thank you, from the bottom of my heart that you have found my missing child.
Dare I ask permission to come and see her? I mean no offense, but I am anxious
to see her. My shellan and I were devastated at the disappearance of our only child. regrettably, we were unable to have another. Since my mate's passing,
I've found myself wondering time and time again what happened to my little
girl. Please give your permission, My King.

I am in your debt, for always,

Strhiker.

Wrath had already read the letter and had informed Tohr that the male who was Melody's sire had asked permission for him to come to America. The king had said that if Melody wished it, he would allow Strhiker to visit the compound.

"Do you want him to come, Mel?"

She didn't answer for a moment, then she looked up at him, "Yes. Yes, I do."

Tohr smiled and ran a hand over her hair, "I'll go tell Wrath."

At the door she stopped him as she said his name, "Will you be with me, when I meet him?"

He smiled, "Wouldn't miss it for the world, babe."

That night, Wrath sent the reply to Melody's father. The older male would arrive three days later and Fritz would pick him up and bring him to the mansion. The next few days were filled with anticipation for both Melody and Tohr.

Three days later, Tohr watched as Fritz drove away to pick up Melody's sire from the airport and wondered what the male called Strhiker would be like. He was a bit worried that her father might turn out to be like his own, cold and brutal.

He doubted it. From that letter, Tohr got the feeling that the male was genuinely grateful for the finding of his daughter.

Tohr just hoped that Melody would get the Hallmark reunion with her only family member that she so deserved.

Tohr waited in Wrath's office for Fritz to bring Melody's father up. Melody was in the room with the twins, waiting.

Tohr wanted to meet her father before Melody met her.

A knock came at the door and Wrath replied, "Enter."

Fritz opened the door and bowed, "My Lord." He turned aside and introduced their guest, "The princep Strhiker, son of Lhegion."

The male that walked in was tall, nearly as tall as Wrath. His hair was dark brown with more than a little bit of gray laced in. The face was a strong one, square-cut jaw and high cheek bones with, bit he had the lines of grief in his face. The eyes were the same color as Melody's aquamarine eyes, but his were the eyes of a male who had experience pain and grief in his life; they were strong and shadowed.

The male came to the center of the room and bowed to Tohr first, then to Wrath, "My lords. I wish to thank you for finding my daughter."

Wrath smiled, "There is no need for thanks, it is what we do." He swept a and towards Tohr, "This is the Brother Tohrment, son of Hharm. He is the male that found your daughter and the male that is to become her hellren."

Strhiker's eyes flashed to Tohr and seemed to bore right into his soul. "I have not given my blessing," he stated.

Tohr had to admire that the male was looking out for the daughter he had not seen in over twenty years. Tohr said to the male, "You can ask me any question you'd like. But, I think you would want to see your daughter first."

Sthriker's eyes lit up, "Yes. Yes, of course. I would very much..," he broke off and swallowed several time. "I would very much..like to see her."

The emotion in the older males eyes told Tohr that he did not need to worry about this male. He went to the door, "I'll show you to the library and I'll bring your daughter in a little bit."

Strhiker followed Tohr, and while they walked they talked. "I think you should know, that her name is now Melody."

"My late shellan gave her the name Aliana. May I ask where the name Melody came from?"

Somehow, Tohr thought, the name Aliana didn't fit the Mel he knew. It seemed too cold, not at all like the sweet, gentle female he knew. "From me. When I found her, she was a discarded bloodslave without a name. I gave her the name Melody."

Strhiker had stopped walking at Tohr's words, "My little girl had been made a bloodslave? A daughter of a Chosen was made into a bloodslave?!" His words were filled with fury.

"I'm afraid so."

Melody's father remained silent until they reached the doors of the library. At the door, Tohr opened the door for the male, "I'll go and get Melody. Just wait here for a few moments."

"Wait."

Tohr turned, Strhiker's eyes met his, "Just tell me one thing. And be honest, don't sugar-coat it. Was she abused as a slave?"

His answer was short but carried major weight with it, "Yes."

Strhiker's face clenched with anger, "The male that did it to her should die by my hands."

"He's going to Hhel for two and a half centuries for what he's done. And a lot of the males in Hhel don't like males that abuse females of high birth." With a smile, Tohr said, "I've told the guards to tell the prisoners that the female abused was the daughter of a Chosen."

Strhiker's cold smile was filled with satisfaction.

"I'll be right back," Tohr said and hurried down the hall.