I was pacing a small section of the park, and when I glared at Michael, it was with anger now, not fear. Why did he have to stir up old issues for me? And after I was having such a great day, too.

He was ruining my good post-birthday mood.

"If you're the delivery boy for my long-lost father," I said, "then tell me. Where is he? Why couldn't he come and see me himself if he's so interested all of a sudden? And why now, after all these years?"

Michael raised his eyes to mine and his expression looked uncertain. Maybe he didn't know. Maybe somebody had given him money to contact me.

Strange, but possible.

"You probably won't believe me right away," he said. "But you have to. It's all true."

"Tell me."

"Take the envelope and I'll tell you." He held it out to me again.

I had to take a step closer to him as I snatched it out of his grip, "Fine. Envelope delivered. Now tell me. Please."

He took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. "Your father is the king of the Shadowlands."

I blinked slowly. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"The Shadowlands is the dimension that separates this human realm from the Underworld and Hell."

I didn't say anything for a moment. Again, this guy had managed to render me speechless. He certainly wasn't predictable.

"Another dimension," I repeated.

"Yes."

"And my father is the king there. In this other dimension."

"That's right."

"And that's the reason why you called me Princess before. Because my father is a king."

He nodded. "You're the current heir to the throne."

My mouth felt very dry and my head throbbed. I rubbed my temples. "You're kidding, right?"

"No, I'm not kidding. I knew you'd have a difficult time believing me; you've lived the life of a human for sixteen years. That's why you have to see your father personally. He'll explain things much better than I will-even though I'm supposed to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. He wants you to read his letter and then come with me-" "Let me guess. To the Shadowlands?"