“The people shouldn’t have tried to exterminate themselves. They obviously need guidance to stay alive.”
Theron chuckled behind us. “Poppy, he is actually a king.”
Godric’s shoulders stiffened.
I snorted. “I kind of walked into that one.”
“I’m not talking about his last name,” Theron explained. “He is the alpha king of the shifters.”
I jerked to a stop.
With inhuman reactions, they stopped with me.
Godric continued typing.
Theron waited patiently.
“Like, he rules your people?” I asked smoothly.
“Yes,” Godric muttered. “The thing my father isn’t telling you is, as there is only one seer living at a time, there should only be one alpha king. But instead, I was born. There are now two.”
“What is an alpha king?” I glanced at him.
“The alpha with the most magical power.”
I blinked. “Magical power to do what?”
“Control the shifters.”
“Hmm.” I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Who is the other alpha king?”
“The man standing behind us.”
My shoulders stiffened.
Theron laughed softly. “You have nothing to fear from me, Poppy. I handed over the crown to my son. I’m on vacation.”
I blinked again. “A vacation means you’ll be back.”
Godric grunted.
“I ruled for over two thousand years. I’ll be on vacation for a long time until I get bored. By then, my son will need a vacation.”
“I already do,” Godric muttered under his breath.
Theron patted his shoulder. “You’re doing great, son.”
I stared straight forward, unable to speak.
“Breathe, pet,” Godric whispered.
I choked, “Two thousand years?”
Theron sighed. “I’m old. But I still look good.”
A startled laugh burst from my throat. “I see where you get it from, big man. Like father like son.” I looked behind me and evaluated his father again. “Does that mean you’re a lion too?”
A private smile curved his lips. “No.”
“What do you shift into?” I was curious.
He shrugged one shoulder, not answering.
Godric tapped the last bit into his bracelet. He grabbed my hand then and pulled me down the hallway.
His father followed, whistling quietly.
“Cassander’s here,” Godric stated, distracted.
His father replied, “I know. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Even I knew that was a lie, his shoulders tensing.
“I wish you two would talk things through,” his father crooned. “You were best friends, and then—”
“I know what happened, Father,” Godric interjected. “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept it like you did. Your mating may have been hell, but she was still my mother.”
Theron sighed. “He’s hurting just as much as you are.”
“Good,” Godric growled.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“Finally,” Cassander grumbled.
Theron pushed past us at the entrance of the living room. He marched straight toward the seer, flicked his wrist, and ordered, “Get up, son. I haven’t seen you in years.”
The seer sighed in exasperation but pushed off the black couch. “Hi, Dad.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Theron crushed him in a powerful hug.
I blinked and whispered, “Wait. He’s your brother?”
“Adopted brother,” Godric answered quietly. “My mother and father adopted him when his parents split up.”
I jerked to face him. “I thought mates were forever.”
“I can hear you two,” Cassander muttered.
Theron released him from his embrace and patted his back hard. “You’re coming to dinner in three days.” He flicked a finger at the rest of the individuals in the room. “They’ve already been trapped into coming, thanks to your brother taking time off to follow his mate around for a few days.” He swung his finger at the fox. “You will come.”
Cassander ran his hands through his silver hair. “I think I have plans—”
“Bullshit. You’re coming.”
Cassander groaned. “Fine.”
Theron slapped his shoulder. “I’ll cook your favorite.”
The seer perked then. “Lasagna?”
Finn even looked up from his bracelet.
“Absolutely.”
Godric grunted.
Cassander peeked at him under his lashes. “I’m still the favorite.”
His lion took offense and growled.
I held tight to his hand when he stepped forward. “We have stuff to talk about. No fighting.”
Dizzy. I was dizzy with all of this.
The man wearing orange swim trunks was ancient.
I was falling for a lion.
A stalker fox could kill them all.
Oh, and I was undying now.
It would take time to adjust to the crazy.
My eyes skimmed to the other three men. “Let me guess. You’re shifters too.”
Wolfe flicked his gray hair off his forehead. “Of course.”
Rune leaned back in a recliner, rocking it back and forth slowly. His grin was sinful. “And you fucked God and reached immortality.”
Alaric’s chest rumbled with laughter. “Best nickname ever. Just for that line.”
They high-fived one another.
Then Alaric turned his attention our way, his brown hair shining under the overhead light. “Congratulations, by the way. We heard she doesn’t stink with the darkness. It’s about damn time that shit ended.”
Theron pegged each with a hard stare.
All three instantly went mute.
Theron proceeded to kick off his flip-flops, lie down on the floor, and put his hands under his head as a cushion. He stared at the ceiling and then closed his eyes as if he were taking a nap. Little grains of sand fell off his shoulders and onto the carpeting near his head. If someone walked in, he would appear like a tourist who was worn out from picking up seashells.
“This is just weird,” I mumbled.
Godric pulled me close to his side, his golden eyes holding mine. “You’ll get used to it.”
Cassander fell back onto the couch. “Let’s get this going. I’m getting hungry after all that lasagna talk.”
I held up a finger. “Hold on. I know this is a delicate topic, but I need to ask. What did Godric mean when he said your parents split up?” I nibbled on my bottom lip in worry.
“They’re still mated,” he clarified. He was so patient when he talked with me. It was a kindness I appreciated. He explained further, “God told you about the six matings that were cursed. My parents are one of those matings.”
“Mine too,” Finn added.
“Same,” Alaric supplied.
Rune grunted. “Crazy ass parents here too.”
I glanced at Wolfe.
He nodded. “We’re the offspring of the curse.”
My brows rose. “All right.”
Godric pulled me by my hand to the loveseat nearby. He sat down, and then pulled me onto his lap. His heat and scent wound around me in the most pleasant way. The lion man rubbed my back, massaging my muscles.
It was time to get down to business.
Godric growled. “Okay, here is what we know. Black creatures, no eyes, sharp claws, and stank like mud, tried to attack today. They weren’t human or shifter.”
“Golems,” Cassander supplied. “I’m pretty sure they were golems.”
“What’s a golem?” Rune wrinkled his forehead.
“A creature formed my magic,” I stated helpfully.
All six pairs of eyes snapped in my direction.
Theron didn’t move from his ‘nap’ position.
“What? I like to read old books.”
Cassander snicker
ed. “She’s right. It’s a magical creature created by clay and then animated to life.”
Finn asked, “So someone is behind it?”
Cassander continued to give his knowledge. “They would have to be, but I’m not sure who.”
My brows furrowed.
On the field, Cassander had said, ‘The bastard must be weak.’
“But it’s a male, right?” I asked carefully.
He answered, “Yes, it would have to be a shifter. Humans aren’t magical.”
My eyes narrowed. “Before the fight, you said he was weak. How do you not know who it is but then claim to know he’s weak?”
“Because I could make golems like that, and they would be a hell of a lot faster.”
“You can do that?” I asked in confusion.
He smirked. “I’m the seer. There are a few perks.”
“But no other shifter can?”
“Exactly.”
“Then it’s a puzzle.” Giddiness rose inside my chest. But, just as suddenly, it disappeared with my next thought. “I dreamt about them this morning. They were trying to get me. And they had this weird green glow coming out of their mouths that was almost hypnotic—it felt wrong.”
Godric tightened his arms around me, his attention snapping to his brother. “Is that normal, Cass?”
“If it’s magical, and she was the target, she may have experienced the backlash of the magic when the creatures were made. Especially since the creator is weak.”
“So I have a shifter on my hands who is fucking with magic,” Godric stated. His voice remained even and cool…and underneath simmered with a burial sentence. “It’s possible the curse and this are related. Before, we thought our race might be ending. But twice? And different? Someone is twisting magic to target mates.”
Finn held a blade in his hand, tossing it back and forth from one hand to the other. “We need to compile a list of shifters who have been known to hate mates—the idea of mates. And shifters who are obsessive about them. That would be the first place to start.”
Wolfe agreed. “I’ll start a search in the database.”
“One good thing about all of this is he’s weak,” Cassander stated. “The more he twists the magic, the less effective it’ll be. It will drain him and not work as it should. And with as many golems as he sent today, he thinks a lot of himself. That will eventually be his downfall if he doesn’t change his course of attack.”
“Do you think Poppy is in danger right now?” Godric asked, his voice soft. He was glaring at his brother as if it pained him to ask for advice. But his attention didn’t waver from him. “Should you stay here to help me protect her?”
I glowed inside.
He cared. He cared enough to humble himself.
Cassander cleared his throat and picked at the fur on his jacket. “No, she’s not in danger right now. With that much magic spent, he’ll be comatose for at least a month.” He glanced up, his own voice quieting. “But…I could actually use a place to stay for a little while. I won’t be in your way.”
I held very still.
Cassander was obviously testing the waters.
Seeing if peace was in the near future for them.
Godric stared, his features calm.
Cassander cleared his throat, poking the lion.
It was never wise to poke a lion.
“I have a new mate.” Godric shrugged. “I’d like to have the house to ourselves.”
“Jesus,” Finn muttered in annoyance. He glared at the lion and then turned his attention to the fox. “Cass, you can stay at my place for a while if you need to.”
“Thank you.” Cassander yawned. “I should have asked you first. I’d never get any sleep here with the way God snores. When the walls are shaking—and not from having sex—the man has issues.”
Alaric chuckled and nodded his head. “Amen.”
Godric glared. “You are such an asshole, Cass.”
“Please,” he muttered with sarcasm. “You’re just embarrassed because it’s the truth, and you’re afraid your mate won’t sleep with you every night once she hears it.”
Wolfe glanced at me. “Bring earplugs to bed.”
“I actually snore too. He’ll need his own set of earplugs. My father listens to music at night when I’m there so he can get some rest.”
Godric’s eyes captured mine. “You really snore?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s bad.”
The wrinkles of worry vanished from his forehead, and he smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “The magic picked well. Because the asshole is right. I snore like the devil when I’m stressed.”
My lips curved. He was quite adorable.
Rune groaned. “They’re cute and shit.”
Alaric muttered, “I hope he finds his balls when he returns to work. I can’t put up with him smiling all the time like that.”
Godric leaned down and kissed my lips softly. “I think it’s time for them to leave. What do you think, pet?”
“It’s your house. Your rules.”
Cassander’s head cocked. “I just thought of something.”
“It’s a miracle,” Godric rumbled.
“Fuck off,” Cassander groused absently. His silver eyes swung in my direction. “You said the golems had green light in their mouths?”
I nodded.
“That would have to do with the soul.”
“Huh?” He was talking gibberish.
“Twisting the magic to darkness,” he mumbled to himself, staring at his lap. He tapped his thumbs together, lost in thought. “What did the green light do, Ms. Carvene?”
“Poppy,” I corrected him.
“Apologies.” Silver eyes looked up and refocused. “Did the green light do anything other than appear to be hypnotic, like you said?”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “It was kind of all-consuming. That’s the best way I can explain it.”
His eyes narrowed. “I know what it is.”
Wolfe asked, “What?”
“The golems were meant to suck the soul from her.”
I jerked back in surprise. “That would have killed me, wouldn’t it have?”
A soul was a soul. It couldn’t be reformed.
What you had was what you got. Immortal or not.
“Kind of,” he hedged. “Your body would still be living, but no one would be in residence. Once the soul leaves the body, it doesn’t return.”
Godric hissed, “How sure are you on this?”
“Almost positive. It makes the most sense with everything I’ve learned from watching souls leave bodies.”
I stared, my mouth gaping. “You see their souls?”
He nodded. For a brief second, his silver eyes were haunted. Then he chuckled, with a smile. “The bastards are always green too. Like, neon fucking green.”
Theron decided to speak, his eyes still closed. “Is that all for tonight, gentlemen?”
Godric muttered, “I hope to hell it is.”
No one else spoke with concerns, the room quiet.
“Time to go then.” Theron jumped to his feet, sliding his flip-flops on, entirely cheerful. Then he snapped his fingers at the other men, his dark eyes narrowing to dangerous slits and his tone lowering to a snarl. “Get the hell out of here before you piss me off. Give the newly mated pair some privacy.”
It was like whiplash how fast he altered himself.
They jumped to their feet, hauling ass outside.
He barked after them, “I will see you all for dinner in three days. Don’t forget. I’m making lasagna!”
Hilarity bubbled inside my chest.
Without moving his lips, Godric whispered on a mere breath, “Don’t laugh. That actually will piss him off.”
I shoved any laughter down deep.
I did not want to make that man mad.
Theron sighed and turned patient eyes on his son. “You should have let him stay here. He was waving a damn white flag in the air.”
Godric’s nose scr
unched. “I know.”
“Then get your shit together. You’re better than this,” his father scolded. He shook his head of honey-colored hair. “Anyway, I’m leaving too. I’m off for my dance class. There’s this amazing elderly couple who I just adore there.”
With unblinking eyes, I watched him leave.
“Godric?”
He chuckled. “I know what you’re going to ask.”
“Is he always like that?” I asked it anyway.
“Yes, he is.”
“Wow.” I nodded like I understood. But I didn’t think anyone would understand a man who had lived for two thousand years. “Do we really need to go to dinner—”
“You are going!” Theron shouted from far outside the room.
I snapped my mouth shut.
Godric winked. “Shifter hearing, pet.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“So…” My voice was suddenly quiet. “What now?”
Godric’s lips curled with a secret only he knew. He lifted his right hand and pointed a finger over the top of my left hand, just a sliver away from touching. The heat burned my skin, and I shivered as he ran his finger up and down my arm slowly, not allowing me to feel his flesh on mine but gifting me the warmth.
He purred, “My bedroom is right through that door in the corner. I had the meeting here to be closer to it.”
My voice was breathless as I watched his finger trail up and down my arm. “That was proactive.” I licked my bottom lip. “But do I need to go back to the Military House tonight?”
“No, I’ve already contacted them. We’ll go there tomorrow before I have to go to work. We’ll pick up your personal items. You also have forms you need to fill out to officially join the CA.”
I wanted to grab that finger. “I need to sign-up for the intelligence unit’s exam, too.”
“I read in your file that’s where you wanted to be placed. I think you’ll be a good fit there if you pass the exam.”
“You read my file?”
“Of course.”
He leaned and bit my shoulder. Just a love bite. With his teeth holding on, he grinned up at me. His finger finally touched my flesh, dipping under the sleeve of my t-shirt. He ran the pad of his finger in lazy circles on my skin.
I closed my eyes. “You are going to ruin me.”
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