33. Zan

Kali went rigid in my arms, and at that second, I heard the glass door opening. A furious heartbeat accompanied it, and I tore away from her to see who was interrupting us.

My father strode toward us, a scowl on his face. Fuck. How did I not hear him? Even if he was outside, I should have heard him. I knew why. Because the second I was inside Kali, I lost all sense of rational thought. And now I'd fucked everything up. There was no doubt he saw how I'd just kissed her. How she'd wrapped her arms around me. This entire show had been made useless in a matter of seconds.I took a deep breath, trying to control my panic.

"Stay here," I told her in a low voice as I tugged my jeans back up before pulling myself out of the pool.

Water dropped off my soaking clothes, and my shoes were heavy, but I didn't think about any of that as I grabbed one of the folded towels on the table.

"Zan," my father growled, stopping a few feet away. "I've never distrusted you. But that just gave me a reason to."

I held the towel open, letting Kali climb out where only I could see her. "Clearly, that's not true, since you were watching me."

Kali trembled slightly, and I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from my father being here. Probably both. She stared at me, as if waiting for me to say something, but I couldn't. I needed to figure out how to smooth this out with my father. Once the towel was secured around her, I turned around, staying between her and Amaros. The pool was between us, but that wasn't making me feel any better. Amaros's eyes were glittering with rage, and hiding her made it even worse.

"I didn't walk up until a minute ago," he murmured, his voice deadly soft. "Just in time to see that gentle little moment. It doesn't seem like she hates you. She wasn't fighting to get away."

My jaw clenched. I had no idea what to fucking say. I'd never been caught in a lie. Because even being his blood wouldn't save me from his wrath. And right now, I was playing with the future he had planned.

"Answer me," he bellowed, his hands curling into fists. "Tell me why my son would lie to me. Can you even mate right now?"

"Yes," I gritted out. "That's what I just did."

He blew out a harsh laugh. "I'm not sure I can believe you."

"You got what you wanted," I said, managing to keep my voice steady. "I fucked her."

"We," he corrected sharply. "It was always what we wanted. What the hell is going on with you?"

"Nothing." My voice rose. "Just because I kissed her like that doesn't mean anything. Why would she fight anymore when I'd already finished?"

He took a step toward me, and I swiftly strode around the pool. I didn't want him getting any closer to Kali when he was this angry. His eyes narrowed as I stopped in front of him.

"I'm your son," I hissed. "I've done everything for this family. For you. It's an insult that you question me."

"I don't want to question you," he murmured, his eyes going behind me to Kali. "But for some reason…when it comes to her, you act differently."

Dread smothered me when I realized what he was about to do. It had always been a silent threat. Something he could use, but he'd never wanted to betray us in that way. It looked like he was changing his mind.

"Zan—"

"Don't," I snarled, turning my head from him. "You gave us your word that you'd never fucking use it on us."

"That was before I thought one of my sons would lie to me."

I saw his arm raise out of the corner of my eye, and for the first time ever, I lifted my hand to hit my father. My moves were fast. He was faster. He ducked out of the way, his eyes widening in shock before his anger flared. When he swung at me, I lunged to the side. But he wasn't finished. He grabbed the back of my neck, yanking me closer to him. Before I could break free, he spoke the only words that would make me comply.

"If I don't get answers from you, I'll get them from her," he threatened menacingly. "And since I can't entrance her, I'll make her talk in other ways."

There it was again. The suffocating fear that had held me hostage the first time he met Kali. Only this time, it was so much worse.

Facing him, I lifted my chin, my glare full of loathing as I met his eyes. I could hear Kali's heart thundering in her chest, but she didn't say a word from behind me. Amaros stepped forward, dropping his hand from my neck. He didn't need to physically restrain me. Not when he had a different way.

I'd always been curious about what it felt like. I'd done it so many times to humans, never thinking it would happen to me. I should have known better when it came to my father. His eyes bored into mine, and I suddenly felt weightless. Every stress and worry disappeared. I couldn't form a thought. All I could focus on was his eyes. And then his words.

"Is it your time to mate?"

"No," I answered in a monotone voice.

"Why did you lie?"

Out of the haze, a conscious thought swirled. I couldn't lie. But there was more than one truth this time.

"I didn't want to stay on the property."

Suddenly, his hold on me waned, and I blinked, getting my bearings. Rage lined my veins, but I bit back my words. My nails dug into my palms as I attempted to regain control. I couldn't believe he'd actually done it. He had the power to entrance his bloodline. Something my brothers and I had known our whole lives. And he swore he'd never do it.

"What's going on?"

Viggo's voice rang out through the room. My gaze went past Amaros to see my brothers near the door. Both were tense, and I knew they'd seen what had just happened. Pax was staring at our father with disgust, his lips pressed together as if trying to stay quiet. Viggo was better at hiding his emotions, but he was just as shaken as Pax.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Kali looking at me with blatant shock covering her features. She was gripping the towel tightly, standing in the spot I'd left her. Her tangled hair still had water dripping from it, and blood was trailing down her leg, but she didn't seem to notice as her eyes cut to Amaros.

"I'm trying to find the truth," Amaros grumbled, not looking happy that my brothers were here. It didn't matter. I would have told them what happened anyway. "Zan has been lying to me."

"This isn't my home," I snapped, my voice shaking. "I wasn't about to spend months here because you think I can't handle when it's time for me to mate. I can do that perfectly from Deadwood."

"You care for her," Amaros murmured. His shift in attention had me straightening my spine.

"I chose her."

Amaros boomed out a mocking laugh. "I chose your mother too. She spent nine months living her best life while pregnant with you. She got an extra six months to give you nourishment. Then her usefulness expired. And I killed her. Because she was human. Nothing more."

Kali's gasp had all eyes going to her. I took a second to lock down every emotion. I hadn't thought about my mother since I transitioned. As a child, I'd dreamed about her often. But as an adult, I'd just buried it.

"Don't worry, Kali. You won't share the same fate." Amaros stared at her. "Between how the Shadows reacted to you and your immunity to my powers, I think you're more important alive. At least for now."

My chest constricted, and I fought to take steady breaths. This was exactly what I'd feared when I walked into this house with her. If he found out she was the baby from all those years ago, he'd never let her leave.

"I'd rather die than help you," she bit out.

Amaros's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he glanced at me. "But I can bet that you'd help my son. Wouldn't you?"

"Not if it meant killing humans." Her answer was instant. I knew she meant it. She might care for me in some way, but she'd never choose vampires over humans. Not even for me. I couldn't even blame her when I knew what Amaros was planning.

I got in his way when he advanced on her. He glared at me, disbelief in his eyes.

"What the fuck are you doing, Zan?" he roared, shoving me in the chest. "I'm your father. And you're lying to me because of some human? Maybe she would be more useful if she was dead. At least I'd know you aren't going behind my back for her."

"He can't help it," Pax blurted out.

Amaros whirled around. "What does that mean?"

Pax shrugged. "He's bonded to her."

My breath hitched. What the hell was Pax doing?

"Shadows can't bond," Amaros snapped, though there was a note of doubt in his voice.

"We don't know if that's true," Viggo drawled, puffing on a cigarette. "Almost every Shadow is in the Pen. They don't have a chance to bond."

My father turned back to me, and I tensed, seeing what he was about to do. I didn't fight it as I fell under his entrancement again.

"Are you bonded with Kali?"

Something in my heart tugged. "I don't know."

I sagged when he released me, feeling exhausted. But I wasn't about to show that to him. Amaros scrubbed a hand over his jaw, looking troubled.

"Bonds don't fully form until both are vampires or Shadows," he mumbled as if talking something out to himself. "But I don't want her to turn. I want you to mate with her. She will give us an heir. Do you fucking understand?"

I jerked a nod. Nothing I said would help in this situation. For now, I had to go along with what he wanted.

"If it's true, then I can't fault you for lying." He sighed. "Take her back to your room. And Zan, the plan is still happening in two days. You're coming with us. Make the decision if she comes or stays here. Jasper can watch her if you choose the latter."

I bit the tip of my tongue, nodding again. Neither of those options was what I wanted. Hopefully I could figure something else out before we went into Project Peace. Before he could change his mind, I turned my back on him and got Kali. Her heart was still beating wildly, but she didn't put up a fight as I led her from the room. Once we got to the hall, I swept her into my arms and carried her the rest of the way. If we came across any vampires, I didn't want them openly staring at her in a towel. They wouldn't dare look at her when I was carrying her.

"He can entrance you," she whispered under her breath.

"Yes."

My answer was curt, and she got the hint that I didn't want to talk about it. Not when Amaros was listening. I was still on edge after everything that had happened tonight. This whole trip here was exactly what I feared would happen.