4. Elliott

Chapter 4

Elliott

I stood against the wall in the auditorium we used for meetings, watching the members of our clan find their seats. It was always the same. Shifters grouped together in the back left corner. Vampires converged in the back right corner. The fae took up a small section in front of the vampires. The witches and other spellcasters filled the front left, and the myriad of selkies, sirens, and other supernaturals filled in the middle.

My security team consisted of a dozen shifters spread out on the left side of the room. Vampires and witches made up Damon's team who policed the right side. Kenrid normally posted himself in front of the fae. I wasn't sure if they'd listen to their prince anymore after he'd resigned his seat on their council. Apparently, Nathan felt the same, because two vampires stood with Kenrid.

Despite my best efforts, my mind insisted on replaying the interaction between Lorna and Nathan. Like Damon, I'd honestly thought our boss was losing control. I doubted that Lorna saw Nathan's elongated fingers and claws, or the way his enlarged body strained against his clothes. She was completely focused on his face, which was also more vampire than human.

I shouldn't have been surprised by her lack of fear, though. Dhampir never feared their vampire masters. They hated the vampires for keeping them prisoners, but the dhampir weren't afraid.

I also shouldn't have been surprised by Lorna's control. She'd already demonstrated her restraint so many times. Not just with Damon. I'd watched the video we'd retrieved from Conrad dozens of times. She didn't seem to care that Conrad had filled her tiny cell with vampires. The only clue she'd given of her discomfort was when Jonah had kneeled in front of her. Her shoulders had relaxed just a fraction, and she seemed to breathe just a little easier.

Any other dhampir would have entranced the room and created a bloodbath. But not Lorna. Yes, she'd drained them all in the end, but only so she could escape. I could hardly blame her for protecting herself. Especially after her dhampir let me talk her down.

Earlier today with Nathan, she showed the same strength. She faced her biggest weakness—a direct temptation from a master vampire—and came out the winner.

My wolf whimpered with the memory. He'd done nothing but cower since Lorna's display of strength. He'd been shamed by his mate, and he didn't like it. She'd proven herself stronger than him, and he didn't know how to feel about it. He'd considered himself the strongest alpha around until today, but my wolf knew damn well he would never have Lorna's self-control.

A noticeable hush fell over the room, and I forced myself to concentrate on what mattered now: this meeting and Lorna's safety.

Nathan emerged from a side door at the front of the room with Lorna at his side. I growled when the whispered ‘ dhampir ' reached my sensitive ears. Nathan stepped up on to a small rise and gestured for Lorna to join him. There was barely enough space for both of them, and Lorna's discomfort was obvious. Hopefully it was from being in the spotlight and not Nathan's nearness. Probably both.

"Today's meeting will be very short," Nathan said, silencing everyone. "The only thing that seems to matter to all of you is the young woman standing next to me. I'm disgusted by your juvenile tendency to be distracted by rumors."

Several murmurs filled the hall, but Nathan just spoke over them.

"Let's have a quick lesson of how babies are made," he said. "When a human and fae have sex, pregnancy will sometimes happen. Unless there's been some miraculous change in breeding that I'm not aware of, the resulting child will not be dhampir. Am I mistaken?"

Nathan paused with his eyebrows raised as if he honestly expected someone to tell him he was wrong. I grinned. His delivery was perfect. Of course no one responded. The answer was obvious. Only a vampire and human can birth a dhampir. Or so we thought.

"Now that we've cleared that up," he continued, "everyone here can either smell or sense Lorna's fae blood. Some of our more talented members can also sense something else."

Nathan paused again while murmurs of agreement filtered through the room.

"Not that it's anyone's business," he said, curling his upper lip with a snarl, "but Lorna does not know her parents. She was adopted as an infant and raised by humans. So, one of her parents could possibly be a half-breed with another type of supernatural. It would explain her unique scent."

Nathan turned and slid his arm behind Lorna, resting his fingers on her waist. She glanced up at him with a trembling smile. I wasn't sure if it was nerves or a different reaction, though.

"She didn't know she was part fae until someone started hunting her." Nathan shot a scathing look at the fae in the front row. "She was happy living a normal, human life until someone had the bright idea she was a dhampir. As you can see, this brave young woman is not trying to entrance me or any of the other vampires in the room. She's not consumed by a need to attack anyone here and drain them dry."

Nathan pointed to Damon with his free hand. "And let's not forget that fate decided she is a demon's mate. So why would any of you believe that she is dhampir? I'm insulted that anyone in my clan is truly that stupid."

Nathan dropped his arm and released Lorna. "Go to your mate, Lorna. I apologize for the need to put you on display." He turned back to the crowd. "All of you should apologize to Damon. No one should have to stand by and let their mate be treated as you've done to his."

Another round of whispers filled the audience, but all eyes watched Lorna step down from the small rise. She held her head high and strolled past the fae, pausing briefly to smile at Kenrid. I had to give the prince credit for holding it together. He kept a neutral expression and nodded at her, but his gaze followed her progress past the vampires. She never flinched, never held her breath, or even looked their way. She kept her focus on Damon until he wrapped her in his arms and folded his wings around her.

My wolf pressed to the edge of my awareness, but I pushed him back.

She is more than we deserve, I told him. You'll be lucky if she accepts us.

He huffed, but it didn't seem like he disagreed. I felt like a hypocrite, though. It wasn't that long ago that I'd argued with my wolf over accepting her. Except he was all for it, and I was the one rejecting our mate. Now, he refused to share, and I refused to lose her. Hopefully, he and I would get our shit together soon. I loved everything about Lorna. Her smile, her sense of humor, and her strength.

Whispered conversations broke out around the room, bringing my attention back to what mattered. Most of the clan chided each other for believing a bunch of rumors.

"I should've known those stupid fae were just looking for attention. "

"I feel like an idiot for even considering it."

"I thought the fae couldn't lie?"

" Someone was spouting a bunch of bullshit. She is not dhampir."

Nathan let the whispers continue for several minutes before addressing the clan again. This time, his tone was harsh and unforgiving.

"I'm ashamed to call some of you clan members," Nathan said. "I'm tempted to kick you out for your narrow-mindedness. It's obvious you need a reminder of who we are and how you got here. We accept everyone. Everyone! We don't judge anyone for their past. All of you were given the opportunity to prove yourselves."

Nathan stepped down from the platform and stood in front of the fae. "We don't turn people away, even those who were exiled from their realm for breaking the rules. Only those who threaten the safety and well-being of our clan are forced to leave." He pointed at someone sitting in the front row that I couldn't see. "You have one chance to prove your loyalty to this clan."

Nathan turned his back on the fae and addressed the crowd. "Meeting adjourned. I'll answer individual concerns in my office for the rest of the evening."

Nathan met my gaze and nodded, then he turned to Damon and did the same. Our cue to watch Lorna and the clan. Kenrid fell into step with our boss and left through the side door. As people rose from their seats and started filing out of the room, I listened to their conversations again.

"Did Nathan just accuse Brance of starting those rumors?"

"Do you think he'd really kick out the Exiled fae?"

"Nathan cares too much about our clan to kick out an entire faction."

"If the fae did start that rumor, they deserved to be out on their asses. That shit's not funny. No one wants the dhampir back."

My gaze slid to Lorna. Damon kept his hands empty, but one of his wings wrapped around her, shielding her side not tucked against him. The vampires strolled by, nodding at Damon. Lorna smiled at them like they were nothing more than regular people to her.

Several of the fae watched with their brows drawn and obvious confusion in their eyes. They honestly believed that she was a dhampir. They were right, but Lorna's actions made for a truly convincing argument.

Most of the fae filed in behind the vampires, bowing to Lorna as they passed. The fae council just watched their people with disdain before using the same side door that Nathan had.

Apparently, my boss had been right about where the rumors started. Our clan members were also right, though. The fae could not lie. Somehow they knew Lorna was the last dhampir. After hearing Kenrid's story, I suspected the knowledge came from one of the fae council. Had they been planted with the Exiled fae to spy on them? Were they tasked with finding out Kenrid's secrets? I hoped not, but I couldn't ignore the signs. Nathan wouldn't, either.

After the room emptied and we dismissed the rest of the security team, I joined Damon and Lorna.

"You okay?" I asked, barely stopping myself from reaching for her hand.

"I guess so," she murmured. "Can we go back to the tower now?"

She leaned against Damon, her whole body seeming to deflate. I could only imagine how exhausting it was for her.

I glanced at Damon. "Do we need to check on the boss before we go?"

Damon looked over Lorna's head with a furrowed brow. "The fae concern me."

My eyes darted between Damon and Lorna. His wing still held her tight, but he kept his focus on the side door. My phone vibrated in my pocket a moment later. So did Damon's. I pulled it out and read the text from Kenrid.

mymankenny : One of you need to join us, just in case Brance decides to try anything .

I looked up at Damon, only to find him staring back at me. The fae didn't fear me the way they feared Damon. His presence would ensure peace more than mine. Honestly, Brance would be an absolute idiot to try anything with Nathan, Kenrid, and Damon in the same room. Brance was a lot of things, but he wasn't stupid.

"I'll take Lorna home," I offered. "Go make sure the boss is okay."

Damon's head snapped back to the side door. "I might be awhile."

"Yeah, yeah." I waved a hand at him. "It's not like spending time with Lorna is a burden."

She smiled, and a rosy blush darkened her cheeks. I wanted to do more than make her blush. I'd behaved like a gentleman for way longer than I thought I could. Maybe tonight I'd have her all to myself.

Lorna rose onto her toes and kissed Damon's jaw. He looked down at her like she was the only thing he needed to survive. A surge of jealousy needled my restraint until Lorna turned her smile on me. Yes, tonight would be ours. Damon and Kenrid could handle the boss.

I needed my mate.