Chapter 6

Elek

When we exit the room, Sebo is leaning on the stone wall near the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest. His blond hair is slicked back and tucked into a low ponytail at the back. While most of us are blending in with the new era, he and his hairstyle tends to be stuck in the past. The white T-shirt he's wearing strains against the muscles of his arms.

Brown eyes find ours the second he senses us. His nostrils flare as he takes in the scents swirling around us. There's no mistaking the smell of Kiara's arousal, mixed with the sex from Mátyás and I fucking that is clogging the air around us. And good. That'll let the others know that she's ours and not to be fucked with.

"What couldn't wait until we were done playing with our mate, Sebo?" Mátyás crosses his arms over his chest and towers over him. Remnants of my blood coat the sides of his mouth and splatter across his chest. I'm sure I'm as much of a mess.

"István has returned." Sebo's face hardens at the mention of that name.

"So soon?" I'm not sure if we should be worried that he's back this early or not.

"He's in the Great Hall, waiting for you." Sebo nods and walks off without another word.

"Five hundred years, and he still hasn't learned to play well with others. And he wonders why I chose István over him." Mátyás shakes his head and glances my way. "Still think turning him was a good idea?"

"Sebo is loyal. He'll come around to your decision, eventually." I shrug, knowing deep down I'm right. "He may have his faults, but when it matters, he'll always come through."

"I hope you're right." He reaches for my hand and interlocks our fingers. "Let's see what was so important that István couldn't use his damn phone."

When we reach the Great Hall, most of our coven is in attendance and dressed in their favorite black leathers. They hover in clusters around the ink tapestry-covered walls. This is the oldest room in the castle. The other ones have been redone with more modern amenities, but this one has remained untouched. A large chandelier covers the center of the room, with two medium-sized ones on each side. Silver and black tapestries line the walls with images that tell the story of our lineage plastered all over them. Angels falling from Heaven and becoming demons. Mating with daughters of Eve who gave birth to us. It's all written out for us to remember where we came from, why we were punished for our parents' sins, and why this prophecy is important.

Mátyás leads me in and up the carpeted set of steps to the two black-framed chairs upholstered with plush black velvet. He stops at my seat and waits for me to be seated before taking his own. The large room remains silent until we're situated and face them.

István waits until we look at him before he stands in front of us. It's no secret that out of all the ones we have turned, he is one of Mátyás's favorites. His midnight hair is shaved close to his scalp, showing off the tattoos he's had done over the centuries. A silver hoop decorates his left nostril.

"István," Mátyás greets.

"My liege." He bows his head, knowing his place in the hierarchy, even if he's laying it on a bit thick for my tastes.

"What's so important that you couldn't use your damn phone?" My fingers tap against the armrest of the chair. Mátyás has an issue with Sebo, and mine is with István. He's too cocky and a bit of a kiss-ass.

"You know I hate technology." István chuckles, brushing it off. "I cleaned up your mess and sent Sandor's head as a warning to Farkas." His hazel eyes light up as he speaks. I'm sure he enjoyed every minute of dissecting Sandor.

"Just the head?" Mátyás's brows arch, but there's no missing the hint of amusement in his eye.

"Didn't have a need for much else." He shrugs. "It should keep them in line."

"And what of her coven? They'll be coming for her, too. Kesabel is their deity, and they will risk their lives to keep her under their protection." Kristof chimes in from the back of the room. His curly red hair sticks out among the rest, making him easy to spot.

"We won't allow that to happen." My hands grip the arms of my chair until I hear the metal splinter. Thanks to our protection spell they won't get anywhere near her, and I don't appreciate his insinuation that they could.

"Why does Farkas want her so bad if she's yours?" Dominik asks from the back of the room. His dark hair is spiked on top and cropped short on the sides, but it's his inky gaze that holds the room's attention.

Mátyás and I share a look. We haven't decided how much to share of the prophecy because Kiara's safety depends on it.

"What do you know of the full history of the Nephilim?" I ask.

"You are the offspring of a Fallen one and a daughter of Eve," Dominik answers as if he's done it a thousand times.

"Correct. Some were cursed to live in shadows, feasting on the blood of those their parents despised and turning them into creatures of the night. Others were born as beasts, forced to relive the pain of shifting over and over again. The sins of the father fall onto his offspring and all that." Mátyás does his best to keep his voice neutral, but I know him well enough to detect its disdain.

"Making you and the Lycans—" Dominik's brows pinch together as he connects the dots of our hidden history.

"Cousins, for lack of a better term." The term sounds bitter and wrong as it falls off my tongue.

"But why do they seek out your mate for themselves? That makes no sense," Sebo asks.

"Because Fate may set the course, but Destiny likes to throw its hat into the game to keep things off balance. And neither likes to lose. We aren't the only ones who have a prophecy. The Lycans have one of their own. It's no secret that they haven't had any pups survive past birth in the last few centuries. Farkas was given a mate of his own, and she's out there somewhere. If she births the Lycan alpha an heir, she will end the mortality of their pups." Mátyás gives enough details to sate their thirst but not enough to risk her safety.

Murmurs of protests filter through the large room as his words penetrate. I knew they wouldn't be happy knowing we share a lineage with these dogs.

"What do we do if they attack us?" István asks.

"They won't. We are hidden deep in the hills outside of Budapest. All who knew of this castle's existence are either in this room or dead." It's almost insulting that he's questioning us this way.

"Maybe we should let them have her?" Kristof crosses his arms over his chest, trying to appear intimidating, but he's just sealed his fate.

I'm up and out of my chair in the blink of an eye. I sever his neck from his body with my bare hands and hold it up for the entire room to see. "Let that be a warning of what happens to those who dare threaten to harm our mate."

The corner of Mátyás's mouth twitches as he fights the urge to grin at what I've done. His emotions are high, but he still lets me have the floor. "I think Elek's spoken for the both of us." He stands and addresses the room one last time. "Sunrise is in an hour. Drop the shutters and stay inside." Then he faces me and holds out his hand. "Come, Elek. We have a long night ahead of us, and both of us are in need of some rest."

I toss Kristof's head to the floor and return to where he's standing, but before we leave, I turn to Sebo. "You are in charge of Kiara's care until we wake. Make sure she has everything she needs and that she's safe."

"I won't let you down, sire." He bows his head, and we exit the room without another word.

"Watching you defend our mate was hot as fuck, and I'm going to show how much I liked it when we're back in our room," he whispers against my ear, loud enough for only me to hear.

"They learned two things tonight." I press my shoulders back and keep walking. "Never disrespect our mate."

"And the other?" He pulls me down the hall and closer to our room.

"You aren't the only one with a temper."

"I've always known that." He chuckles as we head off to bed, ready to have some fun with our mate. She is more stubborn than we could have imagined, and she'll need all of that strength to survive us.