24. Chapter Twenty-Four

I left the meeting with the fae conflicted. Mat’s grand plan didn’t come as a surprise. He already had his little vampire city, so extending his domain to include the entire world seemed like a logical next leap. My only question was—why now? The guy had been alive forever. He could have done this at any point.

“He needs all the eternals and protectors for some reason,” Ewan said as we walked back to our house through the lightly falling snow.

I frowned. “Stop reading my thoughts.”

He nudged me with his hip. “I don’t need to read your mind. The question is written on your face. I’m thinking this has to do with those magical fortifications on Demi’s cell that Essie mentioned. She is older than the rest of us, except maybe Archer. Mat’s been looking for eternals for years. It’s why Colleen went into hiding when she got pregnant. My guess is that as soon as they locked up Demi, that’s when he started tracking us down.”

“Call Reggie,” I said. “She grew up in that prison. If anyone knows how to break out her sister, it’s her.”

Ewan held up his phone. “I already texted her.”

“I think we might have a bigger problem,” Birch said in his usual sort of bored voice. “A lot of supes think we should be running this world. They don’t like that we’ve remained in the shadows for so long. Many will want to fight with him, including some of our pack.”

I had considered this as well, and I hated that I didn’t totally disagree. Not the part about subjugating humans. I didn’t have a ton of experience with them in this life since they kept to themselves and so did we, but they were the reason my life had turned out the way it did. King Orrin created wolves to protect the fae from humans. Of course, if the games had never happened, I wouldn’t have ever met Stavros.

Is this all our fault? Are the soulmates truly cursed?

Ewan grabbed my hand and pulled me to stop. “Don’t. Don’t go down that path. Do you remember what I told you the first time you said that we were wrong?”

“That if that was true, nothing in this world was right.”

“I still believe that.”

The next thing I knew, his hands were in my hair and his mouth was on mine. I wasn’t even sure who started the kiss, only that we both needed the contact. His love burned through the bond and signed my doubt. I loved him with all of my being. And as much as I wanted to do wicked things to him, our love felt pure. Right. Untainted.

Birch cleared his throat several times, loudly. “If you want to eat—err drink—before the accords, we need to keep moving.”

Ewan skimmed his nose along my jaw and then scrapped his fangs along the sensitive spot under my ear. “I’m going to have you for lunch.”

Those words really shouldn’t have been such a turn on, and yet they totally were.

I should have know something was off when reached the house and Birch chose to wait outside, but I was too caught up in thoughts of world domination and Ewan’s impending bite. So, when Ewan led me to the living room and sat me on the couch, I didn’t realize something was amiss until he said the words every woman dreads.

“We need to talk.” He sat on the coffee table facing me, one of his knees between my legs. “Birch is going to stay here with you while I meet with the other alphas and the high fae elders.”

I blinked, too shocked to respond at first.

“You’ll be there when we sign the accords. Just not while we hammer out the details. It’s not only you. No mates are coming.” He put his hands on my thighs and squeezed. Dread flooded the bond, and I knew I wouldn’t like his next words. “You need to tell Brooke who she is. Now. I’m sorry it can’t wait, and I know you don’t want to talk about this, but I need to name an heir.”

Too many conflicting emotions tore me in different directions. I didn’t know if I should be mad or upset or simply say okay. If this had been any other boring meeting, I would have been relieved to stay home. But it wasn’t. Four wolf packs and two fae contingents were entering an alliance. This was literally history in the making and as Ewan’s mate and Luna, I had a right to be there. If he hadn’t mentioned my vampire-induced infertility issues, I would have been indignant at the slight of not inviting me. Instead, I wanted to run up the stairs and hide in my bed.

“Look at me, Zara.” He squeezed my legs again as I fought tears. “It doesn’t matter to me. I knew when we bonded that I couldn’t get you pregnant. No one blames you. The pack knew when I became alpha that I wouldn’t produce an heir.”

He wiped the tears from my cheeks with the backs of his hands and scooted closer, alarm swirling in his crimson irises. “I love you. Never doubt that.”

“I’m fine.” I brushed his hand away. “It’s so ridiculous. I don’t know why I care so much. There’s this ingrained need to have a child inside of me that wars with my indifference on the matter. Like, I don’t want to be a mother, I don’t think. But then there’s this voice inside my head telling me how much I suck because I can’t give you an heir.”

“It’s because of what you are. All original wolves have an ingrained need to breed. It’s written in the magic that made us.”

I stared at him, horrified. “So it’s never going to go away?”

Ewan hesitated. “I don’t know. My guess is no.”

I understood why ending my own life would have been preferable to these horrible feelings of inadequacy and failure. “Where’s that dagger I stick in my chest?”

He didn’t laugh. “You are everything to me, Zara. You are my sun and my moon and my heart. Without you, I am nothing. Don’t even joke about ending your immortal life.” He ran his palms up and down my arms and then threaded his fingers with mine. “Brooke is a loophole. Any child she has is our blood and continues our line. I want to name her firstborn as my heir, with Kiernan as a backup since he is my cousin and now in my mother’s care.”

I blew out an unnecessary breath as a fresh wave of tears rolled down my cheeks.

“I thought this would make you happy.”

“It does. I don’t know why I’m crying.” I tried to pull free, but Ewan’s grip was ironclad, so I wiped my face with our joined hands. “Have you talked to Zach about this?”

“No. I wanted to talk to you first, give you the chance to say no if this isn’t what you want.”

Love swelled in my chest and I cried harder, only slightly embarrassed that I was a blubbering, rambling mess. “You’re okay with it if I say no?”

Ewan’s handsome face shimmered in my watery gaze. “You’re my mate, Zara. My Luna. Whatever you want, I want. However you feel, I feel. To everyone else, the decisions are mine. To me, they’re ours. Got it?”

I nodded and swallowed a sob. “Have someone bring her up to the house. We’ll have privacy here.”

He rubbed my palms with his thumbs. “I love you.”

I sniffled. “Are you going to bite me now?”

“What?” He looked confused at my abrupt topic change.

“You said you were going to have me for lunch. I was looking forward to it.”

He laughed softly. “Where do you want it?”

I tilted my head to the side and pointed to my neck. He released my hands and ran a fingertip along the vein beneath my skin as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and tugged to expose more of my throat. My stomach fluttered with anticipation.

In some ways, I liked when he drank from me even more than sex. Maybe it was the sire-progeny bond. Or maybe I was just weird. I felt more connected with him and strangely powerful when he drank my blood. Like I gave him life. Like he needed me as much as I needed him.

Ewan crawled on top of him, one knee on either side of my hips. He hovered over me, refusing to put his weight on my thighs, as if worried he might hurt me. As if I wasn’t virtually indestructible. His fangs grazed up and down my neck. I bit my lip and slid my hands up his shirt, needing to feel his skin beneath my fingertips. When he finally sank his teeth in, I moaned and melted into the couch cushions.

He pressed his wrist to my lips. The dark, decadent taste of his blood on my tongue made me dizzy with desire. It was like this weird circle of life that couldn’t be explained, only experienced. Our love felt… invincible. I dared to hope that our happily ever after was on the horizon.

Ewan stopped when my eyelids grew heavy. When he kissed me, the smoky flavor of my own blood invigorated my senses and gave me the strength to face a conversation that I hoped to avoid a little longer.

Of course, when he actually left to go to his super special alpha meeting, he took my bravery with him. Why was I so nervous? I really didn’t know. Brooke was my best friend. We’d known each other for years and told each other everything. Telling her that she was part of an ancient line that dated back to the original wolves, well, it was a little more serious than saying I got my period.

Despite a belly full of Ewan’s blood, I drank a bottle from the fridge while I waited for her to arrive. Essie’s magic calmed me some, though not enough to sit still. My agitation was so intense that Birch poked his head through the door to make sure everything was okay.

“Yeah. I’m good. Let me know when Brooke arrives?”

He nodded. “They’re coming up the hill now.” While his expression didn’t change, I got the distinct impression that he really didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news. “Your mother is with her.”

Oh, how lovely, I thought sardonically. Because that was what this discussion needed—Mom’s opinions. Then, I immediately felt bad. My mother probably knew more about my descendants than I did, since she was one and all. So, really, this was a good thing. Plus, she had just lost her mate and needed to keep busy.

Birch offered to stay outside while the three of us talked, but it felt like a ridiculous formality when he could definitely hear through the door if he wanted.

I offered Mom and Brooke something to drink like a good little hostess, and Birch actually made the coffees and served them, which was way outside his job description. Brooke seemed nervous, clearly sensing this wasn’t a social visit. Naively, I had hoped that if my mother did know about the descendants she had read my mind and understood the reason for my invitation to Brooke and therefore prepared my best friend.

Yes, I was aware that was ridiculous.

“Please, just say it,” Brooke said after a few moments of awkward conversation about the amount of snow falling outside the window.

Mom glanced from me to Brooke, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes as if trying to see something not readily visible to the naked eye. Then, her gaze turned inward before things clicked into place. “She’s one of Zosia’s descendants.”

I nodded. “Yes. Specifically, Zosia and Stavros’ descendants.”

“Ah. I come from Zosia and Zeno’s bloodline.”

Color drained from Brooke’s face. “Is that why King Evander wanted me?”

“I think so,” I admitted. “At the time, I didn’t know anything about Zosia and Stavros having kids. Then I found this mirror….”

Recounting the story aloud reminded me that Andie was the only reason I had my wolf back, and I didn’t know if I should tell Brooke about that. It wasn’t like I was going to lose my wolf again, probably. Never say never, I supposed.

But then she asked me point-blank about Andie and Clarissa, and I didn’t want to lie. Brooke hadn’t witnessed much violence in her life, since my father’s tenure as alpha had been peaceful, so she was horrified. While my mother’s expression didn’t change. I wondered if it was years of practice at controlling her reactions or if she’d seen worse before meeting Dad.

Brooke took it well. At least, she didn’t throw her cappuccino mug or scream obscenities or sob crocodile tears, all of which I had worried might happen. So, yeah, I counted that as a win.

“Why are you telling me now, while the alphas are discussing the terms of the accords?” she asked.

“Ewan wants—no, sorry. He and I want to name your firstborn child as his heir. I mean, obviously, we’re immortal, so the chances of your kid ever becoming alpha are, like, nonexistent. It’s more symbolic.”

“Oh, it’s much more than that, Zara.” The lines between her eyebrows that she called Zara and Zach deepened. “Have you really paid so little attention over the years? The Gemini pack is small compared to many others. Why do you think your father was so interested in the alliance with the Leo Fae? No alphas were interested in marrying their alpha sons to you.”

“Um, wow. Harsh,” I said.

Mom rolled her eyes. “It had nothing to do with you. Well, maybe a little to do with you. No alpha wants to marry a difficult mate. The problem was that no one wanted an alliance with the Gemini because we couldn’t offer them anything but a bride. We needed allies much more than they needed us.”

“Ewan married me, and he even knew me first,” I pointed out.

“Ewan chose you because he followed his heart. It is precisely because he knew you first. He is also young and doesn’t need to marry for an alliance.”

She could have mentioned the whole soulmate thing, and I expected her to, but I appreciated that she didn’t. I preferred the version of our love story where we actually had a choice in the matter, and it wasn’t just because Gaia marked us as two halves of a whole.

“As heir to both the Taurus and Gemini packs, the child will have strength and power on its side. Everyone will know of the child’s bloodline. So, no, Zara. The honor is not merely symbolic.”

“Okay, well, then consider it a late wedding gift,” I said, suddenly flustered with Mom chastising me.

“Does Zach know?” Brooke blinked wide, round eyes at me.

“Not unless Ewan brings it up at the alpha meeting, which I guess he might have. Not the part about you being our descendant. We wanted you to know first, and Zach should really find out in private,” I said.

“Yeah. Um, I want to tell him if that’s okay?” She looked between my mother and me.

“You’re the alpha’s mate, you don’t need to ask permission,” I said.

“At least not from us,” Mom added.

I shook my head. “No. From anyone. I don’t.”

“No, Zara. You don’t ask permission because you are the Luna. Honestly, do your ears simply close when people start talking about a topic that might be educational?” Her disapproving Mom glare made me shudder.

A knock on the front door saved me from having to respond. Birch was already on his way to answer the uninvited caller before the person made a sound.

“Do you have more descendants coming?” Mom asked.

“Not that I’m aware of.”

Birch open the door and Penn’s large shoulders filled the doorway, his flowing blond hair blowing in the chilly breeze. Both Mom and Brooke went a little googly eyed. Penn was attractive, I supposed. Personally, I found constantly stoic expression unnerving. It was like he was always ready receive bad news, not unlike the way Birch looked more often than not.

“Drake thought I might be more comfortable up here instead of the lodge.” He smiled at Brooke and she lit up like he’d given her a gift. “No offense. Brooke, right?”

She blinked up at him and nodded enthusiastically, and I felt confident that she would have agreed with any name he said. I made introductions before the situation became any more awkward for me. Even Birch looked a little awed in the face of Penn’s, well, face.

“So, what you really mean to say is that Drake sent you along to be with the other alpha’s mates?” I teased Penn as he eased his large body into an armchair.

“She gave me a choice between you guys and Walter.”

I laughed. “I would have been highly offended if you hadn’t picked us.”

Once everyone got over the initial shock of Penn, both his romance novel cover good looks and position as mate and beta to a lady alpha, the conversation flowed as easily his hair. It felt right to be sitting there with the three of them and even Birch, who’d joined us instead of lurking on the perimeter. I had initially felt a little slighted about not being invited to Ewan’s meeting but not enough to fight about it. Having company that I actually liked made me care even less.

I also learned a lot about my mother thanks to Penn. Prior to settling down with Drake, he had spent a lot of time traveling to retrieve items the pack couldn’t grow in the Snake Mountains or buy in the human towns nearby. Mom had spent some time in a few of the same strange supernatural areas of the world, once again proving that I really didn’t know much about her life before me. At least I still had the opportunity to change that, and I would. I had visited another realm, and yet Mom still had the more interesting life so far it seemed.

Charlie, Winter, and Colleen arrived unannounced via portal in the late afternoon, and they brought plenty of food to feed the mortals in my house. I wouldn’t have thought much about them coming if not for the anxiety in Winter’s part of our bond. She, her mother, and Charlie were all smiles, putting on a good front, so I didn’t say anything in front of the others.

Instead, I waited until Winter went to the kitchen for more to drink and followed her. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Why is Charlie with you? Where’s Walter?”

“It’s Webber. He’s dead by now.”

“And you just left him to die alone?” I demanded, incredulous.

“Walter took him somewhere to be turned. By, like, a normal vampire. We would’ve told you beforehand, but there wasn’t time. He flatlined. Mom and Walter figured since we still didn’t know the ramifications of you or Ewan turning him that a regular vampire was best.”

“And your father had one on standby?” I pursed my lips.

“Walter gave me coordinates and told me to open a portal. It all happened too fast to ask questions.”

I sighed. “Okay, well, did it work?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t called yet.”

I made a face. “That can’t be a good sign, right?”

“How would I know? You’re the vampire.”

“You went to college,” I pointed out.

“Um, for one semester. Not even. And I don’t think Arcane University offers a class on vampirism effectiveness as it relates to casters from other realms.”

“Okay. Touche, I guess.”

She rolled her eyes. “Is it really that hard for you to be wrong?”

“I have no problem being wrong. It’s admitting it that I can’t do.” I reached past her and opened the fridge, retrieving a bottle of bloody. “How’s Archer?”

She shrugged. “The same.”

“Is he here?” For some ridiculous reason, I lowered my voice like it mattered.

“No. He’s with Missy and Reggie in Traitor’s Hell, tailing Enzo, Hayden, and Mat.” She laughed. “He’s having way too much fun being a ghost PI.”

So the unholy trinity was in all in the spooky little town. Interesting.

“They all went to visit this woman. A seer. Reggie says she’s very exclusive, like, only takes consults with certain people. Neither Missy nor Archer can get inside her apartment to eavesdrop. So annoying.” Winter shook her head.

It was annoying, but in Traitor’s Hell, everyone could see ghosts, so eavesdropping wasn’t quite as easy as other places, anyhow.

“Do you know her name?” I asked as if there was a chance I might recognize it or know this seer.

“Mallory? Marcy? Malia, maybe? It had alliteration, I remember that. Reggie called her Madam Malia, or whatever. I thought it sounded so fortuneteller-at-a-fair.”

“I assume you mean a human fair. Seers aren’t really common in the supernatural world and few would set up a glass orb beside a dunking booth,” I said. “When did you talked to Reggie?”

“I haven’t. She’s been calling Charlie and talking to Missy and Archer. Pretty sure she is coming tonight. Charlie asked if I could open a portal not too far from Traitor’s Hell. So, save your questions for her.”

I smiled. “I will. By the time she gets here, I’ll probably have a ton.”