“What does Maddox think about him?” I ask.
“He thinks if we gotta fight that monster, we’re gonna need ya father’s help. Will have to tag team that thing. I will get him from the top, ya dad can take the torso,” he says, and I snort, covering my mouth with my hand to stifle my laugh.
“Seriously Dad, is that what you’re thinking? And Maddox is in it too? The best way to take him?” I snort another laugh. I’m terrified of what might come next, but I can’t pretend to be serious with dad saying things like this.
“Obviously, if he hurts my girl.” I can’t help but chuckle until Dad gives me a look. “I’m being serious; he is huge,” he says and starts the car.
I shake my head, still feeling shaken, but somewhat relieved. “Ok Dad, you keep planning your battle strategy.” I smile, sitting back in my seat. Now, I have so much more to think about.
We tell mom as soon as we return home. Well, dad does the moment we get through the door. I guess he was bursting to spill it all. I guess seeing that thing was shocking.
Both Mom and Dad sit listening to him ramble on, asking random questions, and I eventually sneak off, unable to listen to them discuss Kaif. They aren’t really discussing him in a positive light, and I feel like they are wrong about him. Kaif, to me, doesn’t seem that bad at all.
Reaching my room, I shut the door slowly, drowning out the sound of my parents talking, and sigh softly. Walking over to my bed, I drop down onto it and stare at the ceiling. Kora remains quiet, and I can tell she is actually scared of Kaif.
That is a shock to me too. Neither of us ever thought something like this could be possible or even imaginable. And the fact that we actually fear something more than our mate is rattling. I fear his Lycan more, yet I can’t help but think I’m missing something, something important.
But when Kaif was talking, he almost seemed reasonable.
Kyan is a witch and a Lycan, apparently. How is it possible to be two things at once, let alone an extinct species? The door to my room opens with more sound than it does whenever I open it, and my eyes snap in the direction of the sound. I see my mother pop her head through the crack of my open door.
“Good, you’re awake,” she says and pushes the door wider. She doesn’t ask for permission to enter, just steps into the room and closes the door behind her. She walks over to my dresser and grabs my hairbrush. Then, she takes her usual seat on the edge of the bed.
“I already brushed it,” I tell her, and she gives me a look. I roll my eyes, but sit between her legs on the floor. She tugs my braid out when Eziah comes into the room.
“Yes, Eziah?” He ignores mom and sits on the floor beside me. Our mother sighs. She reaches over and chucks him a pillow, and he lays down on his side propped up on his elbow.
“Take it, Dad told you?” I ask him and raise an eyebrow. Of course, he did. Why else would Eziah walk into my room without an invitation? Unlike some other family members, my brother still understands the importance of boundaries and privacy.
Eziah chuckles. “Yeah, he never talks that much, and I have never seen him look frightened before either.”
“Great, I am doomed then,” I huff.
Eziah is right. Nothing really shakes. At least nothing ever did. Up no now, I suppose.
“You are not doomed. Don’t say that,” my mother scolds, as she runs the brush through my hair.
The feeling soothes me, but it doesn’t mean that she’s off the hook yet. Something is telling me my mother has kept more things from me.
“Did you know about this too?” I ask as I look up at my mother over my shoulder. She brushes my cheek gently.
“That I did not know. I knew his family came from Salem witches, but that was it. I had no idea he is a Lycan,” Mom replies after a moment. At least, I can tell she’s telling the truth.
For her not to know has to have been even more distressing. I’m sure she wants to know every detail about her children, and once again, I become the bad omen of the family. Not only do I keep bringing trouble and shame to my family, now there is this news.
“If you knew she was his mate, why do you always push her towards Jonah?” Eziah asks bluntly, and my face heats at his words. Wow, so everyone realized that. My brother shrugs.
“Well, she does; it’s not like it is a secret. She isn’t very subtle about it,” Eziah says.
Gosh, Eziah looks like my father, has the same goofy personality, and is always bubbly. My other father is like the King of the kids. Eziah gets that outgoing personality from him, while I got mom’s curses and my father’s more reserved nature, quiet but not of my own choosing.
I wish I was more like Eziah, not having a care in the world, able to have friends. It sucks always living in his shadow. Still, shadows hide monsters, and that is what I am; it seems fitting I would be mated to a monster too.
Mom runs the brush through my hair a few times before finally speaking. “When Seline was teaching me how to make the bonds, I asked about both of yours. Some fates can’t be chosen; I would have chosen Jonah, if I had a choice. I tried to merge your bonds so many times. Jonah chased yours, but Kyan always stopped him, merging back with you, and you sought him out too. Another fate seemed to decide for you both, a fate I couldn’t tamper with.” Her words are clear and I mull over them. There are a thousand questions yet no answers.
“So you really tried?” I ask softly, tilting my head slightly to look up at her.
“Of course I did, and so did Seline. She couldn’t explain it either, and I researched Kyan’s bloodline multiple times, looking for answers, but found nothing. Except that his bloodline came from Salem witches, ancient powerful magic. Magic that doesn’t exist today, or you would think anyway. I knew it existed, though. Kyan’s father possessed the same dark energy that has always surrounded Kyan,” she whispers, deep in thought.