I wonder why his parents decided to show up, the thought makes me nervous. I can hear Tobias walking into the room as I rummage through the walk-in, trying to find something decent to wear, settling on some leggings and a tank top. Tobias reaches in and pulls a shirt from the hanger and he grabs a pair of jeans, quickly slipping them on before coming over and wrapping his strong arms around me and kissing my head. I pull back and out of his reach.
I quickly walk into the bathroom and wash my face and brush my hair, so I don’t look like I have just awoken, trying to make myself look somewhat functional. After washing up, I slip on my bra, gray leggings along with a black tank top. Tobias is no longer in the room and I can hear soft talking coming from downstairs. Along with Tobias’ angry whispers, which aren’t really whispers with how high his voice booms towards the end.
Walking down the stairs, I’m greeted by Caroline. She is in black suit pants and a blouse, looking very formal, like she just stepped out of an important meeting.
“Imogen, lovely to see you again.” I nod, making my way down the rest of the steps and onto the landing below.
Caroline quickly walks over to me and hugs me, which I think is slightly strange. She has never been this welcoming before. I freeze as her arms wrap around me tightly before placing my hand on her back and hugging her back. When she lets go, she holds me at arm’s length.
“Come, we have much to discuss,” she says, motioning for me to sit on the couch.
When I turn toward the couch, I nearly freeze. Josiah is sitting there, staring off into space like he is deep in thought. I shiver slightly at the intense look on his face before sitting as far away from him as the couch will allow. When he looks toward me, he softly smiles, his lips tugging up slightly. His eyes sparkle under the lighting emitting from the fireplace.
“So, what’s this about?” I ask nervously. I almost prefer the overbearing, intimidating version of Josiah that I’m accustomed to, not this man, who’s looking back at me as if he is exhausted and mentally drained. I notice Theo sitting on the armchair next to the fireplace with a strange look on his face. Theo almost looks like he’s in a trance.
When no one answers, I ask another question just as Tobias walks back into the room with four cups of coffee on a tray. “What’s wrong with Theo?” I ask, staring at him, but he doesn’t even glance in my direction at the mention of his name.
He hasn’t moved at all, he’s just staring oddly at the space in front of him, like he can see something I can’t see. His eyes seeing but not really seeing, it gives off an eerie feeling like he’s looking through whatever it is he is looking at.
Tobias sits the tray down and Caroline instantly reaches for her coffee cup and passes me mine. I accept the coffee and thank them.
“Theo is stuck in his own mind,” Tobias says, worriedly glancing at him.
I remember Theo telling me about how they don’t sleep, yet could go into the depths of their own minds and become stuck. I can’t feel anything but worry through the bond as he stares off vacantly.
“Why did he go like that?” I ask, looking at Caroline.
“We have some news, and it must have shocked him into this state. Don’t worry, dear, Tobias will eventually pull him out of it.” She says. Tobias walks over to him and waves a hand in front of his face, but it is as if he doesn’t see.
“So, what was the news?” I ask, turning back to Caroline again.
“The council wants to meet you, sooner rather than later. That’s not why we are here though. The council needs your birth documents, as you know humans aren’t usually mated to werewolves or vampires. The council wants to look up your lineage; they aren’t convinced you are a hundred percent human. If you are, you would be the first human ever mated to someone like them.” Josiah says, motioning toward Theo and Tobias.
“Okay, so that’s what shocked Theo?” I ask, looking towards his frozen posture sitting in the armchair.
Tobias growls. Josiah stands up, placing his hand on Tobias arm and squeezing it before letting him go. “That’s enough son, we can’t change the past, but your mother and I have sorted it. The documents will come soon in the mail, they said they would post them to this address.”
Tobias stares at me intently for a few seconds, I can feel worry and something else coming through the bond. I don’t have a chance to ask what documents they are talking about when Josiah turns to look at me.
“Imogen, do you still have your original birth certificate? I will also need a vial of your blood for the council.” I nod my head, knowing it is amongst the boxes that are in the office in the shed, along with the rest of my belongings that Theo has stored here.
“I think it is in a box in the shed,” I tell him, suddenly feeling nervous. I know it holds nothing about my so-called lineage. My mother’s name is the only one on the birth certificate. I never knew my father, don’t really want to either after he abandoned her to raise a child on her own.
“We will have to find it, but first finish your coffee, I need to speak to Tobias in private.” Tobias gets up and walks toward the kitchen, Josiah following behind him silently.
Something has Tobias on edge, and I glance back at Theo, who is still looking off, his eyes glazed over like he is there, but nobody is home. His eyes are burning bright red and hollow looking.
“Well, hopefully we find something that will help your case.” Caroline says.
I look at her. How will it help my case? “And if we don’t find anything?” I ask but I have a feeling I already know the answer.
“If there is nothing to be found, the council will probably give Tobias and Theo a time limit on when to change you, Imogen. I know you don’t want this, Tobias has made that very clear. Unfortunately, Tobias, taking that choice from you was very selfish and wrong of him to do so. He shouldn’t have marked you, but I also know my sons would never willingly put you in danger, the mate bond is that strong it would have happened eventually, he just should have spoken to the council first.” She tells me, glancing at Theo nervously. I watch as she stands up and walks over to him.