Walking out, I see an enormous house with stone walls and a massive veranda, fields, and gardens surround the entire property. Bianca pulls me up some stairs, opens the door, and sings out.
“Hope you are decent; we have a guest,” she says as she pulls me into a living room with a fireplace and couches. I look around; it is very homey, with many pictures on the walls.
Walking over to one, I see Amara and Thaddeus when they were younger, playing in a puddle of water, drenched, and wearing yellow raincoats and rain boots. They look to be about 8 to 10 years old. Hearing movement upstairs, I look up while Amara walks in the front door.
“Coffee?” she asks.
I nod and follow her and Bianca into a kitchen much like the one back home. In fact, a lot is similar on the inside to what is at his home, making me wonder if Thaddeus designed it because he misses being home.
Amara sits on a stool at the island and makes coffee, setting 6 mugs out. Grabbing mine, I take a sip just as Imogen and two men walk in, both with a startling resemblance to Thaddeus. The men freeze, but Imogen walks over and hugs me.
“Mom, gross. You were doing God knows what with my fathers, and now you come over and hug her, leaving your sex scent all over her? I have to share a room with her,” Amara scolds her mother, making Imogen chuckle.
“Your brother will love knowing you’re sharing a room with his mate,” Imogen tells her, making me confused. Doesn’t Thaddeus like his sister?
“Evelyn, these two are my mates and Thaddeus’ fathers: Tobias and Theo. Or you can call them dad, whichever you prefer.”
“Hi,” I say, giving them a brief wave.
They are both handsome and look the same age as their son. I don’t know how I will get used to people looking the same age as Thaddeus yet refer to them as his parents. I do notice, though, Tobias doesn’t take his eyes off me, watching me, cocking his head to the side.
“Does Thaddeus know she is here?” he asks, turning to his daughter.
“He will soon,” she says, and his father pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Amara, you can’t just kidnap people, especially since she is marked and unmated. Your brother will go on a rampage!” he scolds her.
“I doubt it; he won’t want to risk her getting hurt,” Imogen tells him. I see his other father sniff the air and suddenly, his mouth falls open.
“She is human,” he states, looking at me like I am the strangest thing he had come across.
“Why does everyone keep saying that? You are aware half the earth is human, right?” I ask, making Imogen chuckle.
“Yes, dear, we know that. You’re probably the first human ever to be fated to a supernatural,” she says, making me look just as confused as I feel.
“Is that a bad thing?” I ask.
“No, just means Thaddeus has to be careful, is all. He could easily kill or hurt you. Not that I want to scare you,” she answers.
Yeah… that definitely doesn’t make me regret asking in the first place.
“God, she smells familiar,” Tobias says, making me look at him as he walks over to sit on the stool next to me. I can see burns on his arm and chest now that he is closer. “My burns gross you out?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, I have my own,” I tell him, flicking my hair over my shoulder and showing him. He smiles, realizing we have something in common.
“Yeah, she killed someone. Not so innocent looking now, is she, dad?” Amara says, making my mouth fall open. “Don’t worry, he deserved it,” she adds.
“Don’t snoop into people’s pasts, Amara. It is rude,” Imogen tells her.
Amara rolls her eyes at her mother, and her mother’s lips twitch as she presses them in a thin line, annoyed.
Note to self: don’t roll my eyes at his mother.
I notice Bianca staring at me again strangely, like she is trying to figure something out. “Where are you from?” she asks curiously.
“What do you mean? I am from Parse City.”
She looks thoughtful for a second. “She smells familiar. I just can’t put my finger on it,” says Bianca, and I see Tobias agrees with her.
“So, Amara, what is your grand scheme?” Theo, Thaddeus’ other father, asks, eyeing me worriedly.
“No scheme. Mom wanted him home, so I thought, what better way than to kidnap his mate?” she says cockily, walking over to me and wrapping her arms over my shoulders like we are best buddies.
“Yeah, go on, Amara. You’re really going to be pushing his buttons, leaving your scent all over her,” Bianca warns her, making me confused.
“So, tell us a bit about yourself, Evelyn,” Tobias says, his eyes darting to Bianca for a second, which I think is odd. It’s like they are having a secret conversation.
“Not much to tell. I grew up all over Parse, worked at a café, then Thaddeus and Ryland stumbled across me,” I answer, not wanting to share all my secrets.
“So, you lived nowhere else?” Tobias asks.
“Nope, grew up in foster care, shipped from one house to another,” I answer honestly without giving many details.
“Foster care? What happened to your parents?” Bianca asks, and I find everyone staring at me like I just grew a second head.
“No idea; I was dropped at a church when I was a baby.”
“A church?” she asks. Her eyes go wide.
“Yep, an old convent just outside the city,” I tell them, and Bianca shoots a look at Tobias. “Is something wrong?” I ask, wondering why they keep eyeing each other every time I answer their questions.
“No, nothing. Just curious,” Bianca answers. I have a sneaking suspicion she is lying, though. Tobias gets up, walking out a few minutes later; so, does Bianca. Theo and Imogen watch them go, then Imogen turns to me.
“Well, why don’t you get cleaned up and get some sleep, and we can all chat in the morning? That is if my son hasn’t destroyed my house by then,” she states, shooting Amara a death glare.
Amara chuckles as she grabs my hand. “You can sleep in my room, like a slumber party but without the party,” she tells me, pulling me into the living room.
I see Bianca and Tobias talking on the stairs. They stop, both looking at me.
“Good night, Evelyn,” Tobias says, and I see Imogen come out and eye them, giving them a look, I can’t decipher.
I follow Amara back to her little studio. “Your parents seem nice.”
“They are. They worry too much, though; worry Thaddeus will attack me when he realizes I took you.”
“And you’re not worried?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, he knows I wouldn’t let harm come to one of his mates,” she says as she shuts the door. She walks into her room and opens a door I didn’t see before, which is a small bathroom. She hands me a towel. “You can shower if you want. I will find you some pajamas,” she tells me, and I turn the shower on and close the door.