~YULIA
I had believed that taking a break from school to deal with my mom’s death was the next step for me…
But as Issa spoke about me going back to my studies, it made me angry.
Issa watched me with a raised eyebrow when he heard my protest.
“You are still eighteen, honey,” Andrea cut in. “So it’s normal to be in school.” She did not even try to hide the sarcasm in her tone.
“Is there a reason for not wanting to go back to school?” Issa asked as he sat down.
I did not want to talk about my mother in front of the Craven sisters nor Jamal Khan who I just found out was some sort of independent werewolf detective.
“How do you know my age?” I asked Andrea.
“Background check,” She simply replied. “I have to be sure that you are who you really say you are, I can not stand by and watch an imposter taking advantage of my Issa.”
I frowned and scoffed. I looked over at Issa in disbelief.
“She does that with everyone,” He replied in his defense.
“Take a seat, Khan,” Issa said as he glared at Jamal. “We have much to talk about, and even though I do not want you here, it is tradition that all manner of creatures must be present in the announcement of a Lycan.”
Jamal gracefully took a seat and crossed his legs. He looked so attractive.
“If you are not a corrupt king, I am sure we will talk less,” Jamal said. “And for the record, I do not want to be here either.”
“My, my.” Leia looked up from her phone. She had been ignoring everyone ever since the ceremony began. “I love it when men fight.”
“I am glad we understand each other,” Issa replied. “Tell me why you are investigating the Craven family.”
“That is none of your business, if I may say respectfully,” Jamal boldly replied.
Issa’s expression did not change but I could see that his eyes had grown colder.
“It is my business, Detective Khan, because I happen to own a partnership company with the Cravens. I do not like it when money is not safe and I do not like being inconvenienced, I am a busy man,” Issa replied.
Jamal smiled and leaned forward, placing his foot on the ground. He looked at the sisters who watched him with interest. It felt like the women saw him as an amusement to pass away time.
“There you are!” Deucalion’s voice boomed into the room as he walked inside with a bold smile and a martini in his right big hand.
“Detective Khan!” He called as if he was an old friend. “You look good in a suit!”
Jamal stood up and shook Deucalion’s extended hand firmly. “It’s good to see you again, Alpha Deucalion.” A small smile formed on his face. “I am still going to put you behind bars though.”
Deucalion burst into a hearty laughter. “I like your fighting spirit, Jamal!”
“Are you investigating everybody?” I asked in disbelief as I watched the whole thing from where I sat.
“That’s what he does,” Deucalion said in delight.
It was even more obvious that the whole Craven family did not take him seriously. Although I had a feeling that they knew that they had to be careful not to underestimate him- because for some reason, he looked like a good detective.
Deucalion continued. “He goes from territory to territory, to deliver his own brand of justice. The Khan Justice!”
“Why are you in this territory?” I asked.
Jamal went back to his seat but Deucalion remained standing. It was understandable. With an Alpha like Deucalion, it had to be very difficult for him to sit still.
“Things have been happening lately and it involves lots of magic and murders,” Jamal began.
“These murders,” He continued, have been happening from pack to pack and the victims are a mix of werewolves and witches,” He continued. “Sometimes there are even human casualties which makes this more interesting.”
“How so?” Issa asked. Keenly watching Jamal.
I was captivated by his words and how he spoke. He sounded so confident and brave.
“There is an unwritten rule in our world, that says we should never mix with humans. They do not need to know about our world and likewise, we should not get involved in theirs,” Jamal said.
Jamal was right. Humans were not allowed in our world because the last time it happened, a war of the species had broken out. Each race had fought for dominance until a solution was made. I had read about it in my advanced studies.
A great magic was created to wipe out the memories of all humans on the planet. Forever forgetting us the creatures of the night and legends. To them, we were nothing but Myth and bedtime stories.
Although we still lived with them side by side, they were second class citizens to us. That was how it had always been.
“Why involve humans?” Deucalion asked.
“Dark Magic.” Issa’s face turned hard with anger. “Humans have been used to fuel magical abilities and spells since the dawn of time.”
“Yes,” Jamal nodded. “And these humans had wiccan markings on their bodies before they were killed, burned into their skins.”
“That’s horrible,” I gasped.
“What are Wiccan Markings?” Andrea asked.
“It’s a language with letters known only to the witches,” I replied.
“How do you know that?” Jamal asked as a smile took over his lips while his eyes lit up with keen interest.
I felt my heart accelerate with excitement. Jamal was finally paying attention to me. “Ancient studies, I read it in a book called Covens.”
“You are in college?” He asked.
“Yeah, first semester.”
He nodded.
“Have you gotten a lead on why these murders are happening?” Issa asked, taking away Jamal’s attention from me.
I knew that my face was flushed when I spoke to him.
“It’s an attempt to open a gateway somewhere,” Jamal replied, his face back to its stern handsome expression.
“But that is not the part that worries me,” He continued. “I can not tell if they are trying to go into it or-”
“Summon something from the other side,” Issa completed in a low and serious tone.