I watched, pride filling my chest, as my kind mate stepped towards his father. His energy started to flow around them like water and his eyes turned that beautiful bright blue.
"What's happening?" his mother called out. "Is he going to kill his own father!"
"Be quiet!" I growled. "Your son would never do that! He's healing him."
"So he should!" his sister scoffed.
They acted tough but even I could smell the fear and jealousy rolling off them. If I remembered rightly Tian had said that they didn't have very strong powers.
After a few more moments the energy surrounding Tian and his father dissipated and he stepped back. I instantly wrapped him up as he slumped into my arms.
"Sebastian!" his Father called out in concern.
"He's ok," I reassured him. "Healing can take it out of him, depending on how much was needed to be healed."
He nodded as he watched his son carefully.
"I understand everything now Father," he muttered weakly.
We all looked at him with furrowed foreheads. It took him a moment to compose himself enough to stand and clear his throat. I kept my arms around his waist.
"It all makes sense now … why you never stuck up for me, or why you acted as if I wasn't your son. None of it was by your own choice. After I was born, you were gushing over me and talking about how I could become a witch."
His father looked confused but I could see realisation dawning on his mother's face. I had a feeling I knew where this was headed.
"Mother hadn't liked the idea of me possibly being a witch and didn't want you to encourage me. You argued with her and finally she had enough. She gave you something to drink saying it was for your health. Instead, it was a potion to make you bend to her will, to make you do what she wanted."
We all turned to his Mother who was stood glaring.
"After I was gone, she continued giving you the potion. It seemed she liked you being compliant."
"Is this true Meryl?" his Father asked.
"No of course it's not true! Don't be so gullible you stupid man!" she started pulling on her daughters hand. "Now come on! He's healed you, let's go home!"
"Father's not going anywhere with you Mother," Tian demanded. "You took away his free will, that is a high crime for our people."
"How dare you speak to me like that!"
"I can speak to you however I like," he seethed. "You've never been my mother. You took away my childhood and my Father just because you were petty and jealous!"
"You have no idea what you are on about!" she growled.
"Oh yes I do," Tian smirked. "In order to heal him I had to know what was wrong. When I noticed the disease was magical. I searched his memories and that's when I discovered your lie."
"Mother!" his sister screamed. "How could you!"
"Save it Bonnie," he insisted. "You knew all about it. After Father drank the potion, for about ten minutes, he was almost vacant as the potion took effect. You didn't think he was aware of what you were saying. He himself wasn't but his memory still recorded what you two said."
Bonnie shrunk a little.
"You talked with Mother about what you could get Father to agree to do next time. Something about getting him to agree to insist on a marriage to some guy you fancied."
"I can't believe you would do this?" his Father gasped.
"I think it's time you two left, Sir," Alpha John turned to Sebastian's father. "You are welcome to stay."
"Wait!" Tian called, touching my hands to release him.
He approached his mother and sister. His sister stepped back a little but his mother stood her ground, defiant until the end. I could feel his power start to rise. It cackled against the air.
"What do you think you're doing?" his mother demanded.
The air around them swirled and the two women were pulled together. Their bodies squirmed and writhed as if they were in pain but they looked angry. Tian's eyes burned brighter as his fingers flexed and twisted.
Just as suddenly as it started, it ended. Tian took a step back and I instinctively stepped behind him. He leaned heavily against me and smiled gratefully.
"What … what have you done?" his sister asked weakly.
"You violated one of our most sacred laws. You took away someone's free will and continued to do it for so long that they became terminally sick. The high council of witches appointed me, long ago, as an enforcer of the lows. Since my power deals with converging and changing energy. I have taken what little magic you had."
"What!" they both screamed whilst I tried not to look pleased.
"Also, you won't be able to make potions anymore either. It is your punishment for what you did to my Father. Now you can leave…"
"How dare you do this to us! "
"... Or I can make you leave, choose wisely," he finished.
He turned from them and leaned heavily against me. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed his neck.
"You did good!" I whispered against his ear and he shivered.