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Lothanna raised his brows, unable to comprehend how Kiel was able to detect Cara's scent from faraway — maybe because he's a full breed? "What are you talking about?" He countered, the frown on his face deepening.
"You've got someone in your room, Lothanna?" Kiel find himself asking, as he feel like he's losing himself over the scent. "Who's is it? Bring her out!"
Lothanna staggered backward, shocked by Kiel's reaction and declaration. "No, I can't!" He fiercely replied, his tone challenging as he tried to comprehend the situation.
Kiel was equally surprised at himself, noticing his behavior. "Step aside, Lothanna." He uttered, staring down at his nephew.
Lothanna shook his head, his stance hardening once again. "I won't let you into my room without an explanation as to what the heck is going on." He countered.
"You don't need to know, Lot. This is more than what you can handle." Kiel wasn't ready to take things lightly, and he felt like he owe Lothanna no explanation as well.
"I need to know, because the woman inside the room is my wife, Kiel." He blurted out repulsively, his gaze hard. "You can't just act like you own this place!"
Kiel staggered two feet backward, unable to comprehend Lothanna's confession. "W—what...?" He sprouted out sharply, his wild thirst quenching that instant. "What do you mean wife?"
"You heard me right, dear uncle!" Lothanna's voice was laced with sarcasm, his gaze still hard. "She's my wife, and I deserve to know whatever you want from her!"
Kiel was certain something is wrong — either with his hearing or with Lothanna's head. 'When did this little punk get married without me knowing about it?' he muttered within himself, still fighting to hold himself. '— and why does she smell like... like... HUMAN?'
The standoff continued, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. Kiel's mind was racing, trying to make sense of what Lothanna had just revealed. "Your wife?" He repeated, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. "You mean to tell me you've mated with a human?"
Lothanna's eyes widened. "You can smell her?" He asked incredulously. "How is that even possible?"
Kiel's fangs lengthened, his thirst intensifying as he ignored Lothanna's curiosity — his own curiosity needs to be feed first! "Answer me, Lot!" He countered, in a bellowed tone. "You've mated with that human inside your room?"
He wasn't sure if everything was turning out right — of course, it's wrong! It's rare for a vampire to have two mates at once — to talk of a mere human? How is that even possible? Why should he be sharing a mate with his nephew? And a human to start with?
"No. I've not!" Lothanna replied with a straight face, his hard gaze softening a bit. "We just got married today. There wasn't even enough time to process everything, something like a trophy? Anyway, why did you ask? How were you able to smell her that far?"
Kiel felt a relief in his chest when he heard a negative reply from Lothanna but he still needed to be sure he wasn't threading a wrong path. "— and she is not not mate either?" He queried, his eyes prying into Lothanna's.
"How am I supposed if she's my mate?" Lothanna asked, his left brow raised. "The human side in me is hindering so much, you should know they are limit to everything when it comes to me!"
Still, Kiel wasn't convinced. "You don't feel anything special towards her? Like read her thought, or anything out of ordinary?" He asked, overwhelmed with curiosity.
Lothanna shook his head.
The tension in the hall was palpable, the two vampires' gazes locked in a silent battle of wills. Kiel's mind was spinning, trying to make sense of the situation. If Cara was not Lothanna's mate, why is he treating her so protectively?
The Lothanna Kiel had known for years would never be so immature to get too attached with humans — except Rafael and the one-million-men army he's gathering, he despise humans as much as he does with the vampires.
"Then why...?" Kiel find himself asking. "Why are you being overprotective if she's not your mate? You've always let me had my ways with others in this castle, why are you stopping me now?"
"I don't think I owe you an explanation, Kiel." Although Lothanna's reply was rude, but he wasn't wearing a serious expression. "— but I'll. I'm keeping her. That's it. I don't want to keep her as a trophy, I find her intriguing."
Kiel wasn't sure what his nephew mean but he was sure things won't turn out well with his new obsession. This made Kiel more curious about the woman.
He badly wanted to see what she look like, what's so intriguing about her, and why she is his mate! He never wanted a mate, and if he do want one — mating a human is like settling for less!
"I see you finally have someone you're obsessed with, Lothanna." The older man said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "— and this might be the end of you; no it surely will."
Lothanna wasn't sure what his uncle was talking about. "Why should she be the end of me?" He asked, his brows creased. "She's a weak human, she isn't a match for me. She's too fragile, she can't pose a threat."
"She's fragile, but she is capable of bringing harm on you, dear nephew." Kiel countered as he shook his head. "It's only a matter of time, Lot, the coven will find out about her! You know you can't hide everything from them!"
Lothanna's expression hardened. "The coven can burn for all I care. They have no right to dictate my life, or that of my wife." he snapped. "She is under my protection, and if the coven comes for her, they will regret it."
Kiel shook his head in disbelief. "You're walking a dangerous line, Lot. You know what the coven does to humans who get too close to us. You know what they do to the vampires who defy them."
"I'm no vampire, Kiel, and I hate that I'm part of them." Lothanna seethes, speaking through gritted teeth. "They are even more pathetic than humans!"
Kiel knew it's time wasting to argue words Lothanna. "I'm not stopping you from having an obsession, nephew, but be careful." Kiel's tone was surprising, calm. "You said you'll protect her, I'm counting on you for her safety."
With that, Kiel turned, the collar of his jacket flapping in the breeze of the hallway as he strode away, disappearing into the shadows.
Lothanna let out a long breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline of the encounter still coursing through his veins. He was grateful that Kiel had relented, but he knew that the coven would not be so easily dissuaded.
He had to think of a plan, something that would protect Cara from harm while keeping the coven at bay.