{"Forbidden desire is an addiction that consumes our souls."}
Lord Marcel let out a deep sigh, his frustration finally boiling over. His gaze shifted from me to Tor, and I could see the muscles in his neck tense as he gritted his teeth. It was clear that my words had struck a nerve.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked back to his seat, the weight of his anger settling in the air like a storm cloud. He did not even bother to sit gracefully, but instead, dropped into his chair with a forceful thud, the sound reverberating through the room. The council members exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to speak.
I stood my ground, unwilling to let his frustration affect me. "I'm done here, and I don't appreciate your so-called deputy using my sister to threaten me," I said, my tone final, as I turned to leave. But before I could step away, Lord Marcel's voice stopped me cold.
"Freyr," he called, his voice soft but laced with a hint of something dangerous. "Get the mission done, you owe the Paradise Coven this much."
I glanced over my shoulder, locking eyes with him. "I will finish the mission but not on our terms Marcel. If I see sense or see a royal guard following me, I will give the bloodbath that you seek.," I responded coolly, and with that, I left the council hall, dragging Qadira with me.
The walk to Ma's house was heavy with unspoken words. Qadira and I moved in silence, the tension between us palpable. My anger simmered just beneath the surface, threatening to boil over at any moment. By the time we reached Ma's door, my fists were clenched tightly, and my thoughts raced.
The minute we stepped inside, Ma's sharp eyes darted between the two of us, her brow furrowing in concern. She did not waste a second. "What's wrong?" she demanded, her voice steady but tinged with the authority that always made me feel like a scolded child.
I turned to Qadira, the accusation clear in my glare. She raised her hands defensively, her expression a mix of guilt and frustration. "Don't look at me like that," she said quickly. "I was in the town hall when the guards came for me. They told me they were headed to your home. How was I supposed to resist when I had no idea what was going on?"
Her voice rose slightly, but I could tell she was more exasperated than angry. Ma's gaze shifted back to me, her arms crossing over her chest. "Freyr," she said, her tone leaving no room for deflection, "start talking. Now."
I huffed in annoyance, the sound escaping me before I could stop it. Without a word, I walked over to the couch, the tension in my shoulders refusing to ease. I sat down heavily, the thud of my body hitting the cushions echoing in the quiet room. Closing my eyes, I tried to steady my breathing, willing the rage coursing through me to dissipate.
"Freyr," Ma said again, softer this time, but no less insistent. "What happened?"
I opened my eyes slowly, the weight of her question pressing against me. "Fucking Lord Marcel," I started, my voice tight, "thought it was a good idea to send his entire contingent of guards to 'protect' me." The word dripped with sarcasm, my anger seeping into every syllable.
Qadira snorted but wisely stayed quiet. Ma's expression did not falter, though her lips pressed into a thin line. "And you're angry because…?"
I stood up abruptly, pacing the room as my frustration boiled over. "Because he is a fucking bastard, and he dragged Qadira into this?" I shot her a look. "He crossed the line."
Ma raised her hand, her calm demeanor cutting through my rant like a blade. "Calm down," she said firmly. "Sit down and tell me everything, from the beginning."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat back down. "Fine," I muttered and reluctantly sat down ready to confess to Ma about my findings.
I sat across from Ma, careful to keep my voice steady as I recounted what happened on Hanka Island. I left out the intimate details of my encounter with the Lycan Wolf—those moments were mine alone. Still, I could feel her sharp eyes on me, as if she could see through the gaps in my story. She did not press further, though. Ma always knew when to hold back.
Qadira leaned forward; her brows furrowed in suspicion. "Why is Lord Marcel giving you this mission? Doesn't it feel like he is trying to provoke a war with the Bay Shifter Pack?"
I met her gaze, keeping my tone firm. "I'm glad I was given the mission. If there's a mole in the Bay Shifter Pack reporting back to Marcel, I should find them before he does." I paused, considering the weight of my next words. "The Lycan I met... they're powerful. A threat like that doesn't go unnoticed by someone like Marcel."
Ma nodded slowly; her expression unreadable. "Be careful, Freyr. Especially now. The Coven around Marcel hasn't forgotten their grudge against the Kayne family."
"I will," I promised, though I knew Ma could hear the hesitation I did not bother to hide.
Qadira broke the brief silence, her voice cutting through like a blade. "You're holding something back, Freyr. I can feel it."
I turned to her, leveling at her with a sharp look. "And from now on, you'd better take the Kayne Enforcer guards with you wherever you go." My tone left no room for argument. "It's not safe for you anymore. Marcel is targeting our family, and I won't risk anything happening to you."
Her lips parted in protest, but before she could speak, Ma nodded in agreement. "Your brother's right, Qadira." Qadira huffed and crossed her arms, a pout forming on her lips. She always hated being told what to do.
A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, softening my otherwise stern expression. "In this world, the two of you are my weakness. And I won't let anyone use that against me."
Qadira's pout deepened, but I caught the flicker of understanding in her eyes, and she stood up and stated she was going out for a run. But I knew that she wanted to give Ma and me space to chat further. Once Qadira stormed off, Ma rose from her chair, her eyes settling on me with a silent command. "Follow me," she said, her voice calm but firm. Without a word, I obeyed, trailing her down the quiet corridors to our family's private library.
As soon as the heavy door clicked shut behind us, Ma headed straight to the liquor cabinet. She retrieved a bottle of bourbon and two glasses, her movements deliberate. We settled by the tall window, the view of the moonlit gardens casting a serene glow over the room.
I took the bottle, pouring her a generous glass before filling it with my own. Handing her the drink, I leaned back in my seat, letting the silence stretch as she took a slow sip.
Ma's sharp gaze pinned me. "Freyr," she began, her voice low and measured, "what's going on?"
I offered her a small, warm smile, one that I hoped would ease her concern. "The Lycan I met in Hanka Island, it's more than just meeting him," I said softly, the words coming more easily than I expected. Her glass hovered mid-air as I continued, the memories vivid as I spoke. "My beast, it reveled in his closeness. I could not control it. When Lord Marcel's vampires interrupted us, I should have been focused, but his presence—his blood—called to me. I felt helpless like nothing else mattered but being near him."
Ma's hand trembled slightly as she set her glass on the table, her brows knitting together in a mixture of shock and thought. "Freyr," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "is it possible that this Lycan… is your long-life mate?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and unspoken, for far too long. My chest tightened, and I let out a breath I did not realize I was holding. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely steady. "But it felt so right, "I added and left out the fact that I had already tasted his blood, and it was the sweetest thing ever.
Ma leaned forward, her eyes searching mine as if trying to piece together the puzzle I had just laid before her. I could see the worry etched in her face, but also the strength that had always anchored our family. "I had a legend of one who was born with power and uniting the shifter breeds," she said finally, her tone filled with both caution and something else I could not quite place. "I need to find out carefully in the meantime you will need to tread carefully, Freyr. If Marcel finds out… if anyone finds out…"
Her words trailed off, but I understood the gravity of what she was not saying. This was not just about me, it was about our family, our survival, and the dangerous web we were all tangled in. I nodded, sipping the bourbon slowly as the weight of her warning settled over me. The night outside seemed still, but in my heart, a storm was brewing. "I understand. That is why I have not backed down from this mission. I am still on it for the selfish reason that I want to find out for myself what he means to me."
Ma's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of her chair; her sharp eyes still fixed on me. "Did you get his name? His whereabouts? Do you even know who he is?"
I shook my head, a sigh escaping my lips as I leaned back in my seat. "No," I admitted. "We did not exactly have time to chat, Ma. Everything happened so fast. Between saving his life and Marcel's vampires showing up… there was nothing for more than instinct and survival."
Ma frowned, her gaze drifting momentarily to the darkened window as if searching for answers in the night sky. "Freyr," she said softly, her voice tinged with concern, "you cannot let this distract you. If he is as powerful as you say, there is more at stake here than you realize."
"I know," I replied, my tone more measured now. "But I cannot just let it go, either. I hope to return to Hanka Island soon, not just for the mission, but to find out more about him." My words hung in the air, and I let out a dry chuckle, shaking my head. "It is ridiculous, isn't it? I do not even know his name, and yet…"
"And yet you're drawn to him," Ma finished for me, her expression softening just enough to remind me that beneath her stern demeanor, she understood.
I nodded, meeting her gaze. "It is more than that. My beast… It is like he woke up something inside me. Something primal, undeniable."
Ma was quiet for a moment, her fingers no longer tapping. She reached for her glass, taking a slow sip before setting it down again with deliberate care. "Then you need to be careful," she said finally, her tone low but firm. "If this Lycan is truly tied to you, it will change everything, for you, for our family. And if Marcel catches even a hint of this…"
"I know," I interrupted gently, my voice steady. "I will be careful, Ma. But I need to know who he is. I need answers."
Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, it felt as though she was weighing every word I had said. Finally, she gave a slight nod, the barest hint of a smile touching her lips. "Then you'd better make sure you come back with more than just questions next time, Freyr."
Her words carried both a warning and an unspoken blessing. I raised my glass in response, the bourbon burning down my throat as I silently vowed to uncover the truth about him, about us, and about the bond that had shaken me to my core.