“No dear, your father remained loyal to your mother for many years, but eventually their relationship became so strained, he moved out, setting up a temporary home in Paris. It was during this time he met and fell in love with Jean-Luc, a fox shifter who longed for the country and Artur bought this place for him…where new memories could be made.”
Oracle paused for a moment to let everything sink in before continuing. “That was when your father decided to ask your mother for a divorce. Leaving Jean-Luc in France, he headed back to Scotland, but when he arrived at the castle, he found your mother mentally distraught and couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he brought in the best doctors and hired nurses to take care of her round-the-clock.
“The doctors soon told him they felt his presence was causing your mother distress, so he decided to leave. It was not an easy time for either of your parents. When your father rejoined Jean-Luc in France, he learned that, against all odds, his mate was pregnant.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Hunter. “I assumed he was an Omega otherwise it couldn’t happen.”
“Jean-Luc was a fox shifter. Mating between different species had been banned because it was believed the outcome would result in a hybrid shifter. But Jean-Luc and Artur were so overjoyed they put aside their fear of what might happen if anyone found out. When Alex was born, they decided to keep him a secret, never making a record of his birth. Meanwhile, they enjoyed their son, while waiting to see what happened when he shifted for the first time.
“When Alex shifted into a dragon, Arthur and Jean-Luc celebrated, sure they and Alex were safe—but it was short lived. The next time, Alex shifted into a very rare fox. That’s when they realized their son was in mortal danger. Deciding it was no longer safe for Alex, Jean-Luc took him and fled to New York City, where there was less chance of them being detected.
“Whenever he could, Artur visited Jean-Luc and Alex, but it was not often enough to erase the pain of separation from his Fated Mate. So he started to make discrete inquiries with the Dragon Council in an effort to safely allow Jean-Luc and Alex to return to him.”
“According to Sawyer, that never happened,” Hunter said.
“Before it could, Jean-Luc was killed in an accident. Artur was devastated. The pain of losing his Fated Mate consumed him and the only thing keeping him alive was love and dedication to their son, Alex. Temporary arrangements were made for his care while Artur redoubled his efforts to bring him home. But he knew if the Dragon Council found out about his son’s attributes before he could get the law changed, Alex would be removed from him and killed for being a threat to the dragon world. So he decided to keep Alex hidden away in New York, where he’d be safe.”
Fionn swallowed hard; this was getting to him and he didn’t know why…or maybe he did, considering his own childhood. All he could say to Oracle was, “Then…what?”
“It was a very dark and lonely period, during which your father spent many nights drinking himself into a stupor. On one of those nights, when his tongue was loosened by liquor, your Uncle Eideard learned about the secret Artur was keeping. Fortunately, he never told his brother where Alex was. Which turned out to be what ultimately saved his son from the clutches of his brother. But from then on, Eideard used his knowledge to control Artur. At first, it was to gain more authority in the business but it soon grew into outrageous blackmail for money and more. Unless Artur agreed to his demands, Eideard threatened to expose his brother’s secret to the Dragon Council.”
“My father made my mother swear to never tell anyone my real age because he was going to name my cousin as his heir,” Fionn murmured.
Giving a soft sigh, Oracle nodded. “That was also one of Eideard’s ultimatums.”
“I get the picture but that’s still not an excuse for how he treated my mother,” Fionn growled. “You claim my parents had a good relationship but you’re wrong. I know, because I was there.”
“Things started to change when your mother got pregnant with you,” Oracle replied.
“Why would that affect their relationship?” asked Hunter.
“Once his brother found out about his son, Artur dared not visit Alex, afraid his brother would have him followed. But not spending time with his son became too great a burden to bear, so Artur devised a plan that would allow him to be with Alex, far away from everyone he knew. First, to be free of his brother, Artur decided to sign over all his business interests to his brother and, in exchange, Eideard agreed never to reveal anything to anyone about Alex.”
“Fat chance that was going to happen. My uncle was a snake,” Fionn remarked.
“Artur was well aware of that, so he was going to sweeten the deal to appeal to Eideard’s greed. If his brother honored the bargain, he would name him heir to his hoard. Before discussing the proposal with his brother, Artur flew to Scotland, intending to divorce your mother. According to her doctors, she was much improved and he was sure she would agree since their relationship had been over for years.
“It never happened,” Fionn said.
“No…when your father arrived, he was amazed to find your mother fully recovered. At her request, he took her away to their vacation home he’d built early in their relationship. She loved the location because it was so peaceful…and a place where they could just be themselves without being surrounded by servants. And he felt it would be a perfect place to have a discussion about ending their relationship. However, by the second day, Artur’s deep sadness returned because he felt guilty about being there with your mother and not with Jean-Luc.”
“But he was dead,” Fionn muttered.
“Yes, but Jean-Luc was Artur’s Fated Mate. The link to him did not disappear simply because he had died. You see, the only thing keeping your father from dying was the promise he made to Jean-Luc about taking care of their son. But that did little to keep the loneliness and sadness at bay.
“It was this weakness that drove your father into his wife’s arms one night. It had been too long since Artur felt caresses and the warmth of another body and, though he had reservations, he responded to your mother’s entreaties.”
“She became pregnant that night,” Hunter murmured.
“Yes, with Fionn. When Artur found out, he felt betrayed and, even though she professed her innocence, the damage was done. Now his plan to join Alex was put on hold while he waited to see if the dragonlet would survive.”
“Why didn’t he just go ahead with the divorce?” asked Logan.
“Because of the mating contract he signed with her father. Once she gave him a male child, he was locked into her until she died,” Oracle explained.
“Bullshit!” Fionn exclaimed. “My mother gave birth to many male dragonlets before I was born. If that was the agreement, he was already tied to her.”
“Only if the child survived until it came of age. All the children born before you died before their first birthday. Your father had no reason to believe you would be the exception.”
“But I didn’t die…how ironic,” Fionn muttered.
“No, you didn’t,” said Oracle, “and because of that Artur was forced to make a decision about Alex that broke his heart. He enrolled his son in a private boarding school, unable to see or talk to him to protect his security. All contact was handled through an old lawyer friend. From that point on, Artur’s main goal was to keep anyone from knowing the location and identity of his son.”
“Did my mother know?”
“No, your father never told her about Jean-Luc or Alex. Any trust they might have had between them evaporated when she got pregnant. From that point on, your father did only the barest minimum for your mother, certain she had betrayed him by conceiving you. Of course, that was irrational, but he was beginning to emotionally crumble and, as you know so well, Fionn, the worst was yet to come.”
