Lachlan walked close behind me but had let go of my hand.
There were skulls decorating the house like regular house decor, being shown off on shelves and end tables like trophies. Disgust spiraled from the pit of my stomach. These necromancers were truly morbid.
Claude sank into the plush checkered chair in the living room as the other man and woman took their seats on the couch.
Lachlan, Kian, and I stayed standing.
“Why don’t you introduce your companions?”
Kian’s nostrils flared as he speared Claude and his father with a venomous look. “This is Lachlan. He’s been my friend for ages, and this is Wren,” he clipped.
“And judging by how you’ve got her tucked at your side, she’s your mate?” I didn’t like the fake delight in the man’s tone.
“Yes, she is.”
My heart skipped a beat at his proclamation, but I couldn’t focus on that.
“Oh, really?” The other man smiled before directing his gaze toward me. “I’m Kian’s father, Bill, and this is his mother, Lydia!” He grinned, holding the woman’s hand tight.
I forced a smile as Kian tensed further. “As his mate, it’s eye-opening to see where Kian came from.”
“Yes, yes. Isn’t it?” Bill sighed as he looked at Lydia. “Can’t you see the resemblance between us? He looks much more like his mother, though.”
“I do see it.” I nodded, and Kian’s hold on me tightened painfully.
Kian didn’t ever grab me hard, and he was always very aware of every movement he made around me, so I knew the emotions blasting through him were sending him over the edge. Tears gathered in his eyes as he gulped.
These necromancers had warped beliefs, but it was more than that. I think it ran deeper, bleeding into their souls.
“Why did you call me home?” Kian rasped. “I’m only permitted to be gone today.”
Claude cackled, and a dark magic rose within the room. “Oh, Kian. You’re not going back. You’re home for good. Your mate and friend are welcome to stay, but we may need to do something to make them… fit in a bit more.”
My blood froze at the look in his eyes.
“And why do we need to stay here?” Kian kept his voice level.
I’d never heard Kian speak so articulately or coldly, but I also knew the trauma he faced here as a kid deserved more of a reaction than this.
“Oh, that’s simple. It’s because of Roak. There’s an immense benefit of aligning ourselves with the dragons for the war on humans.” He clapped his hands excitedly and smiled at the three of us.
I pressed myself against Kian even more, and he had purple lightning bolts of magic around his fist that was at his other side.
“When exactly did you decide to join them?” Kian asked.
Claude and Bill smiled.
“It’s been decided for about a month now,” Claude said.
My heart dropped. A month ago was when the war was declared, which meant the Necromancer Village had been in contact with the dragons before the war had started. That also meant the dragons most likely had more than just the necromancers on their side.
“The dragons have given us dragon scales, and they have made our power become so much more potent. Don’t you feel it?” Bill asked with a crazy look in his eyes. “You were a big part of achieving this. Roak wants to meet you.”
He looked at his son as a tool, and that made every instinct I had go crazy. Kian was so much more than his powers, and if his father didn’t see it, then that wasn’t my problem.
A low growl tore from my throat.
“But, Father, the dragons are absolutely terrible,” Kian protested.
