Shrugging helplessly, Theo looked at Norman, pleading with him to explain.
Giving Theo a hug and a kiss, Norm said, “Arald hated Theo and me. When we were chained up, neither of us could shift and protect ourselves when he came into our cells and punished us…it seemed for no reason other than we were bears. It was the first time someone hated us just for being bears and since he was a wolf shifter, Theo’s worried about it happening to our cubs if they live in a wolf pack. We don’t want our cubs to face that kind of crap growing up.”
Leaning over, Quin wrapped his arms around Theo, hugging him tightly. “No, Theo, don’t worry…it won’t happen here. Just because that asshole was a wolf shifter, doesn’t mean other wolf shifters feel that way.”
“Really?” Theo asked, quickly dashing the tears from his eyes.
“Really!” replied Quin. “None of the wolf shifters in this room would ever be mean to your cubs. Isn’t that right?”
“Theo, Q’s right,” Kieran said. “None of us could ever hurt your cubs…I know my mate wouldn’t…”
“Neither would Zane!” exclaimed David.
“And I know Cody and Dylon wouldn’t stand for it,” Kieran said, “nor Kota, and certainly not Ian or Colton. And frankly, neither would the Alpha. Look how he accepted you instantly. If he didn’t like bears, trust me, he’d have found some other place for you to go.”
“Honeybunch,” Norm murmured, rubbing his fiancé’s back gently, “no one will ever show our cubs anything other than love. And if, for some reason, you or I feel our cubs aren’t being treated right, we’ll leave this pack and go somewhere else, even if it means living by ourselves.”
Gazing at the love of his life, Theo saw only the truth of Norm’s words reflected back at him. Reaching up, he cupped the cheek belonging to the person whose love had sustained him through those awful years. “Promise?” he whispered.
“Cross my heart.” Norm whispered back.
Chapter 18
Remy couldn’t fall asleep after his discussion with Mystia; he was sure the Witches’ Governing Council was searching for him. His mind filled with nightmarish images of his brothers?screaming as they were being torn out of his arms. And if what she said was true, he’d never see them again. It was all too much to handle.
Rolling over, he stared at the sky watching it turn pink before sunrise. Even though Mystia assured him he and his brothers were safe for now, it did little to comfort him.I’m not sure I can trust her,but what choice do I have?And that thought brought him back to her statement about Carson Blackwood, which he found even harder to believe.
Throwing back the covers, Remy climbed out of bed and stood at his bedroom window. Gazing at the rows of vines blanketing the rolling hills, the only thing now occupying his mind was the image of his Fated Mate who he’d decided to reject yesterday, in favor of his brothers. But now he wasn’t so sure it was the right decision in light of what the witch told him last night. But that brought him back in a circle to his first question—was it the truth?How can a wolf shifter protect me and my brothers?
Fuck! She thinks because I’m a low-level warlock, I don’t know about how easy a wolf shifter can be destroyed by any first-tier magic user with just a snap of the fingers.Of course, Remy knew if that ever happened, the Universal Paranormal High Council would be forced to get involved and it would be the last thing the Witches Governing Council would want—so it might not happen after all.Huh…is that the protection Mystia meant when she said Carson could keep me and my brothers safe?Somehow, he didn’t think so.If they did make an attempt on my life, my mate would be killed along with me…shit, and probably my brothers too. That would get rid of all the evidence.
Sighing, Remy turned away from the window. He was running out of time. Carson Blackwood would be at the chateau soon and he’d have to make a decision.I need more facts! How can I possibly decide which choice to make without proof my brothers will be safe if I let Carson claim me?Thinking about this conundrum, Remy knew only one person could give him the information he needed; he had to find Mystia before his brothers woke up.
~/~/~/~/~
Opening his eyes when his phone’s alarm went off, Carson felt a shock of exhilaration running through him. Today was the day he’d meet Remy Marchant, his Fated Mate.Maybe.Even with his lingering doubts, the possibility it might be true made his hopes soar.Finally, the Fates may have found me worthy. Carson’s cock began to swell.Yeesss! Giving it a squeeze, before palming it, he offered a quick prayer to the gods that his wolf was right about Remy.
Carson texted Dr. Marceau that they’d pick up Henri by 9 a.m. He was eager to continue his journey to the Chateau des Flammes so he could finally put his doubts to rest. He opened his laptop, intending to go through his email, but then hesitated, his finger hovering over the keyboard.
Before drifting off to sleep last night, he thought about researching his mate but then pushed it aside, reminding himself not to get his hopes up as he’d done so many times before, only to have them crushed. But now, after reconsidering it, he assured himself it was just a goodbusiness decision to know everything about who he’d be working with.Right!
Checking to make sure he had enough time before joining Hunter and Fionn in the lobby, he gave in to his curiosity about Remy; he would, after all, be coming face to face with him before noon. Bringing up a search window, Carson typed in his mate’s name. Leaning back, he waited for the results, excitement thrumming through him, eager to learn more about who the Fates had chosen as his perfect mate.
Glancing at the screen, Carson straightened up, his eyes widening at the results.Nothing? How can that be?Why hasn’t his name come up on the High Council’s shifter data base?Clicking on another category, Carson carefully scrolled through the list of names beginning with “M”—Remy Marchant’s wasn’t on it. Shaking his head in disbelief, he recalled Zane telling him the High Council’s shifter’s list was infallible. And the research he’d done on Fionn’s companies showed his father employed only shifters.Something’s not right here.
Accessing yet another category in the database, Carson entered his mate’s name and clicked ‘search’. Drumming his fingers on his laptop, and staring off into space, he waited nervously, trying to come to terms that his mate mightnotbe a shifter. Hearing a ding, he quickly looked down at his screen, gasping when he read that a Remy Marchant died shortly after birth. Clicking on his mate’s name, Carson hoped there’d be more information to confirm that the deceased Remy was not his mate, but other than “warlock” next to the name, there was nothing else.Where does this leave me now…and how the fuck am I going to sort this out? And who…or what… is Remy Marchant?
~/~/~/~/~
After pulling on some sweatpants and a hoodie, Remy ran silently down the staircase, hoping his brothers would stay asleep a little longer. He wasn’t sure where the witch was, but she promised him last night she’d stay and protect them. Pausing after stepping off the last step, he closed his eyes, using his other senses to locate Mystia. Hearing the slight rattle of a spoon against china, he whirled and headed into the living room, stopping short when he found her sitting where he’d left her last night.
Setting her cup and saucer down, Mystia looked at Remy. “Good morning,mon chéri,would you like to join me for some tea?”
Hesitating for a second, Remy walked over to the sofa and sat down. “No, thank you,” he replied.
“Oh, that’s right…coffee’s your morning drink.” Waving her hand, a steaming mug of coffee appeared before him. “Now, what did you want to ask me?”
Staring at his mug, Remy gathered his thoughts before finally picking it up and taking a sip. “Thank you. I’m not sure where to start but since the most important thing is the safety of my brothers, I guess that’s as good a place as any. I spent the night trying to understand how a wolf shifter could stop a powerful magic user from harming me or my brothers…and I can’t come up with an explanation…at least not any reasonable or logical one.” Setting his coffee down, he continued, “I’m sure you know I certainly don’t have strong enough magic to resist such an attacker…my brothers might, but they are much too young to be able to use it to protect themselves, much less me. So, my gut is telling me to take them and flee just as my parents did when I created the other light sphere.”
