Looking at his mate, Remy asked, “Would you excuse me for a minute?”
Nodding in response, Carson watched his mate get up with Galen in his arms and move toward a door he assumed led to the kitchen. Now alone, he stood and walked over to a tabletop on which sat several framed photographs of Remy and the three children he just saw. Gazing at them, Carson smiled at the joy and love shared between them before noticing how similar they looked.
“They’re my brothers,” Remy said softly, coming up behind his mate. “I took custody of them after our parents died.”
Turning from the pictures, Carson’s eyes searched his mate’s face before asking, “You said they died a year ago?”
“Actually, just about nine months ago,” Remy answered, picking up one of the picture frames. “It hit Galen the hardest…he has nightmares and, as you saw, he panics if he can’t find Mrs. B or me. We’re his anchors. I’m hoping it’ll pass once he realizes I’m not going to…” Remy caught himself because if Carson didn’t want him as a mate, then the Governing Council would eventually find him and, though he wouldn’t die, Galen would never see him again. Setting the photo back on the table, he said, “I’m sorry about the interruption…”
“How did your parents die?” Carson asked, rubbing his chest. He wasn’t sure why he asked, but he knew his mate was in danger because his wolf had begun to pace. At first, Carson chalked it up to his wolf’s need to claim Remy, but now he sensed there was something else threatening his mate. If his mate’s parents were murdered, like his family was, then he needed to know it.
Chapter 22
“Honestly? I don’t know how it happened,” Remy said, pondering Carson’s question. “One day, I just received a call from their attorney who told me they’d died and, despite my questions about it, would say nothing more. When I arrived at my parents’ home, I found Galen trying to change Rune’s diaper while Eamon was sitting in a corner, eating cookies from a bag. By the time I sorted everything out and fed my brothers, they’d fallen asleep and I had to carry them up to their beds. The next day, every time I tried to ask Galen what happened, he’d burst into tears, so I let it drop, figuring I’d get more information when I saw the lawyer in person.”
“What about your other brothers…are they still grieving?” asked Carson.
“Eamon does get sad sometimes…he asks me where mommy and daddy are but that happens less now…and Rune…he’s too young to remember,” Remy said. “As for Galen…I think it’s more than just grief.”
“You think he saw what happened?”
“If not that, maybe heard something…either way, it’s still affecting him,” Remy said, sighing.
“Can’t you force the lawyer to tell you how your parents died?” asked Carson.
“I tried…but he said he couldn’t tell me anything,” Remy said.
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”
“Not sure, but in the end, does it matter?” Remy asked. “Our parents are gone…but my brothers are safe…that’s all that matters to me now.”
Studying his mate, Carson saw grief reflected in his eyes. “You still miss them.”
Giving his mate a quick, sad smile, Remy said, “I do…they were my biggest cheerleaders…supporting my decisions, encouraging me, and always making sure I knew how much they loved me.”
Frowning, Carson tried to reconcile the parents Remy described with the same ones who reported his early death. No matter how hard he tried, though, there was no way he could come up with an explanation that made sense. Just thinking about all the possibilities left a bad taste in his mouth.
Reaching out, Remy’s fingers smoothed the lines in Carson’s forehead. “Why are you frowning?” he asked.
Grasping his mate’s hand, Carson held it to his chest. “I’m wondering why your parents claimed you died shortly after you were born if they loved you as much as you say they did?”
Remy’s jaw dropped. His mate’s question was so upsetting he didn’t know whether to be angry at its insensitivity or depressed that his mate had just called him a liar. Snatching his hand back, Remy stalked away from Carson, stopping when he was as far away as he could be in the small living room. Biting his lower lip to keep from snapping out a response he’d regret tomorrow, he stood there, glaring at his mate. After several deep breaths, Remy felt his anger subside, leaving only the hurt behind. Keeping his voice low so his brothers wouldn’t hear, he said, “My parents loved me so much, they were willing to break the law to keep me safe.
“When I was born a low-level magic user, my parents knew the kind of life I was destined for when I grew up…and they didn’t want that for me…so they forged…FORGED…my death certificate so the Witches’ Governing Council would never give me to some fucking first-tier magic user to be a slave for the rest of my life.Thatis how much they loved me. If what they did was ever discovered, the Council would toss them in jail and throw away the key.”
Unable to remain still, Remy began pacing. “The thing is, I didn’t know what they’d done until just recently. They protected me my entire childhood by home-schooling me and when I picked a human university to attend—even though they were worried I might make a mistake and reveal what little magic I have to a human—they still supported my decision. When I was growing up, there was never a day I didn’t know they loved me. So now you know…your mate is a low-levelillegalmagic user.”
Relief flooded through Carson, followed by happiness, but worry finally crept in about what would happen to Remy if it were discovered he wasn’t dead. His mate’s explanation only spawned more questions, questions that Carson began to ask. “I got it that you’re a low-level magic user…not really sure what that means…but why would that make you a slave? The Universal Paranormal High Council outlawed slavery in any form.”
Rolling his eyes at Carson’s question, Remy said, “The Witches’ Governing Council doesn’t call it slavery, but that’s what it is. Since I’m a low-level magic user, once I reach adulthood, the Governing Council assigns me permanently to a witch or warlock who is registered in one of the first three tiers of magic power. And by permanently, I mean just that. All rights I have are stripped from me including contact with my family. I’m not paid for the work I do and more importantly, my owner can punish me without restriction or sell me as heor she wishes. If I object…well, let’s just say that’d be the last time I’d ever do that.”
Aghast, Carson stared at Remy, his heart breaking for his mate, now fully understanding the danger Remy faced if it was discovered he wasn’t dead. Shaking his head at that thought, Carson growled, “No fucking way!” Stalking over to his mate, fighting the urge to shift for fear of scaring Remy and his brothers, he spat, “I mean it…no fucking way will I ever let them do that to you. You’re my mate…my fucking Fated Mate and that trumps every fucking rule, law, or whatever your fucking Governing Council wants to call their barbaric treatment of magic users like you.”
Grabbing Remy, Carson pulled him to his chest, wrapping him in a protective embrace. “Remy, I swear, no one will ever do that to you…you don’t have to fear the Governing Council ever again…I swear…I’ll protect you if anyone ever tries to take you from me.”
Lowering his face until it was buried in Remy’s hair, Carson deeply inhaled his mate’s scent.This is where I belong…this is home…Remy is my home. All these years, I never knew what I was missing…but now I have the other half of my heart.Standing there with his mate, he realized nothing nor anyone was more important to him than Remy; he vowed to be at his mate’s side regardless of what adversity they faced.
Melting into Carson’s chest, Remy sighed—how perfect his mate’s body felt against his. Closing his eyes, he let himself enjoy the security surrounding him, allowing him to escape—even if only for a short time—his fears of punishment for creating the light sphere. Then reality set in. Hearing Carson’s vow to protect him was reassuring, but before this went further, he owed his mate the wholetruth about the danger he faced. Gathering courage, he dropped his arms, taking several steps back.
