“That can’t be, Bennett. You must be mistaken. Are you sure he’s not a warlock.”
“Yes. I’m positive. Warlocks smell like smoke and sulfur. Lucas smells earthy. Like pine.” And roses.
His mother sucked in a breath. “That’s amazing. He’s the only one of his kind. The last one died a long time ago.”
Bennett held Lucas closer and growled.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’d like to talk to him when he wakes up.”
“What’s wrong with him? Is he going to be all right?” Forrest asked.
“He shouldn’t have read Bennett without mating with him first. It was too much…attraction all at once.”
“Wait, you mean he got so horny he passed out?” Forrest asked.
“Essentially. He’ll be okay. Just give him time.”
Chapter Eight
Nicolono narrowed his eyes when Hacen gave Jules a lustful look. Jules sat in his corner just like a good boy. Nicolono was starting to hate Jules’ complacency. He wasn’t used to it in a mate. Silvia had never been so obedient, and he found out he rather liked the punishments he had given her throughout the years. She had liked it too.
Hacen’s misery had gotten to him in visible ways. The gauntness told a story of lack of blood more than the reports that had come to Nicolono. He looked like a poor, neglected plant.
Nicolono wanted to giggle with glee at what was to come, but he restrained himself. He was nothing without control.
He pressed a button on his desk and waited for someone to answer him. “Yes, sir. What can I do for you?”
“Send Thomas in here.”
“Right away, sir.”
Nicolono smiled at Hacen as they waited. Hacen slumped in a chair.
“How are you feeling, Hacen?” He finally asked after a few minutes. “Remember, I can smell your lies.”
“Just fucking kill me. It’s less painful. I feel…guilt for all those humans I’ve killed,” Hacen eyed Jules again.
Jules sat up straight and yelled, “No!” It was so shocking Nicolono was speechless for a full two minutes before a smile spread across his face.
“Tell me why my mate cares about your well-being,” he addressed Hacen, but didn’t take his eyes off Jules.
Hacen sat stoically silent, refusing to answer him, which was far more telling than his words could ever be.
Thomas walked into the room then, standing just inside the door.
“Stand next to Hacen,” Nicolono said to him.
Thomas walked into the room and Hacen’s eyes changed. Hacen’s nostrils flared as Thomas grew closer and he gripped the arms of the chair.
Thomas stood next to his chair, not making eye contact. He saw the slight shake of his hands as he folded them together in front of him.
“Tell me, Hacen. What is Thomas to you? And you will answer me, or I’ll kill the little warlock while you watch.”
Hacen growled. “He’s my mate.”
“What about Jules?” Nicolono thought he knew the answer to that, given the way their body language had changed around each other. He just wasn’t sure how it was possible. Nicolono did feel a pull to Jules, or, rather, he had up until he’d ordered Thomas to curse Hacen. It seemed the ancestors, working through Thomas, had taken his mating pull away from Nicolono and had given it to Hacen. The ancestors did what they wanted, and sometimes warlocks had little control over such things.
“Yes. Him too.”
