“Well, you obviously didn’t know you had a son. Given our curse, we know that Kody isn’t the mother.”
Ambrose didn’t quite follow the logic. “How do you know that?”
Kody smirked. “I’d remember having a son. Someone else is the mother.”
“So who you been getting frisky with, old man?”
Ambrose narrowed his gaze on all of them. “None of your businesses, boy, but I can guarantee you this—she’s not the mother of any child of mine, nor will she be. And what I do with her will not create a Malachai.”
Because a Malachai could only be conceived through an act of violence. Created in violence to do violence.
Which made Nick think of something he’d never thought of before. “So, how do we have a brother? Given the curse. I mean, Dad didn’t dare attack a god, did he?”
“No. Even Adarian wasn’t that stupid. She was a goddess who infiltrated his sleep. She was trying to feed off his rage and pain, when he turned it all on her. Even in his dreams, Adarian was a handful.”
“And she didn’t kill him?”
“It was a dream, Nick. She went seeking something she shouldn’t have, and reaped the consequences of a really bad decision.”
Be careful what you wish for … you just might get it. His mother’s favorite curse.
“I still don’t understand how that works. How she conceived our brother.”
Caleb put his hands on his hips. “Easy. She was a goddess who would have gotten into trouble for being in his dreams. They weren’t supposed to be doing that, especially a demon like your father. Besides, Adarian would have torn her apart had he found out about it, as he was doing his bestnotto have a son who would kill him as soon as that son came of age. She didn’t dare tell anyone who Madoc’s father was. He would have killed her.”
Given that Adarian had lived longer than any Malachai before him, that made sense. He’d been known for eating any and all children he ever sired.
Even the girls, who, sexist as it was, could never become Malachai. It was just a chance he wouldn’t take. When it came to losing power or risking emotions, Adarian didn’t play.
And that made Nick think of something else. “Then we’re looking for a goddess.”
Ambrose frowned. “What?”
“If Madoc was born from a goddess, wouldn’t Cyprian have to be the same? The son of someone who tricked us or preyed on us in our sleep?” That made the most sense.
Actually, it made the only sense.
“Could also be a demon,” Xev reminded them. “A demon would have the same powers to infiltrate your dreams. At least some of them.”
Aeron clapped Nick on the back. “Good job, boyo. You’ve narrowed it down to everything not human. I’ll get started on that list right away. Should take me, what? Eight, nine thousand years?”
“Shut up!” Nick shoved him playfully.
“It is a start,” Kody said. “We at least have some idea of what we’re looking for. Not all demons can enter dreams.”
“Except we can’t protect our dreams or protect Nick in his.” Caleb sighed.
Nick smirked. “I’ve seen this movie. It’s easy. Don’t sleep! Freddy can’t do anything as long as I’m awake.”
Xev screwed his face up. “And I’ve dealt with you when you have no sleep. You’re ridiculous, and one of us will most likely kill you.” He met Ambrose’s gaze. “We could ask Madoc or one of the other dream gods to help …”
“No.” Ambrose’s tone brooked no argument. “I don’t want anyone else inside my head. Sleeping or awake. I’ve had more than my share with those animals in my sleep. Keep them away from me.”
Nick agreed. “Yeah. My mind is a mass of chaos. I don’t want anyone knowing my guilty or not-guilty secrets. It’s just too weird.”
“But we do need to figure this out.” Ambrose stepped back. “Let’s get some food.”
Vawn, Aeron, and Kaziel grinned like fools, as they were always starving.
