“You knew our mother?” Kane asks, his voice sounding far more boyish than it ever has.
Lucian nods. “Of course. I’m your uncle.”
What the fuck?My body sways at the news.
Lucian Wrath, anelitevampire, is the uncle to threeblue-collarones. It doesn’t make sense. That’s not how any of this works. Blue-collars and elites don’t stem from the same bloodlines.
“No…” I shake my head. “You can’t be.”
“Yes, yes.” He smiles at me. “You have good reason to think that. But I assure you, Iam. My brothers…discarded you, but you are of their flesh and blood. You are elites. All three of you.”
“Fuck that,” Rook declares, Kylie tucked tightly behind him now. “We don’t want it. We’re fine just as we are.”
And neither Kane nor I go against him.
Maybe other blue-collar vampires would want a piece of the elite pie, but not us. We want nothing to do with these disgusting fucks—no matter if they just-so-happen to be family or not. Frankly, the fact that we are related to such a perverse group of vampires only leaves a bitter fucking taste on my tongue.
Lucian nods, his expression a picture of performative understanding. “I sympathize with your rejection, Rook. Truly. After the life you’ve lived, this news can feel like nothing more than spit in the face.” He wags a finger and tilts his jaw. “However, given the recent…activities…you and your brothers have partaken in, and the nature of their punishment, I’m afraid the reality of your bloodline is of utmost importance. It’s whyI’vecome myself. To help you.”
Fucking bullshit.To track us down and comehere, to our secret, off-the-grid cabin in Connecticut, claiming to be our family, and purporting himself as some kind of savior in this scenario is the height of irony.
It’s men like him who’ve brought us here—who’ve forced Rook, Kane, and me into taking things into our hands and going against their vicious practices of selling women to the highest bidder. Of going against their hoarding of bloodlines in the name of power and longevity and greed.
He’s not a hero. He’s a fucking sadist.
My body prepares to strike—consequences be damned.
“Now, now, Calloway, put away your fangs, my boy,” Lucian comments with a disappointed smirk. “This isn’t the time for that.”
“I’m not your boy,uncle,” I seethe, prompting a growl from Rook behind me.
Instantly, two black-cloaked vampires bang on the back door, sensing the escalation of tension, but Lucian holds up a hand and the noise stops.
“Cal,” Kane murmurs, urgency and desperation in his voice setting my teeth on edge. It’s not fear, but a willingness to do literally anything to protect his fated mate.
I don’t understand the total capacity of the mating bond yet, at least not fully, and for that, I’m both thankful and annoyed.
Truth be told, Kane shouldn’t have been capable of meeting his mate yet. Biologically, a male vampire isn’t supposed to be able to recognize the bond until we hit the ripe age of twenty-eight. That’s when we come fully into our vampirehood. It’s when we begin to fully recognize any powers we may possess and the aging process becomes nearly five times slower than a human.
But Kane is only twenty-seven. And I’m twenty-six. Rook is the only twenty-eight-year-old vampire out of our trio who should be capable of finding his destined mate.
“Listen, boys,” Lucian says teasingly, using the simple moniker to knock us down a peg. “This doesn’t have to be so tense. I’m here with good news. You’re of noble blood. You’re elites. Thatmeans all this…mess…you’ve created is far less consequential than it could be.”
“Nothing about your little visit screams good news,” Rook insists, taking the words right out of my own mouth. “We don’t do well with ultimatums, threats, or intimidation tactics.”
“What threats?” He retorts with an infuriating chuckle. “I’m simply executing a reunion that should have happened a long time ago.” His voice takes on a lilt. “Oh, how I wish we could have done it sooner than this, but it’s better late than never. And quite frankly, very poetic in its timing. I’m inviting you to take a very distinguished place at your rightful station in New York, just in time for the selection process. I know your brothers have mated, but Cal, you will have the first Slater chance at choosing for yourself.”
Selection process? You have got to be kidding me. I’d rather cut off my dick than be involved in their auction—in their fucking vile sex-trafficking rituals.
“That’s an amazing spin on some really sick shit, Lucian,” I retort. “But what about this? What if I sayfuck you, I’m not coming?”
Lucian purses his lips. “Unfortunately, Calloway, that’s not an option. It’s just not. And I want to be careful here to explain without emotion, because truly, my boy, I’d absolutely hate it to end this way. But if you don’t come, your death would not be a threat, but a fact. As would your brothers’ deaths. And, quite unfortunately, their mates as well.”
Kane and Rook feel like loaded missiles behind my back. It’s all I can do to keep them at bay with a commanding, wide-palmedhand. They don’t normally take orders from their younger brother, but in this case, they do me the favor.
Fuck me.The tables have certainly turned.
I glance back at my brothers and then at Kylie and Blair. And then, I set my gaze on Lucian.
