I laughed loudly. “And you only have the one brother who lives on the Nolus continent, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“What about other family? Aunts? Uncles? Grandparents? Cousins?”
His lips lifted in a warm smile. “I have a few family members in addition to my parents.”
“Will I ever meet them?”
The warmth in his smile grew even more. “Of course. I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”
“Stars.” I grimaced. “I would have asked earlier, but things haven’t been very conducive to me meeting one’s family.” Just the thought of what his parents would think, knowing their son was mated to a vampire...
I wanted to vomit.
Kole slipped an arm around my waist, and his emotions thrummed into me along our mate bond. He fingered a lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. “We’ll find a way so you feel comfortable,” he said soothingly, and I knew he understood my fear. Vampires were virtually unheard of on the Silten and Solis continents, so for me to show up at his parents’ house as I was...
My lips quivered. “But even if I do feel comfortable, what will they think of me? Given what I am now? Are you sure that you still want them to meet me? Especially if my glamour doesn’t fool them, and they begin to suspect something, and then I’ll have to use my magic on them, and the thought of doing that to someone you love would be so?—”
He growled quietly and pulled me closer, then pressed a kiss to my neck. “You’re my mate. Vampire, fae, whatever you are, I’m proud of you and proud to call you mine. We’ll do what’s needed so you feel welcomed, and we’ll find a way to keep them safe from your magic.”
I gave a shaky nod, and some of the insecurities I felt about my vampiric state abated, but like Kole, I was still so angry at what’d been done to me, but Kole’s absolute conviction that we would find a way helped.
Using a finger, Kole tilted my chin up so I was forced to look him in the eye. “Now, what are we here for? You said you wanted to tell me something in private?”
I nodded vigorously and realigned my thoughts. “Yes. Something occurred to me overnight and has to do with my uncle’s commands on me.” I gripped his shirt, curling my fingersaround the thick material as the sea air blew around us. “I’m fairly confident that I can no longer hurt you in any way because of our bond. After last night when our bond subdued my uncle’s command, the urge to try to manipulate you hasn’t returned. I don’t think that’s going to change. So, if I can no longer hurt you regardless of what my uncle demands, and I can’t hurt him because he’s my Maker, that doesn’t meanyoucan’t hurthimin my presence.”
I let that truth sink in, and Kole’s eyes widened. I knew the second he realized what I was implying by the glowing light in his eyes and the anticipation overtaking his aura.
“That means that even if your uncle commands you to protect him from me, the command won’t work.”
I gripped his shirt more. “Yes, and even though killing him won’t stop the commands he’s already placed on me from continuing, it’ll at least stop him from issuing anyfuturecommands in which I hurt more fae, and it’ll stop him from turning anyone else into a vampire, and it’ll stop him from potentially hurting anyone else I love.” I quickly told him about my uncle’s threat against Ree and Siam and how I would be summoned via dillemsill at night, from now on, when my uncle wanted something.
Kole’s nostrils flared. “He actually threatened you like that? By using your best friend and her baby against you? Of course, he did.Fuck, I’ve never wanted to kill a male more than I do right now. I’m not even sure my sword could fulfill my bloodlust for him. I think I may use my bare hands to end your uncle.”
I shuddered at the absolute menace rolling off him, and the way Prince Nuwin had described him when I’d been learning to mistphase under Matron Olsander’s instruction came careening back:the perfect killing nightmare.
I had a feeling Nuwin was right.
Kole’s grip tightened on my waist, and his fury roiled. “What would you like to do? Go there unexpectedly or wait for him to summon you? I’m happy to do either. I’d go right now if you want to.”
I laughed shrilly. I had no doubt Kole would have my uncle dead within the next ten minutes if the stars aligned and we were able to effectively ambush him.
But I nibbled on my lip, knowing we had to plan this well. My uncle had gone centuries, never alluding to the fact that he was a God of Night follower, and neither the kingsfae nor the Imperial Council had ever suspected he was behind my assassination attempts.
We had to be smart.
“That’s a good question.” I nibbled on my lip. “Right now, there’s only one command I have to fulfill for my uncle.” I reminded him that I would be forced to manipulate King Riverling of Ironcrest Kingdom when he came for a visit. “But considering how much destruction my uncle has already wreaked in the short time I’ve been a vampire, I’d rather visit my uncle sooner rather than later. He needs to be stopped. If he’s allowed to do even one more atrocious act, that’s one too many.”
Because something told me my uncle had no qualms about summoning me regularly, and even though my next assignment was still days away, there was nothing to say Arnel wouldn’t come up with another plan and summon me again tomorrow or even today.
“Shall we go now?” Vicious energy strummed through Kole, and I could practically taste the call of the battle rising in his blood.
I chewed on my lip more. Everything inside me told me I needed to protect my uncle, but my mate bond burned even brighter. I could only hope that when the time came, our bond would keep Kole safe.
Finally, I nodded. “All right, yes, let’s go today, but we should wait until tonight, when he least expects it.” But then something else occurred to me, and I winced. “Wait, what about his wards? You won’t be able to bypass them, so how will we get you inside?”
Kole cocked an eyebrow. “Wasn’t he expecting me the day he turned you?”
