Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
We were all back at the family parlor. Everyone was sitting in the same spots as the first family meeting I had joined. Arsiein and Atarah were sitting together on a padded bench, drinking from their silver cups. Ulrik and Melora were on the sofa, Ulrik drinking from a silver-ringed horn and Melora from a teacup. Jabari and M’kena sat upon a lavish mountain of pillows by the fire, drinking from engraved ivory. The welcoming party was over as soon as the sun had come up, and the remaining Thorbørns I hadn’t met were sent on a mission by Sigbjørn.
“Well, it is obvious that this is all Theseus’s fault.” Matias nodded as if it was the only logical conclusion.
“In what manner?” Theseus questioned, annoyed and also tired.
“It would have been understandable if you sought to expose Jason after he had threatened your mate or amid battle, but in this case, Druella reversed the battle. He was no longer a threat to your mate, so you were simply being a dick at that point,” Matias replied, then paused, looking at me. “Do you like Druella or Dru? I’m trying to see which will stick. But Druella feels more theatrical.”
“Do Dru when she’s feeling down and Druella for everything time else,” Ulrik answered automatically.
“I disagree,” Arsiein cut in.
“So, you prefer just Dru?” Matias pressed.
“About Jason and the witch,” Arsiein snapped at him, shaking his head as he went on. “It is not as if Theseus could simply let the vampire go after knowing the truth. What if, by saying nothing, Jason remained with them while in Montréal and did further harm to them? Clearly, the Omeron witches were watching Druella. It would be an unnecessary risk to keep silent.”
“They are in a forbidden romance.” M’kena stared blankly, and I waited for her to elaborate, but that was all she said, which was useless because we knew that already!
“Exactly,” Jabari spoke, tapping his finger on the ring of his cup. “But it is not as if one witch could have stormed the capital and the president’s personal home to get at Druella with only a single vampire. They are in a forbidden romance, and it is a secret amongst only the two of them. President Swan does not even approve of Lesser and Noble Blood relationships, let alone a vampire and witch. Surely they both wouldn’t risk it just to get at Druella.”
Was M’kena trying to say all of that? How did he know?
“Does any of it matter?” Ulrik sighed heavily, looking at everyone. “Whether Theseus did it wrong or right, it’s done. What are we going to do with the witch, now, Father?”
At the mention of Sigbjørn, we looked over to where he sat in his chair, his eyes closed as if he were sleeping and as still as could be. But everyone knew better.
When we were silent, he opened his eyes, and Rhea spoke from where she sat on the arm of his chair. “How is her mind? Her heart is deeply obsessed with this Jason. Apparently, her spellbound nature does not make her blackhearted.”
Was that a dig at me? It sure felt like one!
“It is one of the most fascinating I’ve ever come across.” He chuckled. He was so amused that he even unfolded his arms. “It is times like this when I remember that despite how old I am, there is still so much I lack knowledge of.”
“What did you see, Father?” Melora asked, sitting up now excited, along with Ulrik. “What makes her so fascinating?”
He looked us all over, clearly building the excitement. “Her mind contains two.”
“What?” I asked, unsure what he meant, and it was clear I wasn’t the only one.
“Hinrik,” Sigbjørn called, and a door above us opened as Hinrik stepped out. “Well?”
Hinrik nodded. “She is the same, but there is another.”
“Father! I’m lost!” Ulrik huffed like an impatient child.
“No, you are impatient,” Sigbjørn replied.
“The witch has strong threads or ties, but two of them stand out,” Hinrik said as he came down the stairs. “The first one is similar to the one we all have with Druella. It’s golden, same as ours, so it is protecting her.”
They all looked at me.
I lifted my hands in defense. “I don’t know anything about it…still.”
“And the second one?” Theseus asked, getting the attention off me as Hinrik reached the bottom of the stairs and took a seat on his mate’s lounge.
“Another golden thread leads out of her. The witch is protecting someone else, but I can’t see the end of that thread, but it is far from her, and it is draining her.”
“Jason?” I asked. “She’s trying to protect him, even still? So that means President Waban Swan hasn’t killed him.”
“Of course, he wouldn’t. He wants to understand the secret of the Omeron Coven. After all, they are in his lands and now his biggest threat. But to do that, he needs Jason to talk...” Theseus trailed off and looked to his father. “Two minds?”