Chapter 63: Chapter 63

KILLIAN

That question was the main reason I’d set this meeting, and if there was going to be someone that had the answer I was searching for, it would be my uncle. He and my mother were best friends and she confided in him more than anyone else—yes, even my father. It had fueled some… unsavory rumors.

My uncle’s frown deepened and disappointment immediately welled up in my chest because that wasn’t the expression of someone who had the answer I was searching for. “Why would she do that?” he asked and I swallowed.

I trusted him as much as I trusted Fabien, so I could tell him about Lenore, but I was a bit reluctant because another person knowing who she was to me increased the chances of my father finding out about her sooner than I wanted him to.

“...For me to have a mate?” I finally forced out and he leaned forward in his seat, slowly tilting his head.

“Are you asking or telling me?”

“I don’t know.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Do you have a mate, Killian?”

I pressed my lips together before downing the contents of my glass in one go and getting to my feet, walking over to the center table to drop my glass on it. My uncle watched me intently without saying a word and when I returned to my armchair, I said, “…Let’s say I do.”

He inhaled sharply—taking my answer as a yes—and averted his gaze for a couple of seconds. The expression on his face told me he was plotting. “How strong is she?” he asked and I shifted on the arm of the chair.

Just like werewolves, vampires could have bonds, but unlike the mate bond, a vampire bond could be created at will with anyone—I didn’t know if a vampire creating a bond with a werewolf was possible, but seeing as creating one with a human was, it was most likely possible too—and it wasn’t unbreakable. One drawback of a vampire bond was if one party got injured or died, so did the other, and that was the major reason bonds weren’t a popular thing among us—no one wanted to randomly die because someone who hated them got their hands on their other half.

But a vampire bond was great in that it lent both parties of the bond the strength—physical and magical—of the other, and said strength was always amplified by the bond. If a vampire was blessed with a mate—a rare occurrence—and they chose to create a bond with them, they’d be almost unstoppable.

If my father hadn’t met my mother, he would not be the vampire King.

“She’s human,” I answered and a palpable disappointment washed over his face, sending a flash of irritation through me. It was clear he’d wanted to advise me to bond with her, but I’d never put her at risk like that.

He immediately schooled his expression before shooting me an apologetic look like he knew that had annoyed me. Then he heaved a sigh. “Is she one of the representatives?”

I drew my brows together. How did he—

“The one gifted to you?” he added, and I furrowed my brows even more before figuring he must have heard my father gave her to me and just pieced it together.

I nodded.

“Does your father know?”

I shook my head.

“Keep it that way, Killian,” he started firmly and I shot him a look that said obviously. My father was already going to try to do something stupid because he knew I cared about her—if he found out she was my mate, hell would break loose. There was also that other fact…

My uncle looked like he wanted to say something else, but then he clicked his tongue and leaned back in his seat once more instead. “Regarding the vault robbery,” he said and I clenched my jaw at the reminder. “I’ll reach out to someone—”

“The objects are back,” I said and a confused expression crossed his face.

“Since when?”

“Since before dawn. They’ve been drained of their magic though,” I answered, my hands tightening into fists, and he scowled. “Have you heard of any witch who can use their powers without restrictions?”

I knew it was too soon to be asking that. The objects had been gone for less than forty-eight hours, and the only way he’d have a positive answer to that question was if the thieves told everyone they encountered which I doubted, but—

“Yes.”

My brows instantly shot up.

“An entire coven actually. Coven of the Equinox.”

I’d been about to ask if he was sure—if he hadn’t mistaken Dyani witches for witches who could use their powers without restriction. But the coven he just mentioned was a Turi coven.

Anger stirred within me as my mind locked onto the name, categorizing it as the one who had wronged me and I pulled my phone out of my pocket, intending to text Fabien, but then my uncle said, “I don’t think they’re the ones who robbed you though.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because they’ve been using magic without restrictions for over a decade now.”

I jerked my head back, rapidly blinking like that would change what I just heard. “That’s—” What was he saying? “That’s impossible.” Over a decade. That’s—

“You’ll find that nothing is impossible when it comes to witches,” he stated as he got to his feet, walking over to his desk to grab the bottle of bourbon before heading back to his seat. “Well, almost nothing. I’ve been told your father is trying to push the limit,” he continued and I found myself leaning forward.

My father consorting with witches wasn’t news to me. What I didn’t know was why, and though I hadn’t cared before now, my uncle had piqued my interest.

“How?” I asked, and he shrugged, pouring himself another glass.

“The coven he deals with is quite tight-lipped, but I will find out,” he said and my shoulders sagged a bit at the fact that he didn’t know yet while my mind was still struggling to process what he said about the Equinox witches.

He gestured at my glass with the bottle after, silently asking if I wanted a refill, and before I could decide, the clock in the office chimed, reminding me that Lenore was waiting for me.

“Ah,” my uncle muttered, drawing my attention back to him before he emptied his glass. Then he got to his feet. “I’m sorry. I have to leave—I have an appointment to keep.”

He would not find me complaining.

I also got to my feet, my body beginning to buzz with anticipation at the fact that I was finally heading back even though I didn’t get what I wanted.

“Take care of yourself, Killian.”

“You too, uncle.”

Lenore was asleep when I got back to the palace, and I was rather confused.

I hadn’t used up to thirty minutes like I said I would—I hadn’t even used twenty—so when I walked into the room to find her curled on the couch, I just stopped and stared for a while. She was no longer in the dress she’d worn to dinner; she was wearing a lace nightdress that I’d have ripped off her had she not been asleep, and her phone was on the center table.

My lips twitched into a smile and I walked over to the couch, taking off my jacket, before crouching next to it. The greedy bastard in me wanted to wake her up, but I didn’t. I just watched her for a couple of seconds before dropping my jacket next to her and gathering her in my arms. She stirred but didn’t wake, and when she leaned into me, my smile almost split my face.

How content I felt right now was insane.

I gently placed her on the bed and she murmured something incoherent as I kissed her cheek. Then I pulled the comforter over her and kissed her again, this time on the edge of her mouth, before getting to my feet.

I’d checked the study before entering the room and Fabien wasn’t there—Calley was the only one in it and she’d told me he went over to Aurel’s—so I pulled my phone out to text him.

Me: I need you to look into the Equinox witches

They might not be the ones who robbed me like my uncle said, but I still wanted to know how the hell they could use magic without restrictions.

As I moved to drop the phone on the nightstand, it buzzed, and I checked it, thinking it was a response from Fabien. It was from Celeste.

Mercer: Hellooooooooooo?

I frowned before remembering I hadn’t told her the location and time I wanted to meet the witch whose help I needed with the invitations, and as I thought of responding, my uncle’s words came to mind: Speak with your mother before setting up that meeting. My mother’s in due time also began to run around in my mind and I swallowed, rubbing my forehead.

“Okay,” I muttered, dropping my phone on the nightstand, and lying down next to Lenore before letting out a harsh breath. “Okay.”

I was going to seek out my mother.