Chapter 363 Chapter 363
Tossing his phone on the desk, he went back over to the list. If he had to spend the rest of today looking up those names, he would. Terah could do things that his people hadn’t in decades, he wondered for a moment if they’d just forgotten how to do them or if it was some other reason. Grabbing the chair from in front of the desk, he dragged it over to the table and sat down. If he could just find one...
Closing the second book, he heaved a deep sigh. Eight more to go.
“I just went to see Raelyn.”
Konner twisted in the chair to look at his aunt standing at his door. She could be very silent when she wanted to be, confirming once again that she really didn’t need the cane she always had with her. “How is she?”
“She calmed when Malachi said the healer would be here tomorrow.” She held his look, with that expression that said he should have discussed it with her before doing it.
Turning completely in the chair, he held her look. “The healer is the mate of Calum Dante, and the entire Alliance trusts him, so we can safely bring them into the Sanctuary.”
“I’ve heard that name before.” She came in and went over to his desk and leaned against it. Konner knew better than to offer her a chair. If she wanted to sit, she would.
“He’s the one that finds people and does a lot of things specifically for the king.” He didn’t even know how to explain Calum.
“And his mate, the healer?”
“Terah wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for her fast action when she was found.” Getting up, he went over to his bag and opened it. Reaching in, he pulled out the crumpled folders. They hadn’t been his priority. He tossed the folder with the information found on his desk and held the other one to her.
With a focused look she took it and opened it. He didn’t need to offer any explanations; he could tell by the expression on her face when she saw the photos of Terah that she was feeling the horror their clan member had gone through.
Her eyes were glossed with unshed tears when she looked at him. “We owe the prince a lot of fish for his lake.”
“A small price to pay.” She closed the folder and set it on the desk with great care. “Has she seen others of our kind?”
Konner nodded, “some. Most died off when she was young,” he clenched his jaw for a moment, “saltwater.” He knew those two words would cover all the details she’d need. “They tried to breed her with males,” her eyebrows shot up, “out of the water.” Relief filled her face. “Also, there are more out there, they were working on acquiring some the last she heard.”
His Aunt pushed away from the desk. “Do we know where?”
“Not yet, the Alliance is working on finding them.” He motioned to the other desk, “journals and ledgers were found, but it’s in some sort of code.”
She nodded, looking from the folder to the books on the table. “Is that why you’re going through those?”
“No, actually.” He went back over and picked up the list. “Terah’s mother taught her to memorize her family tree.” He held it out, “she rhymes it off like a mantra when she’s frightened,” he shrugged, “if we can find the names in the records we’ll know where she’s from.”
“She sings the songs of our people. Raelyn said the babies responded to it.”
Konner held the piece of paper out to her, “I know, and that’s why I need to find out which clan she came from,” he motioned to the map on the wall, “so I can go there and test the water, plant life...”
She held up her hand to silence him, “I can’t say for most of these names, but I do recall Xavier and Willow,” she glanced at him briefly, “they’re not common names.” She motioned to the books, “you will find those in Raelyn’s family tree.”
Konner looked at the books, he hadn’t thought to start in their own clan books. “So, part of her line was from ours?”
“A long time ago, before the splits, I believe.” She stared at the floor, her expression hard, “I could be wrong, but I think Raelyn’s mother’s sister mated a Matthews.”
Konner grabbed his clan’s book and set it carefully so it wouldn’t touch the others, he flipped through the pages as fast as he could manage without causing the paper stress to find Raelyn’s family. The names were there. Beside them were notations of other clans the line came from. “Holy shit.” Hovering his hand over the volumes, until he found the one, he was looking for, he carefully shifted it free of brushing against the others and opened it. Without an ounce of respect, he reached over and plucked the note from her hand, and glanced at the names. Opening the volume, he skimmed the page, then flipped back to the next one. He wanted to shout when he found the names, Gregory, and Blythe. “She’s from two alpha lines,” he waved the piece of paper around, “that were joined to strengthen the clans.” He felt like someone had just smacked him in the head.
Turning around he looked at his aunt. “I’ll write out the details later, but not only is she Rae’s distant cousin, but she’s also from strong alpha lines.”
“I don’t think it’s her breeding that allows her to sing, Konner.”
He blinked, bringing her back into focus, “how do you mean?”
“I think it’s because she doesn’t know any better.” He frowned at her. “She didn’t know her people, or if there were others of her kind, her mother had to have taught her and it’s what allowed her to stay strong all these years. Over the years, our kind repressed our natural instincts and abilities to survive, to blend in—Terah hasn’t done that.” She pointed to the books on the table, “once you calm down, find her mother and if there’s any information about her mating or pregnancy, so we can at least tell her how old she is.” She nodded her head, and turned toward the door, “and I’ll allow the healer here because those babies are the most important thing right now.”
She walked out of the room, suddenly needing to click her cane on the ground again. Konner blew out a long breath and looked back at the books. He wanted to go check on Terah, but he admitted his aunt was right. Terah deserved to know how old she was. He sucked in a breath and wondered how emotional Rae was going to get when she found out that she had a living blood relative. He chuckled, everything, even a cup of juice made her emotional right now. He shrugged and went back over to the books.
There was something deep inside him, that he was going to have to take a serious look at soon. He felt protective of all his people, but Terah—she was different. Was it because of how she had lived, not knowing her own kind? He wasn’t sure. It could be because there was something more about her than the others he’d found over the years. She knew so much of their people, yet had never been outside a day in her life. He tapped the pen on the table and looked at the books. Not now, but soon he had to search a bit inside himself and figure out the whys.