Chapter 35

CATALINA

My men tensed around me.

“What do you mean?” Lucien asked, trying to stay calm, but we all heard the low growl in his words.

“No child of mine will be used as a weapon in your dick-measuring war,” Kol spat, venom lacing every word.

I tried not to blush at his words. Saying “dick” in front of my mother was awkward, especially considering I’d had a roll in the hay with most of the men in this room.

My eyes drifted over to Dante again, only to find him already watching me. Was my mother telling the truth? Had I forgotten him? One of my mates?

I felt absolutely no type of connection toward him. Not like when I first met the others.

“I assure you that is not my intention. I’m only stating that the child will be one of the strongest demi-god hybrids born.” She looked over my group of men, studying them. Her eyes stopped on Nick. “May I ask who the fathers are?”

This question set Kol off even more.

“No, the hell you may not.”

My mother smiled, not at all bothered like most would be. “Fair enough.”

Luce finally joined our group, maneuvering until he reached me. He pulled me out of my chair and onto his lap. Dante arched a brow at the move.

I reached out to them through the mind-link. ~Do you guys believe her?~

~She seems more believable than the other gods. But all of them could be lying. We’ll tread carefully from here on out,~ Luce said, and the rest of my mates agreed.

~We’ll do what’s best for Catalina and the baby for now. If siding with her will help turn the tides of this war, then so be it,~ Sebastian chimed in.

~She says she can kill the gods. I believe that part. If the big three are scared of her, then it’s best to have her as an ally rather than an enemy,~ I was surprised Mateo had an input. He’s not usually the war-planning type.

Kol, Lucien, and Nick didn’t add anything, letting the others take charge.

I hesitated telling them the next part. ~She says Dante is my first mate.~

It was silent for a moment, then Nick spoke. ~She’s not lying about that. We felt it the moment we arrived.~

They could feel my shock through the bond. ~Really? I feel nothing.~ She was telling the truth. Dante was my first mate, and I forgot him. I should feel sad, but how could I?

“Would you guys like to join back in the conversation?” my mother said, a smirk on her face.

Normally I would blush at a comment like that, but my body could tell this conversation was serious.

“What is your plan then?” Luce took the lead of the conversation again.

Dante finally took his seat again once he realized there would be no fighting. I could see the disappointment on his face.

“The plan is to kill everyone,” he stated.

Kol grinned in his direction, very on board with the plan. “What about the other gods?”

Now Dante grinned. “I took care of them.”

My eyes widened. “You took care of them?”

He nodded, eyes bright with viciousness, reminding me so much of Kol. “While you guys were in hiding, they came to the school you were attending. I showed up at the same time looking for you, took care of the problem,” he finished, cracking his knuckles.

“And how exactly did you ~take care~ of the problem?” Mateo asked.

Dante shrugged. “Honestly, the gods are weak compared to Catalina and me.” He eyed Kol when saying his next words. “Like taking candy from a baby.”

I felt the shift in Kol immediately, taking his words as a direct threat. I slapped my hand around his wrist before he could move. My eyes narrowed on Dante. “Do not antagonize my men,” I warned him. First mate or not, my current mates came first.

“That’s enough, Dante.” My mother leaned forward, rubbing her forehead. Dealing with him must be a full-time job. After taking a few seconds to herself, she looked at me. “I can give you your memories back. Whatever they have in place to block them is no match for my magic.”

I hesitated at her offer. On one hand, I didn’t really trust her; on the other hand, it would be nice to have my memories back. Not because I needed them, but because I’d always felt like a part of my life was missing. It’d be nice to feel whole again.

“~If you want to go through with this, I’ll be sure to monitor her,~” Nick said. He’s the only one of my mates whose powers could examine me and ensure hers didn’t try to stop my heart or something. The thought brought me comfort and the courage to go through with it.

Nodding my head, I focused back on my mother. “I’ll do it.”

Dante stiffened next to her at my words. Did he not want me to remember him? Was I missing something here?

“Very well.” She stood, making her way to me, but my mates tensed around me at the motion. She paused. “I’ll need skin contact to do it,” she explained to my very twitchy mates.

I waved them off. “They’ll behave as long as you don’t give them a reason not to.”

Luce’s arms tightened around me. Gently, my mother placed a hand on the back of mine. There was a flare of heat, then everything went black.

I watched as memories of my younger self flashed before me. My first time riding a bike, my first teddy bear I couldn’t live without, and even my first kiss.

~I stood under the tree, trying to keep myself dry from the rain. I was on my way home when it decided to pour down. “There you are!” a voice called out.~

~I looked over, my heart freezing in my chest at the boy running toward me. Dante, my neighbor and my crush. He slid to a stop in front of me, shaking out his mop of black hair. I squealed as water hit me. He gave me a cheeky grin. “Sorry.”~

~I blushed scarlet. “It’s okay.”~

~“I was trying to find you before you left school. Your mom asked my mom to take you home with us.” It wasn’t unusual for me to hitch a ride with them sometimes. We were neighbors, after all. But today I felt like basking in the sun until it disappeared under dark clouds.~

~“Sorry, I had the bright idea to walk home today,” I said, smiling. He froze, staring at me like he was seeing me for the first time. Or maybe he just wasn’t used to seeing me looking like a drowned rat.~

~A smile suddenly broke across his face. “You’re beautiful.”~

My face flamed at his words. I ducked my head in embarrassment. Why did he have to go and say that?

“Catty?”~

~When I looked back at him, our lips touched. I hadn’t realized he had moved closer to me. We both froze, our lips pressed together in shock.~

I stumbled back in shock. He chuckled. “Our lips touched for more than ten seconds. That makes you my first kiss.”~

He smiled, winking at me.~

~I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”~

~His eyebrow arched. “Kissed many boys have you, Catty?”~

~My blush came back full force. “No!”~

~He laughed. “I’m teasing you.”~

He threw a cocky look my way. “I know I was your first.”~

His eyes sparkled when he looked at me. “And I’m hoping to be your last.”~

I woke up once again in an unfamiliar room. Only this time, I could feel that my mates were close. And by that, I mean someone was pressed against my front and my back.

“I thought you guys loved me most when I was breathing?” I wheezed out.

“I love you most when you’re silent,” Lucien mumbled sleepily.

I glared at him. “Why are you sleeping? Where is everyone else?”

“He’s supposed to be on guard duty, not sleeping.” I heard Sebastian, but I didn’t see him. The only thing I saw was Lucien’s chest, which I had my face smashed against.

“What better way to guard her than up close and personal?” he shot back.

“Good point.” The body behind me spoke. Was Kol on guard duty too?

“No, I wasn’t. You looked so cute sleeping that I decided to join,” he said, reading my thoughts.

“Enough, all of you downstairs in five minutes. We need to confirm if Catalina has her memories back or not.” The door slammed once he was done.

“Your vamp really needs to get that stick out of his ass,” Lucien and I laughed.

But deep down, I was nervous. My memories had come back, and now I was afraid to face Dante—my first love, my first everything. He was the one my fathers warned me about. The son of a Titan, made just like me.