Chapter 36

CATALINA

I hesitated to leave the room, and both Lucien and Kol noticed immediately.

“What’s wrong?” Kol asked, pulling me into his arms.

I bit my lip, deciding to just be truthful with them. “I loved Dante, or at least I did. I’m not sure how to feel now. But most of the memories I lost, he was in them.”

I looked to them both. “He’s my first mate. Literally made for me by my mother and her friend. When I found out, I lost my memories not too long after.”

“You think finding out is related to losing your memories somehow?” Lucien crowded in closer, seeming very interested in the topic. I wished Mateo was here; he was good at figuring things out.

“I think that’s the reason they were stolen.” Getting my memories back had shown me why I was in this situation to begin with. Why my father indeed wanted to kill my mother and use me. But it’s not just me he wanted. “Because of his powers.”

Now Kol was interested. “What are his powers?”

I blinked at them both. “I don’t know; I never found out.”

“How do you know it’s related to them then?” They weren’t asking in a rude way, just confused.

“A year before middle school, everything changed. We overheard a conversation between his mom and mine. We were hiding in the library, and they didn’t know.”

I showed them the memory in their minds. The whole scene played out like a movie, the last sentence my mother uttered lingering between us like a bad smell.

“~We messed up, Karen. He should not be stronger than her.~”

Kol shook his head. “Damn, and the plot thickens.”

Lucien’s face was blank as he thought. “There’s a chance he’s stronger than you? And yet we don’t know his powers.”

I nodded my head in confirmation.

“I don’t like this, pup. Are we even sure he’s on our side?”

“And if he’s not, how do we kill him?” was Kol’s next question.

~Get your asses down here now,~ Sebastian hissed in our heads.

“We should let the others know before we go down, so we’re all on the same page.” I was shocked by Lucien’s words. My lycan was ~volunteering~ to be a team player?

His eyes narrowed in on me, most likely reading my thoughts. “It’s not just you we’re protecting now.”

He looked at my stomach. With the lack of symptoms and cravings, I sometimes forgot I was pregnant—except when I was trying to use my powers.

Kol and Lucien filled the others in while I mentally prepared myself. What was I going to do if Dante wasn’t on our side? How was I supposed to act around him now, knowing everything I did? How was he going to expect me to react with him now that I knew? Jump in his arms and profess my love for him?

“Is that what you want to do?” I jumped, completely unaware that Luce had joined us in the room.

“I don’t know,” he watched me as he approached, as if trying to determine if I was lying or not. When he reached me, he held out a hand—a trait all of my mates seemed to have picked up—with the expectation that I’d come with them without question. And I did, sliding my hand in his.

He didn’t tow me along right away like I expected. Instead, he pulled me into his arms. I sighed, inhaling his scent and feeling myself relax.

“You need to relax. I can feel you stressing out all the way downstairs.”

“I’m trying, but so much keeps happening. Every time I think we have things under control, we’re hit with another shadow bomb.”

~I’ll hit you with my shadow bomb.~

“Shut up, Kol.”

“And every time we get through it, just like we’ll get through this. If he becomes a problem, I’ll be the one to take care of it.”

I nodded, snuggling into his chest a little longer. All my mates made me feel protected in their own way, but with Luce, it’s the strength he gives me.

***

We gathered downstairs once I calmed myself. Sebastian eyed me as we entered. I could tell he wanted to snatch me up and take me far away from here. Nick’s expression matched his.

I smiled at them both, showing them I could do this.

“Glad you could join us again, daughter.” My mother smiled warmly at me.

I tried not to look over at Dante, afraid of what my reaction would be. “How are you feeling?”

I smiled back politely. Yes, she’s on our side, but she’s still keeping secrets. “I’m fine.”

~Lie. She’s scared, why is she scared?~

My head snapped in Dante’s direction. Did I just hear him through the bond connection? His eyes widened. Oh my gosh, did he just hear that?

~Shit just got real,~ Kol muttered. He was right about that. But it made sense, considering we did complete the bond a long time ago.

But why couldn’t I hear him before?

“Perhaps we should start some planning.” My mother continued, oblivious to the mental conversation going on.

~He can hear us now, everyone tread carefully,~ Lucifer warned, no doubt blocking out Dante so he couldn’t hear. ~Until we know if we can trust him or not.~

The rest of us took a seat, filling up the table. My stomach growled the second I sat down, and I blushed.

“First you’ll supply my mate with dinner,” Kol demanded, not bothering to ask politely.

My mother didn’t take offense, ringing the bell next to her for assistance.

“First and foremost, you may all address me as Nyx.” Nyx—that’s different.

Dante snorted, but I didn’t look in his direction. Mateo introduced everyone by name. I frowned. Had I really forgotten to introduce my mates?

“Now that you know the truth, Catalina, it’ll be easier for you to trust I have your best interest at heart.”

Finally, I looked at Dante. I may know some truth, but not all of it. He subtly shook his head.

“What are his powers?” Kol cut in, pointing a lollipop in Dante’s direction. When did he get that? And why the hell didn’t he share?

Reading my thoughts, he faced me, smirking, holding out the lollipop.

“It’s all yours, kitten.” I rolled my eyes.

“I’m afraid I cannot reveal his powers just yet.”

“Then I’m afraid we can’t help you,” Luce stated.

Nyx looked to me for help, but I just shrugged. My mates were right. If she couldn’t be honest and upfront with us now, then there’s no reason for us to help.

Looking around the table, I could tell she was debating how much to tell us. But in the end, it wasn’t her that answered. It was Dante.

“God-killer.”

Lucien chuckled nearby. “I’ve heard that before.”

The conversation came to a pause as food was brought in. My mouth watered at the sight. A heaping plate of macaroni and pork chops was placed in front of me.

I picked up my fork, ready to dive in, only for my plate to disappear.

“Hey!” I snapped at Luce, but he ignored me, sampling everything on my plate before handing it back.

Then it clicked for me. He was checking for poison. Man, I loved my guys.

Once the staff cleared out, Dante continued. I tried to focus on his words over my loud chewing. “If I kill a god, their powers become mine,” he explained, flexing his fingers.

~No wonder they believe he’s stronger than you,~ Mateo pointed out. ~While you have the power of three gods, he could have more.~

~Shit,~ Nick sighed.

Shit was right. Because if he wasn’t on our side, we were fucked.