Page 61 of The Arcane God

“There he is!” Turner greeted as they emerged. He was standing around a nearby fire next to a couple other stryx, a huge smile on his face. “I wasn’t going to rush you guys—you know, reunion and all—but fuck am I glad to wake up to your stupid face this morning.” The man immediately pulled him into a hug, which Ty relished. He’d missed his cousin too.

“How are you feeling, Ena?” Turner asked, pulling back from Ty. “I assume you tried…”

Ty had to keep himself from smiling as he peeked over at Ena. Turner likely meant the blood, but both of their minds had gone to the other new thing they had tried last night.

Ena cleared her throat, blushing. “Yes, we did, actually, and it was successful. I feel a lot better.”

“Good!” Turner exclaimed, his positivity infectious this morning. “That is such a relief. You should tell Max.”

At the sound of his name, one of the other stryx, a larger, older man about Cole and Zak’s age, turned towards him. Max extended his hand in greeting. “Nice to meet you, Ty,” he said. “We have heard much about you and are pleased that you’ve found us safely.”

“Thank you,” Ty responded, offering his hand in return. “We appreciate all your hospitality.” It seemed like the stryx had been nothing but welcoming, but he couldn’t stop his ingrained mistrust and caution. There was still so much he didn’t know about these people.

“Did I hear that you believe our theory about Ty being your bloodmatch was correct?” Max asked Ena.

“Yes,” she said. “I believe it is. I tried…his blood last night, and it definitely felt different than the animal blood.” She swallowed as she said that, because absolutely fucking yes it had felt different. It had turned her feral for him, and him for her. Honestly, he was eager to try it again.

“That’s good,” Max said. “And you explained to him the…constraints you are now under?”

Ena nodded. “Yes, he knows we will have to do it every few days, indefinitely.”

Ty really didn’t mind that part, but he could tell it still made Ena uncomfortable.

The conversation stalled then, and Ty wondered why Ena wasn’t asking about her ability to Change. It didn’t seem like her to avoid answers.

“Also,” Ty said, trying to bridge the gap for her, “we were wondering, now that her stryx heritage is confirmed, does that mean Ena might be able to Change too?”

“I suppose it’s possible,” Max said to Ena. “You are over the age of twenty-seven. But, like I’ve said before, your situation is unprecedented. The only other half witch, half stryx we know has not had their Awakening yet, so I’m not sure what you will be able to do or not. But either way, I don’t advise trying to Change until after you have given birth. It is dangerous to do so when you are with child, since the baby cannot Change with you. Stryx women never Change during pregnancy.”

“Wait,” he asked, realizing something Max had said. “There’s another person who is part stryx like Ena? Who?”

“Xena,” Max explained cautiously. “The one who found you. Did she not tell you any of this?”

“No, she barely said anything,” Ty said, frustration creeping in. Then it clicked. “Wait, do you mean to say that Xena is—”

“My daughter.”

Ty turned around to see an older woman approaching them. She had dark-blonde hair and—her eyes. Shit. It was like looking in a mirror. They were the exact same shape and shade as his own.

His stomach bottomed out, at the exact same time his stupid heart began to ache.

Because this…this was his mother.

“Hello, Ty,” she said, her voice gentle as she smiled warmly at him, her eyes filling with tears. “I am so, so happy to meet you.”

She extended her hand, offering to shake, but Ty didn’t take it.

Because, for probably the first time in his life, he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to do. Part of him wanted to leave and not deal with this, because this…this was too damn much. But another part had a million questions and wanted them all answered right fucking now. He felt frozen in place—his mind sluggish as it tried to wade through this new information.

“Xena is my half sister?” he asked, turning his attention back to Max. It was easier to look at him than at his mother.

“Yes,” Max answered simply. “She is Kaya’s and my daughter.”

Ty nodded, anger rising in him—though he wasn’t sure why. He guessed it made sense why Xena annoyed him so much, then. She was his sister.

Fucking Iblis. He’d never had a sister before. He’d never had a sibling before.

“I would love to explain this all to you, and so much more, if you are up for it,” Kaya offered, drawing his attention back to her. “I’m sure you have a million questions.”