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The first matter of business was making sure Celeste was secure on my private island. Once that was done, Val would conduct a lineage test on her. I didn’t know much about how a witch performed one, but I would get Celeste everything she needed, no matter the cost. We needed to understand Celeste’s bloodline, and Grant Oakley had only found dead end after dead end while researching her past through human records.
Celeste was also a shifter—a half-shifter, more accurately—which really put a wrench in the works. We still had to track down her Aunt Esme as well. I’d promised my fated mate I’d help find her, but I was starting to grow deeply suspicious of this person. The moment Celeste found out about the paranormal world, Esme seemed to disappear from the face of the earth, and the timing was, at the very least, a little odd.
Once Celeste’s needs were seen to, I’d also need to check on my brother. I hadn’t forgotten what Celeste had shared with me from Sabine’s mind after she’d broken contact with the psychic witch. And I hadn’t forgotten what Sabine had screamed at my brother, either.
You have no idea how long I’ve waited to do this, Lyka. After you stole my sister from me—
I frowned and pursed my lips.Who is Sabine’s sister?I’d had no idea she’d even had one, much less that this sister and Lyka had apparently known one another. Lyka had lost his mind in bursts. If he was mad enough to tear his own mate to ribbons, it was no surprise that he’d killed a witch or two in one of his fits.
But why wouldn’t he have told me what he’d done? Even if it was a mistake, I would’ve helped him.
I grimaced.Shame. Shame surely would’ve stopped him from telling me.
But I still didn’t know who he’d actually killed. After all, it was Sabine we were talking about, and she wasn’t exactly known for her honesty.
More alarming was the other voice Celeste had heard. Even if my fated mate couldn’t place it, I knew it had to be the Solar Sovereign, finally ready to unmask themselves. They were after Lyka, too. Perhaps they didn’t realize he wasn’t the Lunar Lord anymore, but…
I have to ask Lyka himself and hope he’s sane enough to answer. Maybe he even saw the last Solar Sovereign during his reign.The idea wasn’t implausible.
I sighed and rubbed my face.There will be quite a bit to do.I’d take this moment of rest while I could.
No sooner did we arrive at Isla Lobo than we were greeted by Abigail. There was a blur of squeals and excited chatter as she practically swept Celeste off her feet. I took a step to the side, watching with mild disbelief as the pair of women talked. I saw some of my associates every other century, and I didn’t think I ever had this much to say to them. Frankly, the women were talking so fast, I was impressed they could understand each other.
Piers and Gilbert joined soon after, meeting us on the walk up from the dock to my home. “It’s good to see you well,” Gilbert said to me, dipping his head.
Piers cracked a broad smile. “Yes! So glad you decided cliff-jumping was not the hobby for you.” His brother pinched his side. “Ow! Gilbert, please.”
Gilbert gave his twin a deadpan stare. “Do excuse my brother,” he said, turning his hazel eyes to me. “What he meant to say is, we regret to inform you that despite searching several locations in Siberia, we were not able to turn up anything of value. One lead was a young vampire, using the name for clout—”
“Who we dispatched,” Piers interjected, looking quite pleased with himself.
“—and the other was, well, nothing at all. Dead space. Snow.” Gilbert sighed and shook his head. “I am sorry, Fenris.”
I sighed. I hadn’t expected them to find much in that part of the world, but I couldn’t help my disappointment. I was certain the Solar Sovereign was active, and as long as they remained hidden from me, they had the upper claw.
“If the Sovereign is being hidden away, it’d be with sympathizers,” I said. “Or those who feel they have something to gain if the Lunar Lord toppled.” I wrinkled my nose. “Perhaps the Netherlands should be your next stop. Or Romania.”
Piers gave an exaggerated sigh. “But we only just got back!” he complained. “Globe-trotting is fun if we actually get to spend some time in any given place. You know, experience the culture, meet the locals, have valuable life experiences! This is much too rushed.”
This time, Gilbert did roll his eyes. “Well, Piers, you are technically dead,” he reminded his brother. “And if you are so unhappy searching for clues regarding the Solar Sovereign, perhaps Fenris will make you go look for Sabine instead.” He narrowed his eyes. “I know how much you loved that last time.”
Piers paused, almost stumbling on a step as he ran his tongue over his teeth. I sensed his brief flash of nerves and withheld a smile. “I do love Romania this time of year,” he purred as if it’d been his idea all along. “Perhaps we will see some old friends! Any vampire worth his fangs would call Romania his second home.”
I shook my head, holding the door open for Celeste as we stepped inside my mansion.
“Hey, where’s Cody?” she asked, glancing around the entryway.
Abigail paused, dropping the happy expression on her face. “He went home to California,” she reported, glancing around the place. “It was pretty lonely here all by myself, but he wanted to make sure everything was on the up and up with his pack. And I can’t blame him after everything!”
I saw Gilbert roll his eyes at the mention of the happy-go-lucky shifter and pocketed that information for later.
“But!” Abi said, gesturing to our group. “Now you’re all here! Hell, we have enough people to play a game of beach volleyball! What do you think, Celeste—you, me, and the vampires versus Fenris, Walter, and Val? That’d be a fair match, right?”
Celeste laughed. “The day I see Fenris play beach volleyball is the day the stars fall straight out of the sky,” she retorted. She paused, glancing at me. “Abi and I are going to go upstairs to catch up, as long as you’re feeling alright?”
She didn’t say it, but I knew if I so much as hinted at the curse bothering me, she’d stay right by my side. “I’m fine,” I said, nodding to the pair of women. “I was thinking, though, it may be prudent to have Val test your blood again.” I paused. “I promise it won’t be like last time.”
That moment—that reaction—hadn’t been my finest hour.
