Chapter Forty-Six

Once we’ve cleared the plates from the island counter, Adrian serves us some beverages to sip on while we sit on the couch beside the fireplace so we can chat more comfortably. The fire crackles comfortingly in the hearth, the only source of light now that the sun has gone down. I offer to turn some lights on, but Serene insists that the ambiance is better with them off. I have to agree, since the hearth casts a warm, orange glow into the living room, making the shadows dance as if they’d come alive. Serene doesn’t mention the sheer size of the luxury townhouse, though I notice her gaze continuously wanders as we chat.

Adrian finally joins us after cleaning the dishes for us, taking a seat on the cushion closest to me. He makes no attempt to hide his affection, wrapping an arm around my shoulder along the back of the couch. “So,” He says, schooling his expression into something more serious than it was at dinner. “What can you tell Lydia about her lineage?”

I cozy up on the couch beside him, relishing the warmth his body provides. Even with a shirt covering his chest, the heat still radiates against me. My smile fades at the topic of conversation, almost willing to forget why Serene came over. Maybe sometime soon she can be a guest with no strings attached when I don’t need to pry information out of her. Serene presses her lips together as she thinks about where to start, apparently having more knowledge on the topic than I’d originally thought. I wonder if she knows any methods of curing Werewolves of the Madness. I make a mental note to ask her about it in a little while.

Serene pushes her dark hair behind an ear as she brings the leatherbound tome from the arm of the couch and pulls it onto her lap, flipping open the pages. “Well, I don’t personally know a lot about your father, though my uncle was in the ‘Club’ with him,” She says, raising her fingers to make air quotes. She must be referring to what De Leon mentioned last night about the group of Sorcerers back in the day what they all attended the academy. “So I can tell you what I do know already and then ask him about the rest.”

Adrian and I share a glance as we nod, giving her permission to continue. “What’s that book for?” I ask, unable to help my curiosity. It seems old and has a certain scent to the pages as she rifles through them, filling my nostrils with a sweet smell. It’s almost similar to the way The Dean’s study smelled, just lingering on the paper and leather.

Serene smiles and holds the book out for me to see what’s written on the pages. “It’s my Grimoire,” She explains, seeing my confusion on the foreign term. “It’s what Sorcerers use to document spells and other information pertaining to magic.”

Adrian snorts as if he has dust in his nose. “Yeah, and it stinks. Let’s get this over with quickly, please.”

Serene rolls her eyes and pulls the book back to her lap, getting it out of Adrian’s reach. “Fine. You Wolves and your sensitive noses. Where should we start Lydie?”

I swallow a mouthful of my tea, wincing as it burns my throat slightly. Adrian sighs and confiscates it, holding it in the hand farthest from me until it’s cool enough to drink. I shoot him a dirty pout before continuing, not knowing what to do with my hands now. “Well, I guess let’s start with my dad like you mentioned. What do you know about him? My mother was a human, I know that much.”

Serene works her jaw, shooting Adrian a discrete look that I can’t decipher. Before I have the chance to ask, though, she opens her mouth to continue. “So your father was obviously powerful to have been included in The Brotherhood. The last remaining members are my uncle, Martin, and Aurelius, the Dean.”

My jaw falls open at the news. “That’s the first I heard of that. What happened to the others?”

Serene chews the inside of her lip thoughtfully, her eyes glimmering in the firelight. She certainly does seem like a witch to me, but not the kind that lures little kids into her gingerbread house. She reminds me more of a cunning little faerie witch that lives in the woods by herself, collecting mushrooms and fresh herbs for her potions. “They were murdered. Certain people don’t like knowing that there are people strong enough to congregate the Covens, Pack, and Clans together without it turning into a bloodbath. There are some people who want us to stay divided; it’s easier to take them down one by one than if they’re all banded together.”

My frown deepens. “Someone like who?”

Adrian’s growl is nearly inaudible, but I feel it rumble in his chest against my shoulder. “We’ve been trying to track them down for ages. There are three of them; the strongest bred of their kind. We don’t know what they look like or what they are exactly, but they seem to be hybrids of some sort. A cross between Werewolf and Vampire.”

I stare at him in awe. “Hybrids? Those aren’t just a myth?”

Adrian clenches his jaw, brushing his fingers against the fabric of my sweatshirt. “No, though they’re nearly impossible to create. Like Aurelius mentioned, we are free to marry and breed interracially with one another, though those offspring typically have dormant powers that are never awoken. The only way to create a hybrid is through magic. Even then, most of the attempts fail; the risks are too great.”

Serene nods solemnly, agreeing with the facts. “That’s why there are only those big three. Any Hybrids that are discovered are taken care of by the Academy. We can’t risk adding on to their powers.”

The realization of her words settled in the pit of my stomach like weight. “So, they’re killed?”

“Yes,” Adrian answers, his voice a low rumble, like distant thunder. His face is downcast in the dancing shadows, making his eyes glint in the flames. “Each of the clans is sworn to eradicate any Hybrid they come across. We’re trained to kill them in the specific way that keeps them dead.”

I swallow, feeling the weighted burden of his words. I wonder how young he was when his father made him learn the method of killing. I also wonder if he’s ever had to use it. It’s safe to assume that these Hybrids don’t die easily, which makes them seem even more powerful. Who would have guessed that there was something more dangerous than Adrian or Vincent out there this whole time, and I never even knew it? “That must be why my father hid this word from me,” I murmur, suddenly understanding. “He has been in hiding for over twenty years, which is probably why he’s still alive.”

Serene nods soberly. “Yes, that’s likely why. If the Big Three found out that Martin has a daughter, they would definitely try to hunt you down to use against him.”

My father really was just protecting me after all. The weight of guilt wraps itself around the organs in my gut, making me feel sick. I guess I should have heard him out and waited for when he had the time to explain instead of assuming the worst. He isn’t a coward after all; which makes me wonder why De Leon said that about my dad. Do they have a troubled relationship? My dad did say that we was going to call and have a talk with De Leon after we hung up. “So that’s why I’ve always had bodyguards growing up?” I muse. “None of them were even human, were they?” It’s hardly a question now, as the answer settles over me like a blanket.

Adrian presses his lips into a thin line, pulling me closer to him. “Proabably not. That’s why your father thought nothing of having me watch over you while you attend school here. None of us would have guessed that you would be the Mate of a Werewolf.”

“He shouldn’t be mad then,” I say, voice sounding small as I flex my fingers. “It isn’t your fault either. You were just doing your job when you found out, and you even tried to hide it from me. We tried to fight it but that clearly didn’t work, so he should be grateful if anything. Having a Werewolf, the son of the Alpha, even, as my Mate should make him happy. I’ll always have a bodyguard now.”

Adrian’s smile is small, as though he’s proud to hear my conclusion. “If it were only that simple, Bunny. Your Bloodline is very potent and Sorecerers within that line are typically very powerful. Almost strong enough to win against a one-on-one with a Hybrid.”

I frow deeply, confused by his words. “But I’m not a pureblood. My mom was a human, wasn’t she? I saw her die in that car crash.”

Adrian sighs and hands me back my cup of tea, cool enough to drink now. I take it, but my hands feel too numb to register the weight of the mug. “Your mother wasn’t a human. She was a Sorceress, too.”