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“Cedric overheard Tatiana and me a few years before Azalea was conceived. Tatiana struggled to conceive, and they believed it was due to our bond. She agreed to the marriage, but she refused to let him mark her until Garret left her with no choice: either kill me and claim her by force or allow him to mark her while I remained as her personal guard,” Trey clarifies.

“There shouldn’t have been a bond once she was married and marked,” I interject, to which Trey sighs.

“Wrong. Azure and Landeena are blessed by the moon. They can still recognize their mates even after being marked by another. She never stopped loving me, and I never stopped loving her. They could choose to reject their mates, but Tatiana couldn’t go through with it. We believed rejecting me would sever the bond on her end, not mine, and possibly kill me,” Trey explains.

“But Garret killed his human mate for her?” I state, seeking confirmation. Trey nods, but Ester interrupts.

“No, he didn’t,” Ester interjects softly.

“You are not his mate,” Trey growls at her.

“I’m well aware of that. But she didn’t die. Garret turned her,” Ester retorts.

“No. Tatiana would have known,” Trey insists, his gaze fixed on his sister as they exchange heated words.

“She knew. She found out before she died. She was furious that Garret wouldn’t allow her to be with you while he had his own mate,” Ester reveals, causing Damian to rise from his seat. He retrieves a chair from beside the bookcase and positions it next to the desk, taking a seat.

“Garret killed his mate. That’s what ignited the war among the hunters,” Damian declares, but Ester shakes her head. Damian and I exchange a glance, both intrigued by hercontradiction. Trey stares at his sister as if he no longer recognizes her.

Chapter

Two

KYSON

I am taken aback, unsure if I truly recognize the strangers sitting across from me. “Wait a minute. First, explain this sire bond of yours. Then we can address Ester,” I say, feeling myself lose track of the unfolding situation.

“When Garret discovered my existence, he wanted me dead. Tatiana used his infidelity against him, leveraging the threat of divorce and returning to Azure, even though it was just a bluff. Azure had already fallen, and there was no one left there. But she would have walked away, knowing that she held control over the council, which meant she now held control over Garret as well. He wanted to overthrow all the Kingdoms and needed an heir. So they compromised. Tatiana would carry his child and turn a blind eye to his infidelity,” Trey explains, his voice filled with a mix of bitterness and resignation.

“And what about her infidelity? Did he turn a blind eye to Tatiana’s actions?” I inquire, attempting to unravel the complexities of their relationship. Trey shakes his head.

“No, he did not allow us to be together. Not once Azalea came into the picture, Garret became paranoid that I would harm hisonly heir. So he sired me to Azalea, as a means of ensuring her safety. Not that I would ever harm her intentionally. She was Tatiana’s daughter, and I would never do anything to hurt her, knowing it would devastate my mate. I loved Azalea as if she were my own child. For nearly four years, I watched her grow and cared for her deeply,” Trey answers with genuine emotion in his voice.

“And then what happened?” I press further, noticing Trey’s discomfort as he leans back in his chair and looks away. His arms fold protectively across his chest.

“You don’t want me to answer that, my King,” Trey replies, and a growl escapes my lips.

“But you will answer. I am in no mood for games, Trey. So answer truthfully. I need to determine whether you pose a risk to my mate, despite the sire bond,” I snarl at him.

“Tatiana was off-limits,” Trey responds, and I glance at Ester, who displays equal curiosity.

“But Garret allowed you to remain after discovering the affair? Even after Azalea was born?” Damian chimes in, his confusion mirroring my own.

“Part of the sire agreement that Garret made was that Azalea would be promised to me once she came of age,” Trey explains, causing my inner beast to stir at his words. The desk suddenly soars towards the ceiling, narrowly missing Trey as he moves aside just in time. Damian swiftly pulls Ester away from the chaos as the room descends into disarray. Within seconds, my hands are wrapped around Trey’s throat, his defiant glare meeting mine. My Lycan side surges forward as I shift, claws slicing through his skin while I tighten my grip.

“I warned you that you didn’t want to know!” Trey snarls. “That’s why Garret cheated in the games! He needed his daughter’s hand back!” he reveals through clenched teeth, his anger matching mine as he remains steadfast and unyieldingeven in the face of imminent danger. Peter whimpers from the corner of the room, hiding behind Clarice, who has risen to her feet.

“Kyson, release him,” Damian’s whispered plea reaches my ears, but my Lycan side can’t see reason past Trey trying to take my mate away from me. That was all my mind could register. Azalea is mine, and I won’t allow anyone else to have her.

“Kyson, think clearly. We need answers that only he possesses,” Damian reasons, his grip tightening on my shoulder. A shudder courses through me, but I reluctantly let Trey go with a growl, shoving Damian away. Ester and Clarice quickly attended to the scattered papers while Trey rights the desk. I struggle to regain control of my shifted form, and Damian hands me a bottle of whiskey, which I snatch from him and gulp down, attempting to suppress the raging anger that threatens to consume me.

“I will fetch more coffee,” Clarice offers, sensing the tension in the room.

“And I will get a mop,” Ester adds, prompting another growl from me.

“Peter stays! I want to ensure your return. If you attempt to flee, I will have Liam track you down and force you to watch as I kill your son!” I snarl at Ester, my gaze piercing her in place. Her eyes dart towards Peter, who is about to follow her. She points him back towards the chaise, and though he glances at me with fear-filled eyes, he obediently returns to his seat.

“I will wait with him until you return,” Clarice assures Ester, who hurries off. Gannon arrives shortly after, with clothes in hand that Damian must have summoned him to bring.