Page 46

“I think what my daughter is trying to say, is she didn’t mean to turn this into a sex show,” Darius said.

“Dad!”

“And perhaps she didn’t realize the effect that sex show would have on her husband.”

“Oh God,” she muttered.

Caleb glanced across the table.

Kael’s hands gripped the arms of his chair as though to keep himself in it. “Get away from her,” he growled.

Raven stood up. Caleb wondered whether he needed to do something to protect her. Did she need protecting? He made to stand, but Regan put a hand on his arm.

“If I was you, I’d stay where you are and get that look off your face before Kael turns into something really big and nasty and eats you.”

He looked at her. Her eyes were narrowed on him.

“Sorry,” he said, though he had no clue why he was apologizing to Regan. “I wasn’t expecting it. He”—he nodded toward Darius— “said it had nothing to do with sex.”

“Actually,” Darius replied, “I said it didn’t have to be sexual, not that it never was.” He grinned. “I wouldn’t have made it sexual—you’re not my type, but Raven doesn’t have that good a control over her hunger yet.”

Raven kissed the top of her husband’s head, and then glanced across at Caleb. “Sorry,” she said. “I never meant for that to happen, but you smell of Kael, and it took me by surprise. You taste of him as well, of magic. You have shapeshifter blood.” She paused and smiled. “I guess this makes us family.”

Caleb closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, Regan was still watching him. “You were hoping we were wrong, weren’t you?” she said. “That you were human, after all.”

Caleb didn’t answer. The truth was, he didn’t know what he was thinking, or what this meant, whether it changed anything. He looked across the table, and his gaze locked with Kael’s. From when he was a young child, he’d fantasized about finding his mother’s family. This man, now staring at him with something close to hatred burning in his eyes, was all that remained. But then, how could he do anything but hate Caleb as the ultimate cause of his sister’s death. How had she ended up with Ethan? Caleb searched his brain for explanations, and the answers slowly formulated.

“My father always wanted a son,” he said. “It was an obsession with him.”

“And?” Kael prompted.

“If someone wanted to buy his loyalty, and they’d known anything of him, then that person would have realized it. My guess is that he was given Kyla in exchange for his support.”

“Which means,” Regan said, “that whoever he’s working with now had something to do with Kyla’s abduction.” She turned to Kael. “Do you know who took Kyla?”

“Sorien. But he’s dead. Your sister killed him. But Kyla could have been passed on to anyone. We found no trace of her when we rescued her sister, so perhaps she was kept on another world.”

“Another world?” Caleb asked.

“There are other worlds parallel with our own. Most are closed off but there are always some gaps where things slip through. Also, the witches can open portals between them. Probably what they want Regan for.”

“Which brings us back to who wants Regan.”

“Have you found any trace of Ethan Stone?” Regan asked.

“None. He’s vanished.”

“Damn.”

Caleb sighed. He wanted to be alone to think this through. He also wanted to try to contact his father, question him about Kyla. He pushed his chair back and stood up. “I’m out of here.” He turned to Regan. “Are you coming?”

“No.” But she rose to her feet. “I’ll see you out, then I need to talk to Catrin.”

“Caleb.” Kael’s voice stopped him at the door. He turned.

Kael’s eyes were cold. “The wolves will pay for what happened to Kyla.”

His jaw clenched and his hands fisted at his sides. He stared into the other man’s icy-blue eyes. “My father is responsible. Do what you like to him—it’s more than time he paid. But none of the others. Keep off them.”