Page 19

Chapter Seventeen

W hen the warding was complete, they gathered in the dining room. Regan sat on Marric’s lap. A fact that Iven had noticed. Iven smiled at Regan, even though his presence created some tension.

And Regan, not being shy, trusted anyone who Marric approved of, so he smiled back. “I’m Regan. Papa says you’re his mate.”

“That’s right. My name is Iven.”

“Are you going to be my dad?” Regan averted his gaze.

“Wow, that’s straight to the point.” Griffin chuckled and ruffled Regan’s hair, which irritated him.

Marric hadn’t seen Regan as anything less than happy and sunny from the moment he recovered physically from his traumatic past. Regan was just happy to be out of a prison cell. While that was sad in a lot of ways, he’d always been easy to be around.

Regan moved away from Griffin’s touch. “I don’t like that.”

Griffin nodded. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

Regan focused on Iven. “You’re a warlock.”

“That’s right.”

Marric was just a little relieved at the quick subject change.

“Papa has magic.”

“He’s very special.” Iven smiled at Marric.

One smile later and Marric realized something about himself. He didn’t like disappointing Iven. That Iven had been upset and possibly still was, despite his smile, made Marric’s chest ache.

Regan hung his head. “You won’t like my magic.”

Iven reached for Regan’s hand and held it. “I like all magic.”

Regan met Iven’s gaze again, but Marric could feel his little body tensing.

Iven smiled and leaned in. “You’re special, just like your papa.”

“I am?”

“Yep. And I like that you and your papa found each other.” Iven met his gaze. “That makes both of you even more special.”

Regan finally relaxed. “Can I stay? Please, papa.”

Marric nodded.

Emery came in. She had a fresh pair of pajamas and looked a little less flushed. She sat next to Dad and snuggled into his side. Dad lifted her onto his lap. He hadn’t done that since she was really young.

Marric smiled at Emery and then at Dad. As much grief as he gave his dad for the stupid dynasty thing, their dad was a good father. A great one, if he were being honest.

Regan, coming into their lives, had given them a cohesive purpose. Iven was right. Regan was special, which meant he needed their protection.

The curse gave them clarity. The threat of death hung over them and with it was an acute sense of what they stood to lose. It made their differences less important.

Kinnison returned the smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Maybe he mourned the loss of his hope for an heir, but he held that future in his arms. Emery was just as much a viable option to take over as Marric. Probably better, truth be told. Kinnison needed to give up on the idea.

Kinnison sighed and nodded as if to say he understood. “Let’s get this done, Sheriff.”

Iven stood behind Marric’s chair. His hand was on his shoulder. “Right. So, the wards were necessary, especially those we placed inside the house, because in finding out more about the curse, we’ve learned that it needs to be maintained.”

“What do you mean by that?” Dad asked.

“It means the curse will die out over time all on its own.”

Riley’s eyes got round, and he slid closer to Griffin when Kinnison growled.

Kinnison’s eyes shifted into his wolves. “But it’s not dying out. It’s been getting worse. Until your ex-wife gave us those herbs.”

Iven nodded. “Someone is feeding it.”

Kinnison grew claws. He had a lot of power during normal times, but when he was angry, it moved around the room like a living, breathing entity.

Regan buried his face against Marric’s chest. His body shook.

Marric wrapped his arms around Regan. “Grandpa won’t hurt you. He’s just upset.”

“She made me.” Regan’s whisper might as well have been a shout.

Iven was the first to come to some sort of understanding and reacted before anyone else could. He conjured a dome, surrounding Regan and Marric.

Marric swallowed the lump in his throat. His instinct was to protect Regan, even against his father. It didn’t matter that he knew Dad wouldn’t hurt Regan, even as pissed as he was.

Iven didn’t know that about Kinnison, so he took it upon himself to protect him against the threat. That’s why he conjured the dome and why he stayed outside of it.

Marric could see out, but Dad couldn’t see or get to them.

Iven must have been able to see them because he met Marric’s gaze. “Get him to explain.”

Marric rubbed Regan’s back. “You’re safe. Grandpa would never hurt you. No matter what you’ve done.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“No, sweetie. I’m just very confused, but you can help me. What did someone make you do?”

“I had to keep putting my magic in the circle.”

“What circle?”

“The one on your back and Emery’s neck.”

Dad moved Emery’s hair aside. He cursed a second later.

“Who made you do that to us?”

“Miss Marie said they’d lock me away again if I didn’t.”

The second Miss Marie’s name was out of his mouth, Dad went crazy. He had enough forethought to set Emery down on the seat before he began pacing. He growled about not being able to trust anyone, not even their healer.

“Well, let’s start there.” Marric tried to stay calm, but his hands shook. He hoped Regan didn’t feel it. “When did people lock you in a room?”

Regan shrugged. “Miss Esmelyn said dark magic was bad.”

Iven met Marric’s gaze. “Some witches show their magical abilities as early as three years old.”

“Who let you out of the room?”

Regan tightened his hold on Marric and buried his face against Marric’s chest again. “I don’t want to go back in there.”

Marric growled. His eyes shifted into his wolf at the thought of someone hurting Regan. “I will never let that happen to you again.”

“Do you promise?”

“Yes. And so does Iven.”

“Count Riley and I in on that,” Griffin said.

Iven nodded as if to say he would honor the promise Marric made on his behalf.

“We’re your family and family doesn’t let other people hurt us.”

Regan hung his head. “And we don’t hurt each other.”

“That’s right.” Marric tilted Regan’s chin up, so their eyes met. “Who let you out of the room, sweetie?”

“Miss Esmelyn, Miss Marie, and some mean man who hit me.” The last statement explained the blood and bruises on Regan when they had found him.

“Esmelyn Blackroot.” His dad seemed a little less pissed, even though his power still gripped everyone in the room. He spoke to Iven more than everyone else. “She’s the right hand to the coven leader. Marie is our healer. Former, soon to be dead, healer.”

Iven nodded, but didn’t speak.

“Do you know the mean man’s name? Or even what they looked like?”

Regan shook his head. “He smelled like grandpa, but he was really mean. He hit me.”

Iven glanced at Riley. “You got control. Don’t let anyone but me inside this room.”

Riley nodded.

The dome came down.

Iven closed the distance between them. He held Marric by his nape. “I’ll have the wolf’s name by the end of the day.”

“What are you going to do?”

“We can’t trust the Timeston’s sheriff. He’s a coven member. But I know someone in the district. I can trust him. I’ll have a warrant for the property by the end of the day.” Iven left the room.

Marric met his father’s gaze. “Marie must be checking up on Regan. She’s been making sure he follows through with the upkeep of the curse.”

Dad nodded. “Not anymore.”

“Our wards won’t let her inside the house,” Griffin said. He nodded to Regan. “The wards will only keep out those who mean you harm in their heart.”

That was why Regan could be around them. Regan’s heart was pure, which meant someone really forced him. Not that Marric doubted Regan. But it was good to have confirmation.

Marric met his dad’s gaze. “We can’t trust anyone, except for the people in this room.”

“I know.” The illness had already isolated them. The more they stayed to themselves, the more the person or persons who created the curse could use others against them. They could get into the heart of Timeston’s pack and create even more of a rift, but maybe it was too late for that.

Dad turned to Riley. “You’re mated to a Fortune Falls pack member, right? Their scent is all over you.”

Riley nodded. “Cassius Huber is my mate.”

“Will you do us another favor and set up a meeting?” Kinnison softened his voice with Riley, sensing fear and not wanting to make it worse.

“Sure.” Riley pulled out his phone and typed furiously into it.

Dad met Regan’s gaze next. “I’m sorry I scared you, Regan.”

Regan waited until then to cry. It was as if his biggest fear wasn’t that his grandpa would hurt him. It was that he would stop loving him.

Marric lifted Regan into his arms and closed the distance. Sitting beside Kinnison and Emery.

Regan leaned against his grandpa.

Emery was the one who comforted him. Grandpa might have a deep growl and bitey teeth, but he’s a big softy in the middle. Like a marshmallow.”

Dad proved her point by growling and grinning wide enough to show his teeth.

“Do you want me to hurt the bad lady, Grandpa?”

“I don’t want you to hurt anyone ever again, not even the bad lady.” Kinnison lifted Regan’s chin, so their gazes met. “You’re only job around here is to be a little boy and to go to school after the summer is over.”

His dad had lost a lot. Mom and Tory. His pack and coven’s trust.

Marric met his dad’s gaze. “I’m sorry, Dad.”

Kinnison pressed his forehead against Marric’s as he held his nape. “I am too.”