I flicked a glare at him. “Then quit trying to put stupid laws into place. You’re not the king of the world. The people should have a say in their wellbeing.”
“The people shouldn’t have tried to exterminate themselves. They obviously need guidance to stay alive.”
Theron chuckled behind us. “Poppy, he is actually a king.”
Godric’s shoulders stiffened.
I snorted. “I kind of walked into that one.”
“I’m not talking about his last name,” Theron explained. “He is the alpha king of the shifters.”
I jerked to a stop.
With inhuman reactions, they stopped with me.
Godric continued typing.
Theron waited patiently.
“Like, he rules your people?” I asked smoothly.
“Yes,” Godric muttered. “The thing my father isn’t telling you is, as there is only one seer living at a time, there should only be one alpha king. But instead, I was born. There are now two.”
“What is an alpha king?” I glanced at him.
“The alpha with the most magical power.”
I blinked. “Magical power to do what?”
“Control the shifters.”
“Hmm.” I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Who is the other alpha king?”
“The man standing behind us.”
My shoulders stiffened.
Theron laughed softly. “You have nothing to fear from me, Poppy. I handed over the crown to my son. I’m on vacation.”
I blinked again. “A vacation means you’ll be back.”
Godric grunted.
“I ruled for over two thousand years. I’ll be on vacation for a long time until I get bored. By then, my son will need a vacation.”
“I already do,” Godric muttered under his breath.
Theron patted his shoulder. “You’re doing great, son.”
I stared straight forward, unable to speak.
“Breathe, pet,” Godric whispered.
I choked, “Two thousand years?”
Theron sighed. “I’m old. But I still look good.”
A startled laugh burst from my throat. “I see where you get it from, big man. Like father like son.” I looked behind me and evaluated his father again. “Does that mean you’re a lion too?”
A private smile curved his lips. “No.”
“What do you shift into?” I was curious.
He shrugged one shoulder, not answering.
Godric tapped the last bit into his bracelet. He grabbed my hand then and pulled me down the hallway.
His father followed, whistling quietly.
“Cassander’s here,” Godric stated, distracted.
His father replied, “I know. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Even I knew that was a lie, his shoulders tensing.
“I wish you two would talk things through,” his father crooned. “You were best friends, and then—”
“I know what happened, Father,” Godric interjected. “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept it like you did. Your mating may have been hell, but she was still my mother.”
Theron sighed. “He’s hurting just as much as you are.”
“Good,” Godric growled.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
“Finally,” Cassander grumbled.
Theron pushed past us at the entrance of the living room. He marched straight toward the seer, flicked his wrist, and ordered, “Get up, son. I haven’t seen you in years.”
The seer sighed in exasperation but pushed off the black couch. “Hi, Dad.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Theron crushed him in a powerful hug.
I blinked and whispered, “Wait. He’s your brother?”
“Adopted brother,” Godric answered quietly. “My mother and father adopted him when his parents split up.”
I jerked to face him. “I thought mates were forever.”
“I can hear you two,” Cassander muttered.
Theron released him from his embrace and patted his back hard. “You’re coming to dinner in three days.” He flicked a finger at the rest of the individuals in the room. “They’ve already been trapped into coming, thanks to your brother taking time off to follow his mate around for a few days.” He swung his finger at the fox. “You will come.”
Cassander ran his hands through his silver hair. “I think I have plans—”
“Bullshit. You’re coming.”
Cassander groaned. “Fine.”
Theron slapped his shoulder. “I’ll cook your favorite.”
The seer perked then. “Lasagna?”
Finn even looked up from his bracelet.
“Absolutely.”
Godric grunted.
Cassander peeked at him under his lashes. “I’m still the favorite.”
His lion took offense and growled.
I held tight to his hand when he stepped forward. “We have stuff to talk about. No fighting.”
Dizzy. I was dizzy with all of this.
The man wearing orange swim trunks was ancient.
I was falling for a lion.
A stalker fox could kill them all.
Oh, and I was undying now.
It would take time to adjust to the crazy.
My eyes skimmed to the other three men. “Let me guess. You’re shifters too.”
Wolfe flicked his gray hair off his forehead. “Of course.”
Rune leaned back in a recliner, rocking it back and forth slowly. His grin was sinful. “And you fucked God and reached immortality.”
Alaric’s chest rumbled with laughter. “Best nickname ever. Just for that line.”
They high-fived one another.
Then Alaric turned his attention our way, his brown hair shining under the overhead light. “Congratulations, by the way. We heard she doesn’t stink with the darkness. It’s about damn time that shit ended.”
Theron pegged each with a hard stare.
All three instantly went mute.
Theron proceeded to kick off his flip-flops, lie down on the floor, and put his hands under his head as a cushion. He stared at the ceiling and then closed his eyes as if he were taking a nap. Little grains of sand fell off his shoulders and onto the carpeting near his head. If someone walked in, he would appear like a tourist who was worn out from picking up seashells.
“This is just weird,” I mumbled.
Godric pulled me close to his side, his golden eyes holding mine. “You’ll get used to it.”