Cassander fell back onto the couch. “Let’s get this going. I’m getting hungry after all that lasagna talk.”
I held up a finger. “Hold on. I know this is a delicate topic, but I need to ask. What did Godric mean when he said your parents split up?” I nibbled on my bottom lip in worry.
“They’re still mated,” he clarified. He was so patient when he talked with me. It was a kindness I appreciated. He explained further, “God told you about the six matings that were cursed. My parents are one of those matings.”
“Mine too,” Finn added.
“Same,” Alaric supplied.
Rune grunted. “Crazy ass parents here too.”
I glanced at Wolfe.
He nodded. “We’re the offspring of the curse.”
My brows rose. “All right.”
Godric pulled me by my hand to the loveseat nearby. He sat down, and then pulled me onto his lap. His heat and scent wound around me in the most pleasant way. The lion man rubbed my back, massaging my muscles.
It was time to get down to business.
Godric growled. “Okay, here is what we know. Black creatures, no eyes, sharp claws, and stank like mud, tried to attack today. They weren’t human or shifter.”
“Golems,” Cassander supplied. “I’m pretty sure they were golems.”
“What’s a golem?” Rune wrinkled his forehead.
“A creature formed my magic,” I stated helpfully.
All six pairs of eyes snapped in my direction.
Theron didn’t move from his ‘nap’ position.
“What? I like to read old books.”
Cassander snickered. “She’s right. It’s a magical creature created by clay and then animated to life.”
Finn asked, “So someone is behind it?”
Cassander continued to give his knowledge. “They would have to be, but I’m not sure who.”
My brows furrowed.
On the field, Cassander had said, ‘The bastard must be weak.’
“But it’s a male, right?” I asked carefully.
He answered, “Yes, it would have to be a shifter. Humans aren’t magical.”
My eyes narrowed. “Before the fight, you said he was weak. How do you not know who it is but then claim to know he’s weak?”
“Because I could make golems like that, and they would be a hell of a lot faster.”
“You can do that?” I asked in confusion.
He smirked. “I’m the seer. There are a few perks.”
“But no other shifter can?”
“Exactly.”
“Then it’s a puzzle.” Giddiness rose inside my chest. But, just as suddenly, it disappeared with my next thought. “I dreamt about them this morning. They were trying to get me. And they had this weird green glow coming out of their mouths that was almost hypnotic—it felt wrong.”
Godric tightened his arms around me, his attention snapping to his brother. “Is that normal, Cass?”
“If it’s magical, and she was the target, she may have experienced the backlash of the magic when the creatures were made. Especially since the creator is weak.”
“So I have a shifter on my hands who is fucking with magic,” Godric stated. His voice remained even and cool…and underneath simmered with a burial sentence. “It’s possible the curse and this are related. Before, we thought our race might be ending. But twice? And different? Someone is twisting magic to target mates.”
Finn held a blade in his hand, tossing it back and forth from one hand to the other. “We need to compile a list of shifters who have been known to hate mates—the idea of mates. And shifters who are obsessive about them. That would be the first place to start.”
Wolfe agreed. “I’ll start a search in the database.”
“One good thing about all of this is he’s weak,” Cassander stated. “The more he twists the magic, the less effective it’ll be. It will drain him and not work as it should. And with as many golems as he sent today, he thinks a lot of himself. That will eventually be his downfall if he doesn’t change his course of attack.”
“Do you think Poppy is in danger right now?” Godric asked, his voice soft. He was glaring at his brother as if it pained him to ask for advice. But his attention didn’t waver from him. “Should you stay here to help me protect her?”
I glowed inside.
He cared. He cared enough to humble himself.
Cassander cleared his throat and picked at the fur on his jacket. “No, she’s not in danger right now. With that much magic spent, he’ll be comatose for at least a month.” He glanced up, his own voice quieting. “But…I could actually use a place to stay for a little while. I won’t be in your way.”
I held very still.
Cassander was obviously testing the waters.
Seeing if peace was in the near future for them.
Godric stared, his features calm.
Cassander cleared his throat, poking the lion.
It was never wise to poke a lion.
“I have a new mate.” Godric shrugged. “I’d like to have the house to ourselves.”
“Jesus,” Finn muttered in annoyance. He glared at the lion and then turned his attention to the fox. “Cass, you can stay at my place for a while if you need to.”
“Thank you.” Cassander yawned. “I should have asked you first. I’d never get any sleep here with the way God snores. When the walls are shaking—and not from having sex—the man has issues.”
Alaric chuckled and nodded his head. “Amen.”
Godric glared. “You are such an asshole, Cass.”
“Please,” he muttered with sarcasm. “You’re just embarrassed because it’s the truth, and you’re afraid your mate won’t sleep with you every night once she hears it.”
Wolfe glanced at me. “Bring earplugs to bed.”
“I actually snore too. He’ll need his own set of earplugs. My father listens to music at night when I’m there so he can get some rest.”
Godric’s eyes captured mine. “You really snore?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s bad.”
The wrinkles of worry vanished from his forehead, and he smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “The magic picked well. Because the asshole is right. I snore like the devil when I’m stressed.”
My lips curved. He was quite adorable.