“Marcus.”
Worry, ever-present and unwanted, followed Caster to his father’s estate in Southern England.
He couldn’t shake it, the worry something would happen to Mark while he was away.
He didn’t know how long this would take.
His father never summoned him unless it was important, and given everything they dealt with, it was easy to guess what this was about.
Marcus, the King’s long-time right hand, had made it clear delays would not be tolerated.
Riley’s immense power meant travel took only a millisecond, but nervous energy crackled between them, intense and difficult to ignore as they paused on the threshold of his father’s study.
Caster took a steadying breath, glanced at Damien, who just shrugged and pushed the door open.
“Hey, boys.” Marcus’s tone didn’t carry any contempt despite his choice of words.
To him, Caster would forever be a child, no matter how old he got.
Marcus was an ancient, like his father, his youthful vigor containing a strength and wisdom only time can bestow.
He would need that wisdom on a different matter later, one his father had no business knowing.
His father was on the phone with someone, the conversation calm with an underlying current of annoyance.
Caster admired his father’s endless ability to maintain his composure even in the most difficult of situations.
He was certain he would need it if the throne ever passed to him, but he was a long way away from being the master of his emotions.
The King turned his chair around to face the wall as each of them found a seat in the massive study.
His father’s household was larger than his for good reason.
The King’s job was a delicate juggle of vampire interests in an ever-visible human world, and he needed all kinds of experts to help with that.
Marcus moved to the front of the desk, leaning against it, his body obscuring the King, who had yet to acknowledge them. “So, what is this I hear about the werewolves in your house?” His question was delivered in a casual tone, but Caster had known Marcus long enough to know it was anything but.
“We needed Dean for this.” He didn’t know why he sounded so defensive.
Marcus smiled. “And his brother?”
For a second, Caster worried Marcus might be asking about his unusual relationship with Mark, but he had no way of knowing that.
“Bastian attacked him, and the witch wants him for some reason,” Damien said, drawing his attention to their reason for being here.
Marcus nodded. “That witch is beginning to get on my nerves.” He looked at Riley. “Where are we on finding her?”
“That’s not what is important right now, Marcus.” The King’s booming voice interrupted whatever answer Riley had been about to give.
Every son thought of their father as an unattainable prospect, but when your father was the king of the most powerful species in the world and had been that for more than a thousand years, you never measured up.
Caster didn’t have a difficult relationship with either of his parents.
Unlike Uncle Lucien, his father understood and respected his son’s desire to impress him and loved him enough never to use it as a weapon.
A smile, brief and fleeting, crossed his father’s face. “How are you, boys?”
They all nodded their response, but the moment of pleasantry, his way of letting them know he cared for each one of them, was gone as fast as it had appeared.
“Father, we may have an idea of where the witch could be.”
“I know.”
Caster frowned.
“Kyle.” Marcus shrugged. Of course, Kyle and Marcus would share information. But that was fast.
“But as I said, that’s not why I asked you here.” The King looked at Riley. “I know you’ll find her, won’t you, son?” He’d adopted Riley as his own the moment Damien and Caster met him, and he’d been part of the family since.
Riley’s nod brimmed with the confidence of the most powerful witch in existence. “I’m already working on the spell.”
“Good.” The King turned to Caster. “I have all the confidence you boys can handle whatever the witch is planning. She is just one little rogue witch, nothing we haven’t dealt with before, yes?”
Caster couldn’t help the curve of his lips. His father’s uncanny ability to deliver ultimatums in the guise of compliments was one of the many attributes he hoped to inherit. “We have it under control, Father.”
“I know.” His expression changed to something Caster could only describe as worry. “Because we have an even bigger test that might prove more difficult to handle.” He leaned back in his chair, the subtle sign of his agitation denying the comfortable position. “Marcus…”
Marcus mirrored the same expression, and Caster couldn’t help the dread clawing in his belly. Marcus didn’t worry about anything. “Lucien is making new vampires in the thousands, and he is hiding well enough that none of my men can find him.”
“Shit.” Damien’s low whisper filled the hush that descended. Julian had found evidence Uncle Lucien was making vampires, but not in such large numbers.
“You think he’s building an army?” Riley asked.
Marcus’s nod was curt, his worry growing to full-blown anger that he controlled, the only indication of its presence the tightness in his voice. “We need to deal with this before it gets out of hand. The problem is, we don’t know where he is.”
“This may be related to the witch. Julian has found evidence Lucien is working with her.” Caster kept a close eye on his father’s reaction as he said it.
“He hasn’t told me any of this,” Marcus said. “Where is he?”
“Gathering more information.” Damien’s need to defend his bodyguard was understandable, but they all answered to Marcus, even Kyle.
“You think the witch can lead us to Lucien?” The King asked, putting an end to the posturing flaring between Damien and Marcus, not that Damien would ever win.
“Yes.” Riley was resolute in his conviction. “If he’s impossible to find, it’s only because she’s using her power to hide him.”
“And if he’s making new vampires in such large numbers, we have to tell the Prime Alpha.
” Caster had hoped to keep that tidbit of information from the wolves for a while longer, but it seemed impossible now.
The treaty had forbidden the making of new vampires except to save a life, ensuring that the number of Made-Vampires had remained constant since the end of the war.
“I’ll leave that to you, but you’re right. We can’t have another war,” his father said.
“The council will be a handful,” Damien said. “Some of them agree with my father’s view on this.”
“Leave the council to me.” The King pushed off his chair, and they all stood. “From now on, they meet with me.” He leveled Caster with a look that spoke of his authority. “This is not a demotion. I want you to focus on getting the witch.” Then he turned to Riley. “I want my brother found.”
Riley nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good.” A second passed, taking with it the tension that had been building since they walked in. “Information will be crucial. Make sure Julian and Kyle report to Marcus.” His admonishment complete and everyone aware of what they needed to do, the King walked out.
“Marcus?” Caster waited for his father to retreat further into the house before speaking. “One of my mother’s guards was compromised.”
Marcus’s expression hardened. “How?”
“He was working for Bas. With the witch. He’s one of the vampires who attacked the Prime Alpha’s brother ten years ago.”
Marcus was well informed of the situation with Mark and didn’t even flinch. “Where is this vampire?”
“Dead.”
Marcus stared at him for a long moment and then nodded. “Good.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “Are you OK?”
A glance told him Riley and Damien had followed the King out of the room. “No… I’m not sure…” Marcus was the only other person, other than Damien, with whom he could be honest with. He’d introduced both Caster and Damien to BDSM as their trainer.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Caster shook his head. “There’s too much going on right now. Maybe later?”
Marcus wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “I’m here if you need me.” He led him to the main hallway. “Now, go and take care of your side of this. Your father is counting on you.”
Caster couldn’t ask even if every ounce of him wanted to.
What would his father do about Lucien? He couldn’t imagine the weight of the betrayal, unsure he would be as well-adjusted as his father seemed to be if Ben or Cyrus ever betrayed him like this.
There was little time to waste, but they needed a concrete plan.
Damien’s house seemed like a good place for the three of them to gather their thoughts.
Perhaps they should ask Dean to meet them there.