Chapter 18
Remy couldn’t fall asleep after his discussion with Mystia; he was sure the Witches’ Governing Council was searching for him.
His mind filled with nightmarish images of his brothers?screaming as they were being torn out of his arms. And if what she said was true, he’d never see them again. It was all too much to handle.
Rolling over, he stared at the sky watching it turn pink before sunrise.
Even though Mystia assured him he and his brothers were safe for now, it did little to comfort him.
I’m not sure I can trust her, but what choice do I have?
And that thought brought him back to her statement about Carson Blackwood, which he found even harder to believe.
Throwing back the covers, Remy climbed out of bed and stood at his bedroom window.
Gazing at the rows of vines blanketing the rolling hills, the only thing now occupying his mind was the image of his Fated Mate who he’d decided to reject yesterday, in favor of his brothers.
But now he wasn’t so sure it was the right decision in light of what the witch told him last night.
But that brought him back in a circle to his first question—was it the truth?
How can a wolf shifter protect me and my brothers?
Fuck! She thinks because I’m a low-level warlock, I don’t know about how easy a wolf shifter can be destroyed by any first-tier magic user with just a snap of the fingers.
Of course, Remy knew if that ever happened, the Universal Paranormal High Council would be forced to get involved and it would be the last thing the Witches Governing Council would want—so it might not happen after all.
Huh…is that the protection Mystia meant when she said Carson could keep me and my brothers safe?
Somehow, he didn’t think so. If they did make an attempt on my life, my mate would be killed along with me…
shit, and probably my brothers too. That would get rid of all the evidence.
Sighing, Remy turned away from the window.
He was running out of time. Carson Blackwood would be at the chateau soon and he’d have to make a decision.
I need more facts! How can I possibly decide which choice to make without proof my brothers will be safe if I let Carson claim me?
Thinking about this conundrum, Remy knew only one person could give him the information he needed; he had to find Mystia before his brothers woke up.
~/~/~/~/~
Opening his eyes when his phone’s alarm went off, Carson felt a shock of exhilaration running through him.
Today was the day he’d meet Remy Marchant, his Fated Mate.
Maybe. Even with his lingering doubts, the possibility it might be true made his hopes soar.
Finally, the Fates may have found me worthy .
Carson’s cock began to swell. Yeesss ! Giving it a squeeze, before palming it, he offered a quick prayer to the gods that his wolf was right about Remy.
Carson texted Dr. Marceau that they’d pick up Henri by 9 a.m. He was eager to continue his journey to the Chateau des Flammes so he could finally put his doubts to rest. He opened his laptop, intending to go through his email, but then hesitated, his finger hovering over the keyboard.
Before drifting off to sleep last night, he thought about researching his mate but then pushed it aside, reminding himself not to get his hopes up as he’d done so many times before, only to have them crushed.
But now, after reconsidering it, he assured himself it was just a good business decision to know everything about who he’d be working with. Right !
Checking to make sure he had enough time before joining Hunter and Fionn in the lobby, he gave in to his curiosity about Remy; he would, after all, be coming face to face with him before noon.
Bringing up a search window, Carson typed in his mate’s name.
Leaning back, he waited for the results, excitement thrumming through him, eager to learn more about who the Fates had chosen as his perfect mate.
Glancing at the screen, Carson straightened up, his eyes widening at the results.
Nothing? How can that be? Why hasn’t his name come up on the High Council’s shifter data base?
Clicking on another category, Carson carefully scrolled through the list of names beginning with “M”—Remy Marchant’s wasn’t on it.
Shaking his head in disbelief, he recalled Zane telling him the High Council’s shifter’s list was infallible.
And the research he’d done on Fionn’s companies showed his father employed only shifters. Something’s not right here.
Accessing yet another category in the database, Carson entered his mate’s name and clicked ‘search’.
Drumming his fingers on his laptop, and staring off into space, he waited nervously, trying to come to terms that his mate might not be a shifter.
Hearing a ding, he quickly looked down at his screen, gasping when he read that a Remy Marchant died shortly after birth.
Clicking on his mate’s name, Carson hoped there’d be more information to confirm that the deceased Remy was not his mate, but other than “warlock” next to the name, there was nothing else.
Where does this leave me now…and how the fuck am I going to sort this out? And who…or what… is Remy Marchant?
~/~/~/~/ ~
After pulling on some sweatpants and a hoodie, Remy ran silently down the staircase, hoping his brothers would stay asleep a little longer.
He wasn’t sure where the witch was, but she promised him last night she’d stay and protect them.
Pausing after stepping off the last step, he closed his eyes, using his other senses to locate Mystia.
Hearing the slight rattle of a spoon against china, he whirled and headed into the living room, stopping short when he found her sitting where he’d left her last night.
Setting her cup and saucer down, Mystia looked at Remy. “Good morning, mon chéri, would you like to join me for some tea?”
Hesitating for a second, Remy walked over to the sofa and sat down. “No, thank you,” he replied.
“Oh, that’s right…coffee’s your morning drink.” Waving her hand, a steaming mug of coffee appeared before him. “Now, what did you want to ask me?”
Staring at his mug, Remy gathered his thoughts before finally picking it up and taking a sip.
“Thank you. I’m not sure where to start but since the most important thing is the safety of my brothers, I guess that’s as good a place as any.
I spent the night trying to understand how a wolf shifter could stop a powerful magic user from harming me or my brothers…
and I can’t come up with an explanation…
at least not any reasonable or logical one.
” Setting his coffee down, he continued, “I’m sure you know I certainly don’t have strong enough magic to resist such an attacker…
my brothers might, but they are much too young to be able to use it to protect themselves, much less me.
So, my gut is telling me to take them and flee just as my parents did when I created the other light sphere. ”
“I’m sorry, Remy,” Mystia said, “unfortunately, that will not work in this instance. Back when you made that first one, the Witches’ Governing Council was caught off-guard.
Initially there was disbelief and the council members argued among themselves as to whether it had actually happened.
It wasn’t until a very old warlock appeared, searching for the magic user who was responsible for the light sphere, did the council acknowledge the existence of it.
Those weeks of confusion gave your parents the time they needed to spirit you away so when the Council Guards finally showed up at your old home, there wasn’t a trace of you or your parents. ”
“But I can do that now with your help. I felt your magic…it’s very powerful and if you use it to help me and my brothers escape, I’m sure the Council Guards will never find us.”
Contemplating Remy’s plea, Mystia sighed, knowing his idea, while logical, would not work.
Sipping her tea as she thought of her response, she knew it would be much easier if she could reveal the power Carson would receive, but even if she knew what it was—and she didn’t—that disclosure was only for Oracle to make.
“Remy, unfortunately, I can’t do that…for several reasons…
but mainly because I won’t subject your brothers to that kind of life and, if you are honest, you don’t want them constantly to be looking over their shoulders, fearful about what might happen to them if they are discovered.
“Regardless of my spell, the Governing Council will eventually find out that you can make light spheres and, when they do, you will be hunted until you are found. Trust me, the only way for you to escape the fate that awaits you when that happens is to claim your Fated Mate. ”
“You keep telling me that,” Remy said angrily, “but you won’t tell me how a wolf shifter can defeat a ton of Council Guards. You are asking me to trust you, but you give me nothing. Do you think just because I’m a low-level magic user, I’m dumb?”
“I don’t think that at all…”
“You tell me my plan won’t work, but it did for my parents and it can with me and my brothers. I think you are refusing to help me because there is something in it for you if I mate with Carson.”
“No, mon chéri,” Mystia said, quietly . “Your parent’s plan worked because when you were born, your parents knew the life you’d be destined for if they registered your birth with the Governing Council so they reported that you died shortly after you were born.
However, when your brothers came into this world, your parents registered them since they possess powerful magic.
The Witches’ Governing Council knows about your brothers and when the Guards arrive here to investigate the origin of the light sphere… after my spell wears off…”
“They will find out about me,” Remy whispered.
“Yes, and by that time you and your brothers will be on the run, always afraid someone might turn you in.”
Wrapping his arms around his stomach, Remy fought back the nausea threatening to cause him to heave.
Shaking, he closed his eyes as the horror of his visions from last night filled his mind and, for the thousandth time, cursed himself for making a light sphere.
Suddenly, he felt the witch’s hand gently rubbing his back.
“My brothers…I must keep them safe,” he whispered, tearfully.
“They lost so much…and now this…my parents never told me any of this…if I had only known, I would never have done it… ”
“Hush, mon chéri, ” Mystia crooned. “It will all turn out all right. Your brothers will be safe, please trust me.” Sitting down next to Remy, she gathered him in her arms, hugging him until his body stopped trembling.
Finally, when he could speak again, Remy asked, “Will you promise if something happens to me, to take my brothers and protect them?”
“Nothing is going to happen to you, mon chéri ,” Mystia murmured, “once you are claimed by Carson.”
“But if my mate can’t save me…promise you’ll take care of my brothers…please.”
Gently hugging Remy again, Mystia whispered, “I promise.”
~/~/~/~/~
Anger surged through Carson when he concluded the Remy Marchant he thought was his mate was an imposter.
Fucking hell! Doesn’t that just beat it all!
I finally get a mate and what the fuck is he but a crook…
a con artist, using the name of a dead warlock.
I wonder if the asshole knows he is supposed to be a magic user?
Fuck! Why the hell does this shit always happen to me? What did I do to deserve it?
Slamming his laptop closed, cramming it angrily into his bag, he headed for the bathroom to take a shower.
Turning on the water, he waited until it was almost scalding hot before stepping in.
Letting the water run over him, Carson stood there, clenching and unclenching his fists as he tried to get his rage under control.
No way will I claim someone who’s a scammer.
Fuckingbedamned, I won’t do it! When he felt his anger fading, he tempered the water, thinking about how to disclose his knowledge to Remy Marchant…
or whoever he is. Grabbing the shower gel, he poured some onto his palm and absentmindedly soaped up while figuring out when to say something.
After rinsing off, he stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel.
Dressing and packing, Carson slipped his phone into his pocket before leaving the room. As the elevator descended, he was once again feeling in control of his emotions, thankful for the help Cody had given him over the past few months.
Searching the lobby, he found Fionn and Hunter sitting near the gift shop, heads together, whispering to each other. Walking over to them, he smirked when he realized they hadn’t spotted him, then frowned; the closeness they shared was something he’d never have with his mate. Lying bastard!
Mentally shaking off his gloomy thoughts, Carson was thankful he had a family who loved him and a job he loved, which was more than he ever thought he’d have after the massacre. Stopping in front of the love birds, Carson asked, “Hey, are you guys ready to go pick up Henri?”
“Locked and loaded,” Hunter smiled. “Did the doctor say Henri was okay to travel?”
“Yup, I got the text late last night,” Carson said, “Henri woke from his coma and shifted. He’s good to go.”
“Great,” Hunter said, pulling his mate up with him as he rose. “C’mon pet, let’s go see this fancy house you call a chateau.”
Giggling, Fionn said, “Ki would love it. Hey, maybe before I sell it, we should have a big party…fly everyone over here. We can spend time in Paris before…Oh, my gods…Theo and Norm can get married here! ”
“I thought they were going to tie the knot on pack lands,” Hunter said.
“They were…I mean are…but they decided that before I became the owner of Chateau des Flammes!” Fionn said, excitedly.
“Pet, before you offer it to Theo and Norm,” Hunter said, “maybe you should check it out first to see what condition it’s in.”
“Good point,” Fionn said, nodding his head in agreement.
Taking his mate’s hand, Hunter looked at his cousin. “Okay, let’s go.” Then, noticing the tightness of Carson’s face, he asked softly, “Hey, everything okay?”
Gritting his teeth, Carson answered, “Just peachy.”