Chapter 22
“Honestly? I don’t know how it happened,” Remy said, pondering Carson’s question.
“One day, I just received a call from their attorney who told me they’d died and, despite my questions about it, would say nothing more.
When I arrived at my parents’ home, I found Galen trying to change Rune’s diaper while Eamon was sitting in a corner, eating cookies from a bag.
By the time I sorted everything out and fed my brothers, they’d fallen asleep and I had to carry them up to their beds.
The next day, every time I tried to ask Galen what happened, he’d burst into tears, so I let it drop, figuring I’d get more information when I saw the lawyer in person. ”
“What about your other brothers…are they still grieving?” asked Carson.
“Eamon does get sad sometimes…he asks me where mommy and daddy are but that happens less now…and Rune…he’s too young to remember,” Remy said. “As for Galen…I think it’s more than just grief.”
“You think he saw what happened?”
“If not that, maybe heard something…either way, it’s still affecting him,” Remy said, sighing.
“Can’t you force the lawyer to tell you how your parents died?” asked Carson.
“I tried…but he said he couldn’t tell me anything,” Remy said.
“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?”
“Not sure, but in the end, does it matter?” Remy asked. “Our parents are gone…but my brothers are safe…that’s all that matters to me now. ”
Studying his mate, Carson saw grief reflected in his eyes. “You still miss them.”
Giving his mate a quick, sad smile, Remy said, “I do…they were my biggest cheerleaders…supporting my decisions, encouraging me, and always making sure I knew how much they loved me.”
Frowning, Carson tried to reconcile the parents Remy described with the same ones who reported his early death. No matter how hard he tried, though, there was no way he could come up with an explanation that made sense. Just thinking about all the possibilities left a bad taste in his mouth.
Reaching out, Remy’s fingers smoothed the lines in Carson’s forehead. “Why are you frowning?” he asked.
Grasping his mate’s hand, Carson held it to his chest. “I’m wondering why your parents claimed you died shortly after you were born if they loved you as much as you say they did?”
Remy’s jaw dropped. His mate’s question was so upsetting he didn’t know whether to be angry at its insensitivity or depressed that his mate had just called him a liar.
Snatching his hand back, Remy stalked away from Carson, stopping when he was as far away as he could be in the small living room.
Biting his lower lip to keep from snapping out a response he’d regret tomorrow, he stood there, glaring at his mate.
After several deep breaths, Remy felt his anger subside, leaving only the hurt behind.
Keeping his voice low so his brothers wouldn’t hear, he said, “My parents loved me so much, they were willing to break the law to keep me safe.
“When I was born a low-level magic user, my parents knew the kind of life I was destined for when I grew up…and they didn’t want that for me…
so they forg ed…FORGED…my death certificate so the Witches’ Governing Council would never give me to some fucking first-tier magic user to be a slave for the rest of my life.
That is how much they loved me. If what they did was ever discovered, the Council would toss them in jail and throw away the key. ”
Unable to remain still, Remy began pacing.
“The thing is, I didn’t know what they’d done until just recently.
They protected me my entire childhood by home-schooling me and when I picked a human university to attend—even though they were worried I might make a mistake and reveal what little magic I have to a human—they still supported my decision.
When I was growing up, there was never a day I didn’t know they loved me.
So now you know…your mate is a low-level illegal magic user. ”
Relief flooded through Carson, followed by happiness, but worry finally crept in about what would happen to Remy if it were discovered he wasn’t dead.
His mate’s explanation only spawned more questions, questions that Carson began to ask.
“I got it that you’re a low-level magic user…
not really sure what that means…but why would that make you a slave?
The Universal Paranormal High Council outlawed slavery in any form. ”
Rolling his eyes at Carson’s question, Remy said, “The Witches’ Governing Council doesn’t call it slavery, but that’s what it is.
Since I’m a low-level magic user, once I reach adulthood, the Governing Council assigns me permanently to a witch or warlock who is registered in one of the first three tiers of magic power.
And by permanently, I mean just that. All rights I have are stripped from me including contact with my family.
I’m not paid for the work I do and more importantly, my owner can punish me without restriction or sell me as he or she wishes.
If I object…well, let’s just say that’d be the last time I’d ever do that. ”
Aghast, Carson stared at Remy, his heart breaking for his mate, now fully understanding the danger Remy faced if it was discovered he wasn’t dead.
Shaking his head at that thought, Carson growled, “No fucking way!” Stalking over to his mate, fighting the urge to shift for fear of scaring Remy and his brothers, he spat, “I mean it…no fucking way will I ever let them do that to you. You’re my mate…
my fucking Fated Mate and that trumps every fucking rule, law, or whatever your fucking Governing Council wants to call their barbaric treatment of magic users like you. ”
Grabbing Remy, Carson pulled him to his chest, wrapping him in a protective embrace. “Remy, I swear, no one will ever do that to you…you don’t have to fear the Governing Council ever again…I swear…I’ll protect you if anyone ever tries to take you from me.”
Lowering his face until it was buried in Remy’s hair, Carson deeply inhaled his mate’s scent.
This is where I belong…this is home…Remy is my home.
All these years, I never knew what I was missing…
but now I have the other half of my heart.
Standing there with his mate, he realized nothing nor anyone was more important to him than Remy; he vowed to be at his mate’s side regardless of what adversity they faced.
Melting into Carson’s chest, Remy sighed—how perfect his mate’s body felt against his.
Closing his eyes, he let himself enjoy the security surrounding him, allowing him to escape—even if only for a short time—his fears of punishment for creating the light sphere.
Then reality set in. Hearing Carson’s vow to protect him was reassuring, but before this went further, he owed his mate the whole truth about the danger he faced.
Gathering courage, he dropped his arms, taking several steps back.
“Thank you,” Remy murmured, “but there’s more you should know about me.
” Seeing a flicker of alarm cross Carson’s face after moving away from him, Remy was nearly driven to his knees, knowing he’d caused it.
“Please, I don’t want to upset you, but you really need to know the trouble I’m in before you take me as your mate. ”
Carson backed up until he bumped into the sofa, causing him to abruptly sit down with a soft thud.
Covering his face with his hands, sure that Remy had rejected him when his mate pushed him away, the air was sucked from his lungs, leaving him gasping.
But if that was painful, it was nothing compared to his dismay that Remy didn’t believe he’d stay after he heard about what other danger his mate was facing.
After getting his feelings under control, Carson looked up at his mate.
“Remy, it doesn’t matter what problems you’re facing because I’ll always be with you, keeping you safe. ”
A sharp ache cut through Remy’s body. Seeing the tortured look on Carson’s face, he knelt down in front of him, taking Carson’s hands in his.
“Oh, no, I’m so sorry…you have no idea what your promise means to me…
I know you mean it but it would be so wrong if I kept something from you.
Please, Carson…I can’t let you put yourself in danger without knowing what you’re up against. Right now, the Governing Council guards are searching for me for doing something forbidden… something I wasn’t supposed to do.”
“What did you do?” asked Carson, worry creasing his forehead .
“I made a light sphere,” Remy said. “I’m so sorry, Carson…I promised my parents I’d never do it, but when I couldn’t reach Henri, I used it to find him.”
“I don’t get it,” Carson said, frowning. “Why are the guards after you for using magic?”
“No…they aren’t after me because I used magic but because I created a light sphere,” Remy tried to explain. “The Witches’ Governing Council intends to remove what magic I have before sentencing me to life in prison.”
What the fuck ! “Impossible! We’re Fated Mates!” Carson growled. “Babe, it can’t happen…as soon as Penn…he’s our pack’s lawyer…records our mating with the Universal Paranormal High Council, no one…not even the mighty Witches’ Governing Council can take you away from me!”
“That may be…but in order for that to happen…I have to come out of hiding because right now…I’m dead, according to the record.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Carson assured his mate, “mistakes are made all the time. Penn can file a petition to correct the record.”
“No…no, he can’t…if he does that, the Governing Council will find out I have custody of my brothers and they’ll be taken from me,” Remy replied, his body shaking.