Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
He’d called me his mate.
“Druella, I think we both need a distraction from whatever it is you are thinking,” he muttered, and I could smell the spice rising in his scent again.
“This is your fault. You should have just told me about your family.” I pouted, and he chuckled.
“Very well, I shall now,” he said, releasing his grip on me only a little bit. “What was it you were asking about?”
There was his bad memory again; though this time, I didn’t blame him. Even I had lost track of what I was asking. “I think it was about the French Revolution. I asked what you had gained from it? Land?”
“No, it was family,” he replied, his hand on my hip, mine still on his chest. “My father and I came for land as we were looking to have a foothold in France at the time. However, my father made a deal for my younger brother, Arsiein, then known as Antoine Philippe de La Trémoïlle, the Prince of Talmont. A young French noble fighting against the Revolution. When I first saw him, I could not believe he was any bit older than nineteen. He looked so boyish, too pretty, Ulrik said then, and yet he was a revered general. So much so that the French wanted his head desecrated after it was cut.”
“He was executed by guillotine?” I wondered how it was possible to turn him if he had been fully dead and decapitated.
“No, Ulrik freed him from prison before he was transported to Laval for his execution. I found a replacement and influenced the jailers into believing the imposter was him,” he confessed. He watched me carefully, and I knew he was waiting for my reaction.
I didn’t want to ask, but I had to know. “Was it an innocent person?”
“During that time, everyone was innocent, and everyone was guilty. That is the nature of war. Some were more guilty than others. I did not think of the solider I replaced him with nor did I think much of the men he’d helped kill, either. Vicious, is it not?”
“The world is vicious,” I whispered back. “How did your new brother take to his change?”
His eyebrows contracted like he was trying to remember. “He fluctuated between numbness and hunger. He drank and drank his fill, and then he’d just sit there quietly and stare up at the stars as we explained immortality to him. He did not ask to see his family; many normally do, and he did not have passion for the war or for his once beloved king any longer. With his rebirth, he left all of the mortal world behind. The first time he spoke was to ask our father to allow him a new name, Arsiein.”
“Arsiein? What does it mean?”
Theseus shook head. “None of us know. There is no root for it in any language. My brothers and I conclude that he made up. So, whatever it means was for him to decide.”
“So,” I thought back to all I had learned. “Your father’s name is Sigbjørn, your mother’s name is Rhea, and you have two elder brothers, Ulrik and Hinrik, as well as a younger brother Arsiein?”
“Two younger brothers, Jabari and Arsiein. Jabari is closer to my age, though.”
“And who is Melora?”
“She is the mate of my brother, Ulrik.”
“Do your other brothers have mates?”
“Hinrik is mated to Matias. Jabari is mated to M’Kena. They live mostly in her lands, and I told you of them before. Arsiein was not mated last I recall. He has always been the young one of our family, and I’m sure he’ll be pleased you have taken that title.”
His family was so large. I couldn’t imagine what it must feel like to have such a big family. Did everyone like each other? How often did they speak to each other? Would I even be able to meet them all?
“Druella?”
“Sorry. How old is he? The youngest of you?”
“224. Do you dislike being the youngest?”
“I dislike being called young one.” Though I didn’t mind now if Theseus said it, more so others; it felt like they were looking down on me.
“I am out of siblings, so you have to wait until my father sires a new child or one of my siblings do. My siblings have their own children, but there are many, and they prefer to only come during the holidays. You do not have to worry about them any time soon.”
“Your mother doesn’t have any?”
He frowned, shaking his head. “She did; she had two. I think she was trying to replace Demetrius and Thalia. But they were killed by witches. After losing her mortal children and then her immortals, she refused to sire any others.”
“And your reason?” I pressed gently.
He had said only his father and siblings were to sire, not himself. “I am very similar to my mother at times,” he said halfheartedly, his gaze unfocused.