Page 30 of The Eternal Choice

I take a step in the direction of the hallway when Leandro blocks my exit. “Fill me in about what?”

Lilliana’s voice is right behind me when she says, “Let your brother handle clan business, there are urgent matters he needs to deal with. Come on, as soon as I’ve explained you’ll be rushing to Tino anyway. So, let him handle business while you hear and process what I’m about to tell you.”

Leandro releases a sigh. “Right. Sorry, boss. I’ll come find you later.”

I grab his shoulder and give it a squeeze. Without looking back I rush down the hall and go in search of Alrigo. He’s talking to his wife, Sisley, and they both turn to face me as I come to a stop beside them.

“I’d like to have a word with both of you.” Pointing at a room on my left I add, “Please follow me.”

Once inside, I close the door to make sure we have some privacy.

Time is not on our side and it’s why I throw out, “My mate and I have reason to believe my brother is responsible for the attack. There’s no proof…yet, but for now it’s not my priority. Saving the clan and tracking Nario down to capture him for questioning is.”

“How can we help?” Alrigo instantly offers.

Sisley glances at her mate. “My brother would help his niece if you need more manpower. His soldiers might mostly consist of humans, but they are highly trained and skilled.”

“They come from a long line of supernatural hunters.” I nod, knowing my mate’s background and her ancestor’s history. “For now there’s no need to bring others into our war against Marshgloom. The reason they’ve been successful at some of their attacks is due to inside information. Now that we’ve found the root of the betrayal we’ll be able to end this if we strategically plan an attack.”

“You have been at war with Tony Mattia for decades–” Alrigo starts, and I get what he’s going to say.

So, I cut him off. “I am aware, and understand your questioning why I’m speaking of ending this war now while it has been going on for decades. Unraveling the festering root of the reason why the war started is a game changer. I do have to speak to him first and want the answers he’s been keeping from us. The reason our clan leader was killed the night of his arranged marriage was due to the woman already being mated. We never questioned who the mate was since it was futile back then and the result and betrayal between clans was there. Now, however, it’s a whole different level of betrayal if Nario was the mate of the dragonwoman who killed his own father just because he wanted to become clan leader.”

“Holy shit, and he failed ’cause you are clan leader,” Sisley gasps.

I turn to her and explain, “This is because of old traditions. Normally, when a clan leader wants to step down, he can appoint his son as a worthy follower. Elders, along with each member of the clan can vote and if it’s unanimous by the elders and a majority of the members, the appointed candidatebecomes clan leader. This time the leader was killed and it was the choice of the elders to decide if they wanted to honor the dead clan leader’s wishes for the dragon man he was training, or go by old traditions and have candidates face the challenge where there’s only one who successfully finishes all first.”

Sisley winces. “Yikes. Bet he wasn’t counting on that little fact.”

“Or the fact that a mated dragon who kills the one who cheats with a mated dragon ends up dead as well,” I grimly state.

“That’s a whole lot of anger boiling up over decades of time. You should consider yourself lucky to still be breathing,” Alrigo murmurs just as there’s a knock on the door.

I wander over and find my mate along with my brother whose eyes are blazing.

“It explains so fucking much,” Leandro growls as he stomps inside the room. He points at Alrigo and Sisley. “Did you tell them?”

My gaze finds Lilliana. “Yes, they are our allies and with the circumstances we’re in? It’s good to have fresh opinions on the matter.”

“Fresh opinions?” Leandro snaps. “I’ll give that piece of shit my unsalted opinion as soon as we find him. Do you think the bastard ran off to Marshgloom?”

“Nah. After all those years Nario must feel comfortable to hide in plain sight.” Lilliana plunks down on the couch.

Leandro swings his arms away from his body. “If he feels comfortable, like you said, then where the fuck is he?”

Sisley wanders over to the couch. “Lilliana, have you tried to hold the two brothers’ wrists and scan for the other?You could get a direction of where to look if you focus on the brother’s connection.”

Lilliana’s eyes widen. “What?”

Her mother waves her hand. “Oh don’t give me that. You’ve always had a lot more abilities than Fiero. As a kid you could bring butterflies back to life until someone saw and tore the butterfly apart before your eyes.”

“I ripped the boy’s hands off, and those of his father,” Alrigo growls.

My mate’s eyes are still wide and she again says, “What?”

Alrigo chuckles. “Don’t worry, you know vampires can regrow them. I should have torn off every damn limb, they wouldn’t have recovered, but fucking hell…they traumatized you.”

Sisley pats Lilliana’s knee. “True. From that day forward you started to keep your abilities to yourself. We always knew you inherited more of your ancestors’ abilities combined than Fiero.”

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