Page 81 of Act of Passion

James offered a knowing look to Brooke. “Is that when your healing abilitiesstarted?”

“They’d been building from day one, but they went into overdrive that day. And Cody told me I smelled like a cat-shifter all of a sudden. A cat-shifter and old, ancient power.” She stood tall, easing out of Malik’s hold slightly. “One second I was strapped down and the next, the straps undid themselves—like magik. And I came off the bed in an unnatural way, landing crouched on my feet, staring around feeling like I was seeing the world for the first time. I had a hand on my stomach, this almost feral need to keep them all from mychild.”

James put his hands in the pocket of his lab coat and continued to watch her. “It makes sense, knowing who your father was. I know very little about your mother. We don’t have records onher.”

Brooke stared at James. “You know who my fatherwas?”

He inclined his head. “We do. He was one of the founders of PSI. And he was one of the most powerful shifters we’ve ever known. I suspect Malik may be more so, but he holds a lot back from us about his lineage, and the full extent of what he cando.”

Maliktensed.

Brooke’s hand found his thigh. “James, tell me about my father. I have memories of him that seem to grow daily. They all started when I was taken. I could only remember small bits about him before my night withMalik.”

“I’m guessing that failsafe that Malik tripped when he claimed you was also there to keep a wall up to your memories. James looked to Malik, as if seeking permission to tell Brooke what she wanted toknow.

Maliknodded.

His friend took a deep breath. “Abasi was a great man. And he was close friends with yourmate.”

She gasped, her head whipping around to stare at Malik. “You knewhim?”

“Idid.”

Her gaze focused on his chest. She moved closer to him and undid his shirt more, her fingers skimming the son of the god king tattoo. “Ohmygod, you really are the son of a godking!”

He bit his lower lip and nodded. “Yes.”

She lurched back, her eyes wide. “You were in the stories he’d tell me when I was little. The son of the god king—the king who didn’t want to beking.”

Maliknodded.

She moved closer to James, but kept staring wide-eyed at Malik. “He’d call me his little princess. He’d tell me that when I grew up, I’d marry a king who didn’t want to be king. My mother would scold him, telling him he might ruin it if he told me too much. And he’d look up at her with sad eyes,” she said, tearing up. “He’d say, ‘Gwenhwyfar, if we don’t teach her now, it might not come to be when we have to leaveher.’”

James and Malik bothgasped.

Malik stared at his wife. “Your mother’s name wasGwenhwyfar?”

She nodded. “Yes. Did you know hertoo?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “She was a very powerful Fae. One both loved and feared in the Fae community. I met her once years ago. I was, um,well…”

Brooke rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, you were either in bed with a woman, or coming from the bed of awoman.”

James coughed, glancing at Malik as if knowing he wasscrewed.

Cringing, Malik nodded. “Thelatter.”

Brooke took a giant step back from Malik. “Duke said you’d bedded like six thousand women. Is thattrue?”

James snorted. “My guess is it’s muchhigher.”

Malik glared athim.

James stiffened. “Sorry.”

Brooke huffed. “And you actually have the nerve to be pissed at me over Gram? Is there any woman youhaven’thad your dickin?”

James shot him a look that more than said he was totally fucked. That his past had caught up withhim.

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