Page 2 of Tethered Magick

I’ll be better when I know what Elan does. Until then, I’m pretty much just a bucket of nerves.Jolon’s fingers brushed over the bare skin of my arm as he moved to take the seat on my left. Dason chose the one on my right, and the rest of my men took up places around me—Axel on the ground near my feet, Chayton in the seat next to Dason, Syler standing behind my chair, lending me his silent support, and Kota leaning on a tree just off to the side, well within earshot—as the four elders sat.

Dason leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and folding his hands together. “We requested this pack meeting not only to introduce you to our mate, but to seek any answers you may have about Lorn and her past.”

“We also summoned you here to ask for your help,” Jolon finished, reminding me that while learning about my past was important, finding theBook of the Keepers—the grimoire my mother had been in possession of—and saving our future was crucial.

Selfishly, I wanted both.

“What can you tell me about my mother?” I asked earnestly, looking at each elder in turn. “I’ve always wondered…” My voice trailed off while I fiddled with my necklace nervously.

“I’m sure you have, child,” Ashkii replied, his eyes kind across the blazing fire sitting between us. “It must have been difficult to be raised outside of your kind.”

I bit my tongue, and Jolon reached for my hand, squeezing my fingers gently.

“I think it’s hard for any adopted child not to wonder where she came from,” I said diplomatically. “I wish I had known my parents, that I’d grown up knowing I was shadow touched, but I had a good childhood regardless. I consider myself one of the lucky ones.”

Elan accepted a drink handed to him by his son and swirled the amber liquid in his glass, the firelight playing off the edges of the crystal. “Your mother was a wonderful woman. Kind, beautiful, smart.”

“How did you know her?” I pressed, my gaze intent on Elan. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know everything.

He glanced across the circle and stared straight at me, keeping his tone low when he spoke. “She was my mate.”

Two

Lorn

Igaped. That had not been the answer I was expecting.

“She was your mate?” I reiterated, making sure I’d heard correctly.

“Ourmate,” Bidziil corrected quietly.

My heart jumped in my chest. Did that mean…? Before I could help it, my gaze flew to Tye. No. He couldn’t be… It wasn’t possible we were… brother and sister.

That thought made my stomach twist.

I peered at Dason, a million questions swimming in my eyes.

“Before you ask,” Elan inserted, “I’m not your father.” His timbre was darker, though not completely unpleasant.

My lungs squeezed, and I sucked in a much needed breath.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tye watching me, cataloging my every reaction.

I didn’t look his way. Instead, my eyes flicked to Bidziil.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I cannot claim that role in your life either.” His brown eyes were kind but sad.

“I knew you had a mate once, but all I knew was that she died. I don’t believe I was ever told she used to be the veil keeper or about the circumstances surrounding her death.” Dason reached over and took my other hand, both my mates trying to ease the anxiety I was sure they felt through our bond. I was so preoccupied, I barely caught their worry radiating down the link between us. “I’m sensing there’s a lot of history here.”

“More than can be discussed in one evening,” Bidziil agreed with a small shake of his head.

“The knowledge about your mother’s position as the veil keeper was kept quiet at the time. Tensions with the witches and warlocks were high, and it was critical they didn’t know she existed, let alone who she was to the shadow touched people,” Klah, who had been rather quiet until now, chimed in.

“How many mates did my mother have?” I inquired cautiously, picking up on the fact that I seemed to be a sore subject among these men.

“There were four of us—Elan, the alpha, Shawn, the beta, Adriel, the enforcer, and myself, the caretaker. Only three of us are left. Elan and I are the only ones who are still actively involved with the pack, and we have taken roles as elders among our people. Adriel lives off the grid, preferring his solitude after everything that happened.”

“You don’t belong to Shawn or Adriel either,” Tye told me quietly, reading the question burning on my tongue from where he stood behind his father’s chair and answering it without fanfare.